GB2327607A - Process for producing a herbal composition - Google Patents

Abstract

One or more herbs are combined with a solvent, such as water or ethanol/water mixture. The mixture is heated and any ethanol is driven off. The resulting solution is preferably cooled and separated from any solid residue and is intended for use in the preparation of a medicinal herbal composition, preferably a homeopathic composition. Plant species which may be used are Taraxacum Officinale, Agrimonia Eupatoria, Berberis Vulgaris, Silybum Marianum, Tilia Europea, Crategus Oxyacanthoides, Zanthoxylum Americanum, Arcostaphylus Uva Ursi, Juniperus Communis, Petroselinum Crispum, Zea Mays, Echinacea Angustifolia, Belladonna, Arnica Montana, Thuja Occidentalis, Astragalus Membranaceous, Angelica Sinensis or Panax Ginseng.

Description

"A process for producing a herbal extract composition" Herbal tinctures for use in the preparation of herbal and homoeopathic remedies are generally time consuming to prepare. Typically, selected herbs are soaked in an alcohol and water solution over a two to three week period, being stirred twice daily. The mixture is then squeezed in a press to extract the herbal tincture. This is a relatively time consuming process and does not lend itself to the commercial production of herbal and homoeopathic remedies.

The present invention is directed towards overcoming this problem.

According to the invention there is provided a process for producing a herbal extract composition for use in the prophylaxis and treatment of ailments, the process comprising the steps: delivering a desired quantity of herb material comprising one or more selected herbs to a container, delivering a desired quantity of a complementary solvent to the container, soaking the herb material in the container with the solvent, extracting desired active principles from the herb material thus forming a herbal solution in the container, heating the herb and solvent mixture in the container to a desired temperature sufficient to vaporise the solvent, controlling said desired temperature for refluxing the solution for a pre-set time period, cooling the herbal solution, separating the herbal solution from solid herb material, and using the herbal solution to produce a herbal extract composition.

Advantageously the process of the invention allows the relatively rapid production of the herbal solution.

Herbal extract solutions which are prepared by a conventional technique take two to three weeks to produce, whereas herbal extract solutions can be produced according to the process of the invention in about two to eight hours. Further, it has been found that there is a greater concentration of the principal ingredients in the solution by using the refluxing technique of the invention and therefore effectiveness of the remedies has been enhanced.

Conveniently, the heating can be regulated such that Vitamin C or other desirable extracts are not destroyed as the temperature does not get high enough.

In one embodiment of the invention the process includes the step of forced cooling of the herbal solution.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the selected herbs comprise taraxacum officinale, agrimonia eupatoria, berberis vulgaris and silybum marianum.

In another embodiment the selected herbs comprise tilia europea, crategus oxyacanthoides and zanthoxylum americanum.

In a further embodiment the selected herbs comprise arcostaphylus uva ursi, juniperus communis, petroselinum crispum and zea mays.

In another embodiment the process further includes the step of adding a homoeopathic composition to the herbal extract composition.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the homoeopathic composition comprises selected concentrations of the herbs echinacea angustifolia, belladonna, arnica montana, silybum marianum, thuja occidentalis, astragalus membranaceous, angelica sinensis and panax ginseng.

Preferably, the homoeopathic composition comprises in combination two or more selected concentrations of one or more of the herbs.

Typically the homoeopathic composition is added to the herbal composition at the rate of between 0.25% and 3%.

The combination of the herbal and homoeopathic compositions has a synergistic effect enhancing the action of the herbs.

The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only.

According to the method of the invention a measured amount of one or more selected herbs is delivered to a container together with a solvent. The solvent in the container is heated, being ref fluxed for a desired period of time for extracting desired active principles from the herbs, thus producing a herbal solution. Vapours rising from the solution are condensed in an outlet neck of the container which is cooled by a water jacket. When refluxing is complete the herbal solution is cooled and then separated from the solid material.

For preparation of the herbal solution herbs can be used in virtually any form. They can be freshly picked, dried whole, as in the case of seeds, flowers, berries, roots and rhizomes and the like. If desired the herbs can be cut to any desired particle size or they can be powdered.

In some cases the juices can be squeezed out of a herb to be used on its own or in combination with other herbs in any desired form. Ideally, the herbs should be as pure as possible, free from contaminants such as sprays or industrial contaminants, lead from petrol, damage or decay. Preferably the herbs should be organically grown or where possible picked from wild. Further, ideally the herbs should be harvested at the time of highest content of the active principles and then dried.

It will be noted that in the preparation of a formula for a particular purpose, any number of selected herbs could be combined in any desired ratios, so that the herb with the highest ratio might be the one with the most desirable properties, or might only contain low levels of some desirable active principles. The herbs can be processed as individual herbs and the resultant herbal solutions then mixed in the desired proportions. Alternatively the herbs can be pre-mixed and then processed to produce the desired compound herbal solution.

A number of solvents or solvent mixtures may be used. If the remedy is to be taken or used internally then the solvent must be potable. If for external use the range of solvents can be much wider, but overall they must not be poisonous, or have any undesirable side effects and must be as uncontaminated as possible.

Water may be used as the solvent, purified to British Pharmacopoeia or similar standards, filtered, sterilised, distilled, some times up to treble distillation, or even common tap water of food standard.

Since not all the active principles in herbs are soluble in water and would therefore not be available, an alcohol such as ethanol may be used as the solvent, not only for its availability to dissolve most of the desirable active principles, but also because it acts as a preservative.

Examples of other possible solvents which can be used are glycerol, iso-propyl alcohol, ethers and many others, selected according to the criteria mentioned above.

Mixtures of one or more of the solvents may be used, for example a mixture of ethanol and water. The normal minimum acceptable level of alcohol in a tincture is 25%, but this needs to be varied depending on the herbs involved and the active principles\ingredients to be extracted. For example the key resin in calendula officinalis is only soluble in 90% alcohol in water. It may in some cases be desirable to use a three component solvent, for example to produce a sweet tasting tincture for children or a lotion which has a higher viscosity than an alcohol\water solvent or because a better extraction is achieved. Even though the boiling point of the key solvent could be very high, the alcohol still vaporises and thus the temperature is controlled. An example of such a multi-component solvent would be water: ethanol: glycerol in the ratio 25:25:50 by volume.

Again, taking the example of calendula officinalis, if it is intended to use the tincture on the skin where it is very effective in minor conditions such as burns, abrasions and the like and where a high alcohol content could cause severe stinging on an open wound a solvent used could comprise water: alcohol: glycerol in the ratio 10:25:65 by volume. This could then be used as a lotion or added to a cream or ointment base, as can other individual or combined herbs. An example of this would be a mixture of calendula officinalis and echinacea angustifolia to provide a potent herbal anti-biotic.

The tinctures or extracts are normally prepared at one of a set of strengths, given below.

1:10 - which represents 100 grammes of dried herb or its equivalent in one litre of solvent.

1:5 - 200 grammes of dried herb or its equivalent in one litre of solvent.

1:3 - 333 grammes of dried herb or its equivalent in one litre of solvent.

1:2 - 500 grammes of dried herb or its equivalent in one litre of solvent.

Up to 1:1 representing 1 kg of dried herb or its equivalent in one litre of solvent. The tinctures or extracts could be at any suitable strength to suit dosage or to achieve a sufficient equivalent of the herb in a reasonable dose for a therapeutic effect. For example it is convenient where possible to standardise on an adult dose of 5 mls (one teaspoonful).

For example in the case of gelsemium sempervirens, used as a sedative, analgesic, vasodilator and diaphoretic, the maximum permitted dose of the dried herbs is 25 mg of the dried herb or its equivalent three times daily. To manufacture the tincture to this strength for a 5 ml dose its extraction would have to be done with only 5 grammes of the dried herb in a litre of 60% ethanol in water. In practise of course it is done as a higher concentration and diluted with the same solvent mixture to the desired strength for 5 ml dose.

On the other hand, as say for example in the case of Ginkgo Biloba, where the herb is very bulky and the required dose is the equivalent of 3-4.5 grammes of the dried herb three times daily, it can be necessary to do one extraction at half the desired final strength to ensure the herb is covered by the solvent solution in the container or vessel and then repeat the process using the extract from the first process as the solvent for the second.

The need for this double extraction could be overcome by incorporating a stirring mechanism in the container and/or by using powdered herb. It is essential for full extraction that the herb be completely covered by the solvent, or exposed to it through continuous stirring.

Heating of the solvent in the container should be controllable so that at maximum a slow simmering of the herb/solvent mix is achieved. Where alcohol is used as the solvent, the temperature is normally automatically controlled at the boiling point of the alcohol such as ethanol i.e. 780C. At this temperature not more than three hours heating would be required to achieve a satisfactory level of extraction. Heating can be achieved by water bath, electrical elements, steam jackets, electrical mantels or any suitable and preferably controllable means.

It is not essential for the herbal solution to be at this or any higher temperature. In fact where temperature is controlled it might in some cases be desirable and beneficial to use temperatures at or close to 4O0C. This however would slow down the rate of extraction and lengthen the process considerably.

After the heating process the herbal solution may be allowed to cool naturally at room temperature.

Alternatively to expedite cooling, forced cooling may be used, for example using a cold water jacket or tube coils in the container or any other suitable method. Cooling at room temperature normally would take about 4 hours but would be much faster with forced cooling.

When the cooling has been completed the separation of the exhausted herb from the herbal extract solution can proceed. If the herb used was a hard seed such as silybum marianum, usually simple filtration is sufficient. If desired the mixture may be passed through a press for separation, which can be either continuous or batch as required. Pressure can be applied manually, by means of a screw, a gearbox motor, or a suitable hydraulic arrangement. Other possibilities are vortex or centrifugal separation devices.

Example 1 Herb Parts Taraxacum Officinale 1 Agrimonia Eupatoria 1 Berberis Vulgaris 2 Silybum Marianum 3 The measured amounts of herb material are delivered to a container together with a solvent comprising ethanol: water mixture in the ration 60:40,v/v. The solvent is heated within the container and is refluxed at a temperature of 780C for three hours. When refluxing is complete the herbal solution is separated from the solid material and the herbal solution is used to prepare a herbal composition for treatment of liver ailments.

Example 2 Herb Parts Tilia Europea 2 Crategus Oxyacanthoides 3 Zanthoxylum Americanum 1 The measured amounts of the herbs are delivered to a container together with a solvent comprising ethanol: water mixture in the ratio 50:50, v/v. The solvent is then heated within the container and ref fluxed at a temperature of 780C for three hours.

After refluxing the herbal solution is separated from the solid material and is then used to prepare a herbal composition for treatment of hypertension.

Example 3 Herb Parts Arcostaphylus Uva Ursi 1 Juniperus Communis 1 Petroselinum Crispum 1 Zea Mays 1 The measured amounts of the herbs are delivered to a container together with a solvent comprising ethanol: water mixture in the ratio 40:60, v/v. The solvent is then heated within the container at a temperature of 780C for at least three hours. After refluxing is complete the solution is separated from the solid material and the herbal solution is used to prepare a GU tract treatment composition.

To each herbal composition produced there may be added a homoeopathic additive composition. A preferred example of homoeopathic additive composition is given below.

ComDonent Potency Percentage Echinacea Angustifolia 2C 7.5 Echinacea Angustifolia 30C 7.5 Belladonna 30C 7.5 Arnica Montana 6C 5.0 Arnica Montana 30C 5.0 Silybum Marianum 2C 7.5 Silybum Marianum 6C 7.5 Silybum Marianum 30C 7.5 Thuja Occidentalis 6C 5.0 Thuja Occidentalis 30C 5.0 Astragalus Membranaceous 2C 5.0 Astragalus Membranaceous 6C 5.0 Astraguls Membranaceous 30C 5.0 Angelica Sinensis 6C 5.0 Angelica Sinensis 30C 5.0 Panax Ginseng 6C 5.0 Panax Ginseng 30C 5.0 The homoeopathic additive composition described above is added to herbal preparations at the rate of 0.25% to 3% to enhance their effect.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides a process for the efficient production of high quality herbal compositions.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may vary in detail.

Claims (11)

1. A process for producing a herbal extract composition for use in the prophylaxis and treatment of ailments, the process comprising the steps; delivering a desired quantity of herb material comprising one or more selected herbs to a container, delivering a desired quantity of a complementary solvent to the container, soaking the herb material in the container with the solvent for extracting desired active principles from the herb material thus forming a herbal solution in the container, heating the herbal and solvent mixture in the container to a desired temperature sufficient to vaporise the solvent, controlling said desired temperature for refluxing the solution for a pre-set time period, cooling the herbal solution, separating the herbal solution from solid herb material, and using the herbal solution to produce a herbal extract composition.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the process comprises the step of forced cooling of the herbal solution.

3. A process as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the selected herbs comprise taraxacum officinale, agrimonia eupatoria, berberis vulgaris and silybum marianum.

4. A process as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the selected herbs comprise tilia europea, crategus oxyacanthoides and zanthoxylum americanum.

5. A process as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the selected herbs comprise arcostaphylus uva ursi, juniperus communis, petroselinum crispum and zea mays.

6. A process as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the process further includes the step of adding a homoeopathic composition to the herbal extract composition.

7. A process as claimed in claim 6 wherein the homoeopathic composition comprises two or more selected concentrations of one or more herbs.

8. A process as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein the herbs in the homoeopathic composition comprise echinacea angustifolia, belladonna, arnica montana, silybum marianum, thuja occidentalis, astragalus membranaceous, angelica sinensis and panax ginseng.

9. A process as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8 wherein the homoeopathic composition is added to the herbal composition at the rate of between 0.25% and 3%.

10. A process for producing a herbal extract composition substantially as hereinbefore described.

11. A herbal composition whenever produced according to the process as claimed in any preceding claim.