Re: 6. distillation - a long response

[Guest guest]

Hi Ed,

Thank you for the information about distilling Kombucha tea Hydrosols.

In his description of Kombucha Drops in his book, Guenther

stated that it may be the _Polysaccharides_ that persist that may

account for the phenomenol success of using Kombucha Drops pressed

from the Kombucha Colony, (not the tea), and preserved from

contamination with alcohol similar to what Dr. Sklenar used and just

the way Kombucha Manna Drops are made.

Kombucha Drops, made that way, seem to have the same benefits as

drinking Kombucha tea, with the exception of being a probiotic aid to

the digestive system. Indeed there has been a lot of research lately

that various Polysaccharides are useful for healing.

You might want to considere the Polysaccharide content in your various

formulas.

Peace, Love and Harmony,

Bev

>

> Kombucha Tea does not conform to the normal term logy used

> in herbal products.

> Kombucha " Extract " is not an extract but refers to the

> simple pressing (extraction) of the kombucha mushroom into

> what is commonly referred to as Kombucha " Drops " .

> The reference to " drops " has been taken largely from

> Guenther s book and the procedure described (IMO

> :incorrectly) used by Dr Rudolph Sklenar in what Dr Sklenar

> described as " D1 Drops " . D1 is ascribed to a homeopathic

> preparation of a tincture at the first level of potenization

> and has been precisely formalized by Dr Hahnemann in the

> system of medicine he termed " homeopathy " .

>

> A 1927 German Patent describes the process of creating a

> wonderful remedy " Kombuchal " ( Full version online at

> http://www.happyherbalist.com/german_kombucha_patent.htm)

> ... prepare kombucha tea until a certain (unspecified pH)

> acidity is reached and then by means of distillation (a

> simple evaporation) the tea is reduced at which point

> calcium is / or may be added. IMO, Sklenar used the

> " Kombuchal " to create his D1 Drops and not the simple

> pressed kombucha mushroom liquid.

> The Kombucha House in Australia uses the " concentration "

> created by the " Kombuchal " process quite successfully in

> several of their personal kombucha products and achieve

> quite good results. Bev, (and others) have noted success

> with her Kombucha Manna Drops which follow (IMO) the process

> described in Guenther s book. Pronatura sells both

> kombucha extract and kombucha capsules that " follow the

> original Dr Sklenar recipe " and is endorsed by Dr Sklenar

> niece. So we have here several different process creating

> significantly different products all with amazing beneficial

> results.

>

>

> Distillation, hydrosol, extraction and tincture are all more

> narrowly defined terms. However with kombucha which is

> already a liquid tea, (rather than a harder substance which

> the above processes attempt to turn into a more useable

> liquid) those terms are somewhat ambiguous IMO, more

> applicable precise terms may be in the realm of alchemy -

> which would be too far out for most people.

>

> In my practice I begin with already fermented kombucha tea

> and then distill - more accurately hydrosol, extract the

> components. In the German Patent most of the acids are

> extracted from the kombucha tea at that point. Here the

> German Patent discards those acids as they seem to desire

> only the concentrated remains. Which may then be used in

> preparing D1 Drops or calcium added and used as a kombucha

> " concentration " .

>

> note: there is a kombucha company " BudhaTree " which sells a

> concentrated KT that they claim is still biologically

> active. Simple concentrations done at high temperatures

> (over 103F) will be largely inactive.

>

> A concentrated extract - or kombucha tea with the acids

> removed in the distillation process and eliminated as noted

> in the German Paten and claimed to be a powerful medicinal

> remedy, seems IMO, to contain a contradiction. In Guenther

> s research/opinion it is the acids which make kombucha

> so wonderful. Guenther goes on to say that adding alcohol to

> the pressed extract of the mushroom - which will kill the

> biologically active kombucha - is worthwhile since it is

> _only the acids_ that are important. Therefore one could

> take the hydrosol (that which is evaporated) from the German

> patent process and throw away the concentrated portion.

>

>

> In my lab I use low heat vacuum distillation to extract

> kombucha tea. Kombucha is truly wonderful and seems to work

> in a great many ways as well as to offer an excellent medium

> for herbal extractions as well.

>

> Presently I am trying to determine how best to relate the

> different end products of kombucha doing a lab analysis. My

> biggest problem has been in trying to identify what to

> identify.

> The 3 major " remedies " (after KT)

> 1. the pure pressed extract. The mushrooms simply hugged and

> squeezed. (100% biologically active)

> 2. the hydrosol/ a crystal clear distillation of the

> kombucha tea (not active greatest concentration of acids and

> water soluble KT)

> 3. the concentrated residue (Kombuchal) Biological activity

> unknown.

>

> I appreciate any suggestions and ideas.

> What should I test for?

>

> NOTE: it is only my opinion does not constitute anything in

> regards to the process involved with such notables as

> Guenther , Bev (Kombucha Manna Drops) Australian House,

> Pronatura, or anyone else. It is only my intent to show the

> differences that are in kombucha and my search for

> understanding this miracle fungus - and I know, its not a

> fungus )

>

> Ed Kasper LAc. Licensed Acupuncturist & Herbalist

> Acupuncture is a jab well done

> www.HappyHerbalist.com Santa Cruz, CA.

>

>

> original

> message................................................

> 6. distillation

> Posted by: " Adam " ada_smi@... ada_smi

> Date: Fri Jun 30, 2006 6:59 am (PDT)

>

> how do you distill kombucha?

> make tincture?

>