Herbal shelf life

I got tinctures of Japanese Knotweed and Milk Thistle about 3 months ago and had opened and used some of both. Then I stopped taking them and my supplements and some of my other meds after my adrenals weakened so much. Through diet I've gotten maybe 15 percent digestive function back, meaning I was afraid to eat or take anything for fear of another total collapse. I have been a little more flexible with what food I eat, cautious though, with decent results.

I am not sure I should start taking the herbs again but am concerned about their shelf life and also would it help to refrigerate them? I see no info on that on the bottles, but it's still pretty warm here yet, during the day. They are with my other medications, in a fairly dark area.

Thanks in advance!

multifacetedme said...
I found this info. for herb pharm herbs - and imagine it runs the same for herbs processed similarly. If they've been closed up and sealed my guess they are good. Not sure if refrigeration helps. Others are probably better informed. https://www.herb-pharm.com/faq/product-info
3-5 years.

Thank you. THey have been kept closed, of course the seal is broken from using them. I did learn shaking them once a week will help, when I'm not taking them.

A lot of herb tinctures have a "best by" or "Exp date" on them. If not I use HerbPharms rules. I have a huge cupboard of tinctures - alcohol and glycerin that I am saving, just in case.....

Quoted from HerbPharm site --

In general, the shelf-life of Herb Pharm's products ranges between three and five years. The product's dosage form (alcohol-based tincture, glycerin-based tincture, capsule, etc.) impacts a product's shelf life. Alcohol-based tinctures normally have a five-year shelf, alcohol being an excellent natural preservative. Glycerin-based extracts and capsules typically have three-year shelf-lives.....

For best results, store Herb Pharm products in a cool, dry place away from heat and light.

Most liquid herbal extracts contain constituents that tend to precipitate out of the solution (separate) if they are left sitting on a shelf or in a medicine cabinet without regular shaking. This is a normal occurrence and does not affect the quality or safety of the product. You may see this precipitation as little specks or flakes floating in your extract, a coating on your dropper, or as a tiny layer of sediment on the bottom of the bottle. This may appear to be a different color than the extract. This can happen in as quickly as a couple of weeks. Please make sure to shake the bottle vigorously before use to help these plant particles get reabsorbed into the extract solution.

I haven't read all the posts in this thread, so if this is a repeat, I do apologize. Herbal tinctures will last indefinitely when kept in a dark cool place. The alcohol acts as a preservative. Sunlight and heat are the 2 most destructive to herbs and tinctures.

Buhner also says these same things.