15/01/2024
Did you know – today is Brew Monday ☕️.
Also known as Blue Monday, it comes round on the third Monday of the year, and – cue sad face – it’s said to be the most miserable day of the year 😔. So, its name got switched to Brew Monday, to encourage people to get cheery with others over a cuppa.
But - instead we’re going to brew away those Monday blues with a touch of herbal brewing wizardry ... 🧙♂️✨
Let’s delve into the realm of tinctures 💙
If you’ve ever considered what the advantages of tinctures versus dried herbs is, here’s a concise comparison for you.
Ultimately, you come to us looking to invest in the highest quality, organic phytonutrients to support your horse, so naturally you want to maximize the absorption of those valuable benefits. However, several factors can affect absorption rates, i.e. poor digestion/gut disruption, and even certain minerals that may block absorption uptake.
So, which is the better choice for you and your horse?
💫 BIOAVAILABILITY 💫
💧 TINCTURES
No question - tinctures give you the best bioavailability for the medicinal benefits to reach the bloodstream, with fresh plant tinctures having a more complete and consistent absorption rate. The body utilises up to 98% of a plant’s chemical compounds through the mucous membranes in the cheeks, tongue, oesophagus and stomach, rapidly entering the bloodstream by bypassing the digestive process.
There's no denying that a tincture gives you a pretty immediate, ready-to-absorb, potent source of phytonutrients for immediate absorption straight into the bloodstream and to the body’s cells.
This means that if you're looking for swift alleviation of, say, stress or pain, a tincture will hit the mark sooner.
🌱 DRIED HERBS
Now we come to actual 'food’, and it's well known that horses are excellent self-medicators; watch any horse browse a hedgerow and enjoy selecting what they want or need. And if your horse is anything like mine, they love their herbs in dried form in their feedbowl.
That said, from a bioavailable standpoint they're not as immediately effective as tinctures. As a food they have to permeate the GI tract for absorption, potentially resulting in a lesser percentage of nutrients being available.
However, if you're feeding for maintenance support of an ongoing condition, i.e. EMS/IR or arthritic joints, dried herbs are an ideal medicinal food.
🔍 CAPTURING CONSTITUENTS 🔍
💧 TINCTURES
Best full spectrum. Alcohol-based tinctures can extract all compounds and active ingredients, including those not water-soluble, i.e. resins. The small dose of alcohol is naturally occurring and easily metabolised by the liver.
🌱 DRIED HERBS
Not always full spectrum. There may be oxidation of important phytochemical compounds, such as antioxidants. When soaking dried botanicals for a tea or decoction, be aware that only the water-soluble parts of the plant will emerge so there's a risk of diminished medicinal value.
🥄 HOW MUCH TO FEED 🥄
💧 TINCTURES
Less is more, with dosages generally very small, i.e 15-20ml/pony and 30-40ml/horse.
🌱 DRIED HERBS
You'll need to feed more of the dried herb to see the benefits, at around 5g/100kg bodyweight.
🕰️ SHELF LIFE 🕰️
💧 TINCTURES
7+ years if stored away from sunlight, in a cool, dry environment.
🌱 DRIED HERBS
2 years maximum if stored away from sunlight, in a cool, dry environment.
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At the end of the day, no one knows your horse better than you, especially when it comes to their eating habits. However, if you're looking for fast and effective, tinctures are the preferred choice. For maintenance support, flavour, texture, and a more species-appropriate approach, dried herbs may be a better fit. However, always trust your gut and your relationship with beloved Ned. 🌿💚
