Is this normal?

[Technomagus]

I had tinctures of Marshmallow and Comfrey going and I went to strain them. Both were sticky, gooey, mucous like, and weird. I had a very hard time filtering much out of them, and what was filtered through was sticky a sticky gooey syrup, not a fine liquid.. I guess I will have to break down and get a jack stand strainer.

Is this normal?

Any better ideas for filtering without a jack stand? I used a nylon paint strainer which worked great for all my other tinctures.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Comfrey and marshmallow are both very high in mucilage (Greek* for “plant snot”). The slime is the good stuff. I’m not aware of a “nice” way to strain it. 🙂

Patrick

*Disclaimer: Patrick doesn’t actually speak Greek…it’s Greek to him.

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[Technomagus]

OK, plant slime it is!

It seems a waste to not be able to filter so much of it. I think next time on those two I’l get a better filtering rig, perhaps with super fine metal mesh?

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Are you using a press? That helps a lot.

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[IdahoHerbalist]

Patrick, remember the experiment we did with comfrey leaves? The tincture was hardly snotty at all. I know the leaves and roots have different (subtle?) properties though.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

IdahoHerbalist wrote: Patrick, remember the experiment we did with comfrey leaves? The tincture was hardly snotty at all. I know the leaves and roots have different (subtle?) properties though.

Yup. Leaf tinctures are less slimy than root tinctures.

Patrick

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

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