Question on Tincturing - poloSteve,
I am not really very familiar with ethyl lactate, but from what I have
read, it could offer some valuable possibilities, I should think.
The traditional solvents in medicine have been 1) water, 2) alcohol
(ethanol mostly) 3) glycerin, 4) propylene glycol, 5) Isopropyl alcohol, 6)
ether, 7) petroleum benzine, 8) Chloroform, 9) carbon disulfide), etc. Of
course, which and how the solvent is used to extract is dependent on many
things of which I wont go into. Ethanol, water, and glycerin has been very
popular in tincture making because of low toxicity and extraction qualities.
The key is to use a solvent (menstruum) that will extract the active desirable
properties and leave behind the inert undesirable ones. Not all solvents will
do this. Alcohol would be indicated for active resinous drugs, diluted alcohol
for simple bitter tonics, cathartics, etc, and diluted alcohol with glycerin
for astringent drugs, etc.
doug
