Encapsulation Process

Our certified organic herbs are encapsulated in small batches, without the use of excipients. Excipients or ‘inactive ingredients' are generally necessary in the large-scale production of tablets, capsules, and lozenges. When manufacturers use high-speed, fully automatic encapsulation equipment, excipients must be added to speed up production times, allowing for manufacture of larger batches without stopping to clean equipment.

Problems created by excipient use:

• Decreased absorption - these substances clearly affect the dissolution (ability to dissolve) of capsules and consequently the rapid absorption of nutrients. This is particularly troubling for individuals with impaired digestion who may have particular difficulty absorbing nutrients coated with stearates.
• Immunological effects - concentrated doses of a common "binder", stearic acid, suppress the action of T-cells, a key component of the immune system.
• Allergenic effects - many types of fillers, even small quantities, may cause reactions in sensitive individuals; one example is lactose. This could possibly be a major reason why some people have adverse reactions to herbal supplements, or fail to receive the significant benefits pure quality herbs will offer.

How is it possible to produce capsules without excipients?

• Manufacturing care - the process is more labor intensive, with a high ratio of Quality Assurance staff to production staff. We have seen success in the production of smaller batches without the use of potentially harmful excipients for many years.
• Technical knowledge - we carefully select ingredients with a specific density and utilize specialized equipment allowing us consistency between batches.

Certified Organic Herbal Extracts

The certified organic herbal extracts are prepared using either fresh or recently dried plant material, organic alcohol and water, as needed.

Fresh organic extract production begins when organic herbs are fresh and succulent, and the plant's cells are full of vitality. The fresh organic herbs are then hydrated and pliable, which facilitates the release of many active constituents into the liquid.

The concentration of fresh plant material used in fluid extracts is expressed as a weight:volume ratio, taking into account the moisture content of the individual plant. For example, if herb strength is 1:2, one part herb is extracted with 2 parts solvent (organic alcohol and water, as needed). A moisture assay is performed on every herb to determine the amount of water that needs to be added to the mixture. This allows for the correction of the inconsistencies that are a result of daily moisture fluctuations within the plant.

The organic alcohol used in our organic herbal extracts fulfills two purposes: 1) as a natural preservative to extend shelf-life, and 2) as the most effective solvent available for extracting and concentrating the naturally occurring bioactive plant constituents (such as volatile oils, resins, and alkaloids).

Alcohol-Free Herbal Extracts

The glycerites (alcohol-free herbal extracts) you'll find here are made by a three-step process.

First, the plant material is extracted with organic alcohol to capture the essence of the plant. Next, the organic alcohol is removed using a state-of-the-art distilling system which produces a concentrated herbal "forte." Finally, naturally sweet, pure, kosher vegetable glycerin is added to the forte as a base. This careful processing produces a pleasant-tasting, naturally-flavored herb preparation which is:

• efficacious
• palatable
• stable
• alcohol-free

The ingredients used in our glycerites are 100% natural and are gentle alternatives to ingredients other manufacturers may use such as corn syrup, artificial flavors and artificial preservatives.

Vegetable Glycerin (USP/NF grade, Kosher)

Glycerol or Glycerin is a colorless, odorless, calorie-free, sweet-tasting 'alcohol' that is used as a carrier in our alcohol-free herbal extracts (glycerites). Despite its sweetness, glycerin is processed by the body as fat (not sugar), which is important for those limiting their sugar intake, such as diabetics and children.

The glycerin used in this herbal extract is pharmaceutical grade, and is derived from vegetable material (palm oil) and not from petroleum products. It has the ability to mix with many substances, and its naturally sweet flavor makes it particularly appealing for use in children's products and by those who cannot tolerate the taste of some unpalatable herbs. We also use it to sweeten some of our specialty herbal products and elixirs. Most importantly, it is safe and readily digested into the body, making it a very efficient carrier.

Fruit Concentrates

These natural flavors give our organic herbs a unique richness and depth of flavor since they represent the whole fruit instead of just an isolated flavor compound. Many manufacturers use isolated compounds for flavoring, which may be naturally derived, or be completely artificial.

Medicinal Herbal Oils

Throughout the centuries, people have experimented with a variety of remedies to soothe all kinds of minor irritations such as athlete's foot and bruises. As it turns out, numerous plants contain healing compounds that provide exactly the relief needed. In fact, a significant number of over-the-counter topical drugs rely on medicinal herbs for their pain-relieving, healing and soothing effects.

Oregon's Wild Harvest manufactures herb oils using certified organic olive oil without the use of artificial additives and preservatives. We begin with freshly gathered organic herbs or wildcrafted herbs, and carefully infuse them with olive oil using a special heat extraction to gently encourage infusion. The resulting product is an infused oil with a deep color and intense aroma that cannot be rivaled.

These herb oils are not essential oils but have a multitude of therapeutic uses; the active constituents of the topical herbs are absorbed through the skin for a more immediate and targeted effect. Here are a few ideas:

• They may be added directly to the skin (topically) or to the bath.
• They can even be diluted in carrier oils to make massage oils.
• Many people who wish to avoid many of the chemicals that are added to commercial topical products make or buy their own cream bases and add these oils to these carriers to create a cream that is not only pure and aromatic, but is also functional.