Frequently asked questions
Shipping Policies
How quickly will my order ship?
For current Processing Times and estimated Shipping timelines, please see our Shipping & Policies page. We also post current Processing Times on the Cart page during checkout.
Can I pick up items locally in Seaside, Oregon?
Our Apothecary is currently open by appointment only.
If you'd like to schedule to pick up an order from our Apothecary, please
Contact Us.
Otherwise, we currently offer FREE local shipping from Astoria to Wheeler.
Simply choose "Local Delivery" during checkout. More details in our
Shipping | Policies.
Herbs
What form are these herbs in? Herb Powders? Extracts?
Cintamani specializes in Beyond Organic potent and pure herbal extracts.
Our p
owdered Herbal Extracts are 10:1 hot water extracts or hydroethanolic dual extracts in which all the solvents have been evaporated, leaving a purely water-soluble powder that is 10x more potent than whole herb powders. If stored in light-tight, air-tight jars in a cool, dry place, these extracts offer an incredible shelf-life, maitaining potency for years to come.
Our Wild American Shilajit is a uniquely American harvested Shilajit Resin. it is an expertly purified, low-temperature water extract of raw American Shilajit. The resin has had most of the water evaporated, giving it a long term shelf life. The Wild American Shilajit Solution is a blend of the Shilajit resin in 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're working on rolling out Menghai Chinese Puerh Teas!
What's the serving size & how do I take it?
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!
Is this Organic?
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.
What's the difference between a "10:1 Extract" and a "Dual Extract?"
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.
Are there any fillers or excipients?
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.
Where are the Extracts produced?
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.
What is the Shelf Life of these Tonics?
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.
Shilajit
Is your Shilajit really American harvested?
Yes!
Our Wild American Shilajit is exclusively sourced from untouched, wild locations throughout the Americas. Maintaining the delicate natural ecology of the areas is of utmost imporance to us, so our wildcrafters are careful to harvest with respect to the other life that depend on these special places. We only harvest on foot, as not to disturb the surrounding vegetation, and we are careful to always leave portions of the deposit in-tact for the flora and fauna that rely on it.
It takes several months for each batch of Wild American Shilajit to be expertly purified at low temperatures. For these reasons, our product is a small-batch, artisan creation, and the supply is limited. This lengthy process may make our product a little pricier than other lesser quality Shilajits being harvested in other places of the world. However, we are proud to say that our product is consistently cleaner and more pure than any other Shilajit or Mumio we've seen from overseas.
If you find a Certificate of Analysis for other Shilajit that is cleaner, we'd like to see it!!!
Specifically, what locations is the American Shilajit harvested from?
Whoa there, cowboy!
Think we're going to give you a map to our gold mine?! LOL!
Sorry, the exact locations of our Shilajit deposits are protected by Non-Disclosure Agreements. This not only protects our intellectual property, it also protects these delicate ecosystems from unneeded human impact.
The Shilajit tastes... um... INTENSE. What do I do?
For lack of a better word, the flavor of Shiljait is intense!
It's bitter, it's earthy, very mineral-rich, almost peaty like a fine Scotch.
If you're not used to the flavor, we suggest you start with the Wild American Shilajit Solution, as it is the more diluted version, and is easier to serve.
If the flavor is too intense for you, here's some options:
* Dilute it by using it to add minerals to your drinking water. You can add 2 - 3 drops to each 8oz glass of filtered water you drink throughout the day. You'll get your daily dose of 15 drops in about 4 - 5 glasses of water.
* Add the Shilajit to something else that has a more potent flavor. Many people like to take their Shilajit in their coffee, or in a "shot" that they chase with their morning coffee.
* Add our Wild American Shilajit to lemonade ~ you can hardly taste the bitters. It makes the most delicious & thirst-quenching electrolyte-rich rehydration!
Shila-Lemonade:
16 - 20oz Warm Filtered Water
Juice from 1/2 Lemon
1 tbsp Maple Syrup, Coconut Syrup, Agave, Honey, or other Natural Sweetener
10 - 15 drops Wild Amercian Shilajit
Stir until all Shilajit & sweetener goes into solution.
(You can also make this tonic with cool water, we just feel it's more instantly hydrating to the body when the water is warm.)
How do I use the Shilajit Resin?
The Shilajit Solution is really easy to use ~ just drop 10 - 15 drops in Filtered, Non-Chlorinated water, & enjoy.
But the resin is a little trickier...
Use a toothpick or a butter knife to pick up 100mg ~ about a rice-grain sized dab.
Stir this little dab into any Filtered, Non-Chlorinated water, & enjoy!
Or if you're real brave, and unaffected by the flavor, drop that dab right on the center of your tounge and enjoy the "Shilajit Rush!"
However, if you're adversed to the flavor, you can also dab some of the resin into a vegetable capsule and take it orally for flavor-free delivery.
Is there Scientific Reseach available on the benefits of Shilajit?
Yes!
Pubmed is brimming with peer-reviewed articles on Shilajit and Mumio from around the world.
Our
American Shilajit page has a starter list of some of the most notable benefits and links to some of the more well-researched findings.
Where are the COA's for the Shilajit?
Our most current Certificates of Analysis for our Wild American Shilajit are available on our American Shilajit page here....
What's the difference between Wild American Shilajit and Himalayan Shilajit?
For several reasons, we feel that our Wild American Shilajit is indeed more pure and potent than any Himalayan or Siberian varieties that we’ve seen...
First, our American sourced Shilajit is being harvested from wild places with in-tact ecosystems, always on foot, and always with respect for the other life that relies on these special places. We never over-harvest, and since Shilajit is such a new thing in the Americas, we have no need to over-harvest. The deposits here are healthy & natural. Many Himalayan varieties are already over-harvested, and some are being mined with big machinery from potentially contaminated areas with lots of human impact.
Secondly, most Himalayan Shilajit is heat purified, and then sun-cured. While this traditional method has worked for thousands of years, we’ve been able to improve upon this technique here, by applying more advanced filtration & purification technologies. Wild American Shilajit is strictly low temperature purified, using temps under 120° F. This helps preserve the delicate natural compounds better than heat purification. So with our American variety, you’re getting a more full-spectrum product that is closer to what nature provides.
Thirdly, we use advanced filtration techniques to completely remove microbes & heavy metals. We have compared our certificates of analysis with all of the leading Himalayan Shilajit varieties, and ours are consistently the cleanest. You can view those
COA’s at the bottom of our
Shilajit page.
And lastly, we make our Shilajit as easy-to-use as possible. We evaporate our
Shilajit Resin down to the consistency of fresh honey, so it can be easily dipped into, making it more readily water-soluble & easy to portion out. We also provide the diluted
Shilajit Solution in purified spring water for easy & exact servings ~ just add 10-15 drops to any non-chlorinated liquid. By contrast, most Shilajit being shipped over-seas needs to have ALL moisture removed to reduce freight costs. So what you get is usually a very hard resinous lump that can be difficult to use for many newbies, making it less approachable to some.
And as an anecdotal side note, we’ve heard from many people that they prefer the flavor of our Shilajit ~ it tastes “bitter & herby,” or “peaty, kind of like Scotch” with less of that funky “barnyard” quality found in some Shilajit from overseas.
What is the Shelf Life of Wild American Shilajit?
Our Shilajit Resin has a suggested shelf life of 2 years. Use within 2 years of opening.
The Shilajit Solution suggested shelf life is 1 year. Use within 3 months of opening.
If Shilajit Resin lid becomes stuck, soak jar upright in a cup of warm water.
Fill the water level up to just barely cover the bottom edge of the lid, leaving the top 2-3mm of the lid out of the water.
Soak for 15 - 20 minutes before opening.
Clean the edges of the lid and jar threads well with a clean, damp towel before replacing the lid.
Services
Do you consult with clients?
Yes! The Cintamani Tonics Apothecary was born from DJ Ankenbrandt's herbal consultation practice. He is happy to schedule appointments over the phone or online. His regular Consultation rate of $100/ hr applies. To learn more, visit our Consultation page.
Do you still offer free 15 minute consultations?
We are not currently offering free consultations as we are thick in the midst of moving our entire operation cross-country to a new fulfillment facility. We are still often available via Chat Monday - Friday from 11am - 6pm PT. Click here to chat with an herbalist...
Do you craft custom tonic herbal blends for unique client needs?
Yes! Custom Formulations are our signature offering. DJ Ankenbrandt can craft custom herbal formulas for overall longevity, specific targeted goals, or a variety of multidirectional actions. He works with individual clients to small businesses. Learn more here...
Do you offer medical advice?
No, we're not medical doctors, so we don't offer medical advice. It is recommended you talk with your Naturopath or Doctor before making sudden health changes.
As Herbalists and Herbal Educators, we empower you with knowledge and herbal options so you can make more informed health decisions for youself, and when discussing your health with your care team. We specialize in providing complimentary wellness alternatives that can be integrated into a holistic approach to health and lifestyle.
