Tonics are a unique class of herbs. They offer multi-directional actions that benefit more than one system of the body. In some ways, Tonics are more like super foods than they are like medicinal class herbs because over thousands of years, they have been proven to be safe and effective for daily use. Much like super foods, they can be consumed daily and offer a cumulative beneficial effect over time.
Goji Berries and Jujube Dates are examples of Tonic Herbs that are also super foods.
However, unlike super foods, many Tonic Herbs are roots, barks, or woody mushroom polypores, and they cannot be eaten as easily as Goji Berries. These Tonics must be extracted with hot water or alcohol in order to access their nutritional benefits.
Our Cintamani Tonics are extracted into a super concentrated and highly bioavailable powdered extract form. So unlike super foods, a very small amount of these potent Tonic Extracts goes a long way. For optimal benefits, we suggest 1/2 tsp up to 2 tsp of Tonic Extracts daily.
Cintamani specializes in Beyond Organic potent and pure herbal extracts.
Our powdered Hot Water Extracts have a 10:1 potency or greater ~ this means that 10 kg of whole herbs were extracted to produce 1 kg of powdered extract. The process involves cooking whole herbs in specialized pressure cookers to extract the medicinal qualities into the water. Then the herb fiber is removed, and the water is evaporated, leaving behind a fully water-soluble powder that is 10 times more potent than the whole herb itself.
Our Hydroethanolic Dual Extracts generally have a potency that is greater than 10:1. Dual Extracts are made in a similar fashion as Hot Water Extracts, however they include an additional alcohol extraction step. After the whole herbs have been thoroughly extracted, all the water and alcohol solvents are evaporated, leaving a purely water-soluble powder that offers a more full-spectrum profile of the beneficial herbal compounds.
Our Wild American Shilajit is a uniquely American harvested Shilajit Resin. It is expertly purified, using proprietary low-temperature purification methods.
Our Wild American Shilajit Resin is ultra concentrated, with the consistency of honey, and a long shelf life.
Our Wild American Shilajit Solution is a solution of our Mineral Resin rehydrated with purified spring water. It is made fresh-to-order, and is best if used within 6 months of purchase.
We also occasionally offer some Whole Herbs, including Beyond Organic Moring Leaf Powder, and we also offer Menghai Chinese Puerh Teas!
Our 10:1 Hot Water extracts contain all the water soluble compounds that can be extracted using hot water pressure cookers. Then the water is completely evaported, leaving only the water soluble compounds. 10 kg (or more) of each herb are used to produce 1 kg of extract.
Our Hydroethanolic Dual Extracts are made in a very similar way, plus an additional solvent, ethanol, is used to extract the alcohol soluble constituents. Both the water and alcohol are evaporated, leaving a fine powder that contains both the water soluble and the alcohol soluble compounds. Our Dual Extracts are more full-spectrum; they often offer more potent flavors and therapeutic benefits than the Hot Water Extracts alone.
Each herb is subtly different, and we list suggested serving sizes on each listing.
General serving suggestions:
Stir 1/2 - 1 tsp of extracts into 8 - 12oz of hot water 1 - 2x daily. Makes a delicious instant tonic tea!
Shilajit Serving Sizes:
Shilajit Resin: 1 rice-grain sized dab (100mg) in non-chlorinated water, 1-2x daily.
Shilajit Solution: 15 drops (about 100mg) in non-chlorinated water, 1-2x daily.
Delcious Tonic Latte:
Any Instant Tonic Tea blend or herbal exract can become a hot, frothy, nutrient-dense latte!
1/2 tsp Cintamani Tonic Tea powder
5 - 10 drops Shilajit Solution
1 tsp Maple Syrup, Coconut Syrup, Honey, or other natural sweetener
1 tbsp Organic Ghee, Coconut Butter, Cream, MCT Oil, Butter, or other natural fat
8 - 12oz of med-hot water
Blend all ingredients in blender, or whizz with handheld immersion blender until frothy.
Optional additions for added nutrients & flavor: Moringa powder, coconut milk powder, chai spices, chocolate, shot of espresso, turmeric, matcha, etc. Get creative & enjoy!
The Cintamani Apothecary contains some of the highest quality tonic herbal extracts currently available on the market. Every herb is grown Certified Organic or Beyond Organic, meaning the cultivation practices exceed current "Organic" Standards. Many of our herbs are considered Tao Di, or grown in "the original way" they have been cultivated for centuries.
All our herbal extracts are laboratory tested (many of them 3rd party verified) to ensure that they are free of poisons or contaminants, and we are happy to provide Certificates of Analysis upon request. As practicing herbalists, it is incredibly important for us to offer herbs to our clients that will be completely and fully beneficial, without adverse effects from pollutants, excipients, or fillers. These herbs are the cleanest we can find, and we're proud to serve them to our family and friends.
Our powdered Tonic extracts may keep well for years if properly stored. Light exposure can deteriorate the potency of these extracts, and moisture can cause them to clump together, making them more difficult to use.
To avoid air & light exposure, store herbs in the air-tight amber jars we provide, in a dark place. We suggest using them with 2 years of opening.
The resealable kraft pouches we provide in our Apothecary do not protect the herbs as well as glass & metal. (We mainly offer them to help reduce packaging waste & shipping costs).
To extend the life of herbs in our resealable pouches, transfer the herbs to amber jars or place pouches inside a mason jar & in a dark place.
No. Most of our herbal extracts are pure, whole herb extracts without anything added. Ever.
There is one notable exception: our Goji Berry and Mulberry extracts have tiny amounts of Organic Maltodextrin added to prevent caking and clumping of the powders. These two extracts are so sugary and polysaccharide rich, they would turn into bricks without these tiny additions.
We contract manufacturers in China and India to produce small-batches of farm-direct extracts specifically for us. Most of the herbs we source have been grown in China or India for centuries, utilizing traditional semi-wild cultivation practices that meet or exceed current organic standards. The herbs are sourced fresh, tested for purity, then extracted, powdered, and tested again for final Certificates of Analysis. It takes about 3 months total turnaround time from start to finish.
Many of our herbs are available in bulk, and some of them are only available by special order. For bulk inquiries or custom orders, contact us.
We often get asked, "Is this herb safe during Pregnancy, pre or post natal?"
Disclaimer: We are not Doctors, and we DO NOT offer medical advice. We are Herbal educators and can help you find additional information that you can use to make your own informed decisions, or share with your Doctor, Midwife, or Naturopath.
There are some Medicinal-Class herbs that many healthcare professionals and Herbalists alike discourage during Pregnancy.
AmericanPregnancy.org provides this list of Herbs to Avoid While Pregnant: Saw Palmetto, Goldenseal, Dong Quai, Ephedra, Yohimbe, Pau D’ Arco, Passion Flower, Black Cohosh, Blue Cohosh, Roman Chamomile, Pennyroyal. Most of these Medicinal herbs possess strong herbal actions that stimulate or affect the blood flow or smooth muscles. During Pregnancy, health care professionals suggest women avoid any herbs that thin the blood, stimulate or relax smooth muscles, or any herbs that contain high concentrations of alkaloids.
As Tonic Herbalists, we specialize in holistically nourishing Tonic Herbs that provide a deeper level of nutrition to the body, much like super foods. Most all of our Tonic Herbs are considered safe for pre and post natal use.
Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) is the only Tonic Herb we sell that is specifically contraindicated during Pregnancy because it can stimulate menstrual blood flow. Regardless, the Classical Chinese Herbal system still has a place for Dong Quai, utilizing it as a postpartum herb to help rebuild blood lost during birth.
Our favorite Tonic Herb for supporting new and expecting Moms is Moringa oliefera. Moringa is a nutritional powerhouse for use before pregnancy to enhance fertility and overall vitality, during pregnancy to support healthy development, and postpartum to support lactation and healthy recuperation.
Our second favorite Tonic for expecting Moms is Wild American Shilajit. Shilajit provides a wealth of ionic trace minerals that support healthy hormone levels, balance blood chemistry, build strong bones, and promote healthy mind and mood. Shilajit has been scientifically shown to increase Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), which supports fertility, making it a great addition to prenatal protocols.
Some health professionals advise against using Shilajit during pregnancy, mainly because most Shilajit is produced overseas and contains high levels of heavy metals and possibly other contaminants. Our Wild American Shilajit is verifiably the cleanest and most pure Shilajit product we've seen on the market.
As always, it is suggested that you talk with your Doctor, Midwife, or Naturopath before changing or adding herbs to your pregnancy plan. We hope the information provided here can help you and your health care professional research a pregnancy plan that supports you and your baby with all the best.
