To the one to three people who may actually see this site, the rumors of my demise, though justified, have been exaggerated. I have been meaning to write a post on SPMS, but it keeps growing, so instead something possibly helpful.
Herbal tinctures are just alcoholic (ethanol) plant extracts. They can extract water-soluble and alcohol-soluble plants constituents to make one’s own medicines. They’re easy to make, can last for years, and all plant parts can be used and combined simultaneously, even powdered herbs. The ethanol can extract alkaloids, amino acids, anthraquinones, carbohydrates, glycosides, gums, mucilage, phenolics, proteins, resins, tannins, and volatile oils.
I like to make these for MS because I think it’s pretty cool to make your own medicines. Apart from lifestyle and dietary choices, it lets you feel involved in fighting off the disease. They are able to mediate an assortment of pathways and have different effects depending on cell type and physiological conditions that can have paradoxical outcomes. IMO in MS, especially SPMS with compartmentalized inflammation, they have the best chance to reach the CNS to positively affect the disease. Issues exist with their bioavailability and ability to cross the BBB, which is why I like to make my own. With these, I hold them under the tongue to directly enter the blood stream before passing into the GI tract. In GI tract they transform into different metabolites that more easily pass into the CNS, but are dependent on each person’s specific gut microbiome. Phenolic acids from these extracts more easily pass across the BBB compared to their aglycones, but even those are sometimes seen. I also use some phytosome and liposome concoctions off Amazon that supposedly have better CNS penetration. However, their chronic use gets expensive and doesn’t offer the high variety of components that can be extracted from natural plant products. Again, IMO, the synergy between different constituents is more effective and can be used along with the diet and Amazon concoctions.
Anyhow, that’s why and how I use them. My favorites include parsley, panax ginseng, astragalus, dill weed, peppermint leaf, and rosemary. I often use other plants and parts and include different mixtures to tincture together.
For those with limited physicality, easier is definitely better. One can measure out all the ingredients and alcohol to know their exact ratio, but I like to use the ol’ eyeball approach. It just needs herbs, canning jars with lids, alcohol (80-proof or higher), parchment paper, and dropper bottles. Personally, vodka is my choice for the booze, but to each their own. First off, add the herbs about halfway into the jars. Depending on their consistency, loose or ground, this can vary. Then just fill up the jar with booze to the wee top, cover with the paper, and tighten it up. It should at least stand for a month or two and be shaken periodically to mix it up. After that, I gather up some help and pour it through a very fine strainer into another jar. Make sure to mash down the soaked plant parts into the strainer at the end to get the really strong stuff out. Then, one can pour it into dropper bottles or use however your heart desires. Good to label it too and keep in a cool dry cabinet.
Different components in these tinctures are seen by studies to block various inflammatory mediators, affect EBV infection and complement components, and chelate iron that I think can benefit SPMS.