Propolis Tincture strengths

[Kevin B]

Hi all

I wonder if anyon here can advise me as I’m currently looking at making a tincture from propolis and propolene glycol.

I’ll be using 1 part powdered propolis to 9 parts propylene glycol by weight, having read glycol is less effective as a solvent for higher than 1:9 ratios of propolis:glycol. After giving it a few weeks to dissolve the propolis my plan is to filter the tincture then slowly heat it to evaporate off two thirds of the liquid giving me a 30% propolis tincture. Sounds workable

However I’ve bought some commercially produced propolis liquid from Bee Health as an example to work toward and noticed it claims to be 50% propolis in Mono Propylene Glycol. Given glycol is a poor solvent for dissolving high ratios of propolis to glycol I’d assume they’re doing a similar process to the one I’m thinking of, however looking at the maths I’d expect their 50% tincture to be extremely viscous having had about 88.9% of the glycol evaporated off but it doesn’t appear to be.

Am I missing something obvious here? :geek:

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Hmmm, I’ve never used propylene glycol as a tincture solvent. I sometimes use it for diluting injectables or making oral pharmaceuticals in my vet clinic.

Your plan looks fine. However, if it were me, I wouldn’t boil it off. I’d just take a larger dose of the final product. Some of the benefits of propolis are likely from proteins and I’d wonder if boiling them might denature some of the good stuff.

Patrick

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

[IdahoHerbalist]

I agree. For the most part (not in ALL cases) heat and oxygen (oxidation) are enemies to the things we need.

[Author]

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