Some of you know that Linda brought the Saint Francis Herb Farm products in because I've been raving about them to her for a long time now. I’m thrilled to be able to recommend superior quality herbal blends to you and to know that you can find them easily (at the Whole Approach online store). Because they are made in Canada, they are not a product that I have mentioned on the forum often because most of you could not access them. However when Linda mentioned that she was ready to bring in some more products, I jumped at the chance to help you guys get access to these awesome products. St. Francis also makes delightfully natural and gentle skin care products. I've listed the links for all the St. Francis products that you can currently find in the online store:

Astragalus Combo Tincture
Canadian Bitters
EchinaSeal Infection Fighting Tincture
Lavishing Lavender Lotion
Milk Thistle Combo Tincture
Organum Plus Oregano Oil
Red Clover Plus Salve




Saint Francis Herb Farm (or SFHF as we often refer to them), is one of the most reputable companies in Canada or the United States and I support their quality and their ethical production methods whole heartedly and enthusiastically. The herbs are organically grown and ecologically wild-crafted with great respect for sustainability and I have been working with them personally and professionally for many years with fabulous results. Most of the excellent naturopaths and holistic M.D.’s that I know also use them in their practices.



Some of you have expressed concerns about the alcohol content in them. In fact, alcohol extracts are the most potent form to take most herbs in. Except for a few special medicinal products like Olive Leaf Extract and Kolorex that contain special types of extracts or standardized ingredients, alcohol extracts are really the most potent, most effective preparation of herbal remedies.



A tincture herbal product is “clean” and all natural becaue the alcohol the only ingredient required besides the herbs (unlike most herbal pills and vitamin pills which must include manufacturing exipients). Alcohol is the best solvent for most of the active ingredients in herbs. No chemicals at all were used to product these concentrated extracts and the alcohol is completely organic and non toxic.



When you ingest herbal extracts in liquid form, they absorbed more quickly and more thoroughly through the absorption sites under your tongue and along your intestinal tract than tablets or capsules. Also, the amount of alcohol in a dose is not a significant amount. The amount in a dose of tincture or a dose of bitters is actually not much greater than what your own digestive system produces during the digestive process so it’s not something to get overly concerned about unless you are exceptionally sensitive to alcohol (which some of you will be). It can also be an issue if you are using more than one type of herbal tincture per day or if you are treating an acute case (say an infection) with tincture more than 2-3 times per day. Using more than one herbal product two to three times per day would result in the consumption of more alcohol than would be appropriate for a candida elimination program.



So if you want to use SFHF products, what can you do about the alcohol. The solution is really quite simple and practical. Just boil 1/8 to ¼ cup of water and add your tincture dose to the freshly boiled water. Let it sit for five minutes and then drink as soon as it is cool enough for you. The hot water causes the alcohol content to evaporate from the tincture and leaves you with just the important herbal extract. Note: Do not put extract directly into boiling water as this will reduce its effectiveness a little bit. Pour the water from the kettle into a teacup and then add the tincture to that. Voila…a slightly diluted herbal tincture that is virtually alcohol free! When you drink it, try to swish it around your mouth a little bit and hold it under your tongue for a few seconds so that you will absorb as much as possible of it.



Remember, many herbal medicines are bitter tasting and this is what makes them work so well. For more information on why this is so, check out the write ups on the herbal bitters and the Milk Thistle Combo that are listed in the Featured Products section.



Cheers guys and enjoy the Saint Francis Herb Farm products. They are really wonderful



Tari-Lee