Herbal processing can be confusing, but let's break down the difference between two methods: extracts and, as we like to call it, "full spectrum processing."

Plant, Herbal, and Mushroom Extracts

Imagine making a cup of tea. When you dip a tea bag into hot water, you're essentially extracting flavors from the tea leaves. Similarly, making plant, herbal, or mushroom extracts involves pulling out the beneficial stuff from the source.

Here's how extracts work:

1. Compounds: First, you pick the part of the plant, herb, or mushroom that has the good things you want, like vitamins, antioxidants, or other health-boosting compounds. Scientists study the plant, herb, or mushroom to understand its chemical composition. They identify which compounds are responsible for the desired effects, whether it's a particular antioxidant, a specific molecule, or a combination of several. Sophisticated techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry are used to analyze the chemical makeup of the plant material. This helps them pinpoint the exact compounds they want to extract.

2. Isolation: Different compounds have different properties, and scientists use specific methods to isolate the desired compound. For example, if the target is water-soluble, water-based extraction methods might be used. If it's fat-soluble, an oil-based extraction method could be more effective.
   
   

3. Solvent: Just like hot water in your tea, a solvent is used. This could be something like alcohol, water, or even oil. The choice of solvent is crucial. It determines which compounds will be extracted. For example, alcohol might be effective for certain compounds, while others might require water or specialized solvents. This solvent helps dissolve and carry away the beneficial compounds from the plant. 

4. Adjusting Conditions: The plant and solvent hang out together, allowing the solvent to soak up all the good things from the plant. Factors like temperature, pressure, and extraction duration can influence the extraction process. Scientists adjust these conditions to maximize the extraction of the target compound.

5. Separation: After they've had enough time together, the solvent, now loaded with the desired compounds, is separated from the leftover plant parts. Think of it like squeezing out the tea bag after it's steeped.

6. Concentration and testing: Sometimes, the liquid extract is concentrated to make it stronger. It's like making your tea stronger by letting it steep longer. Once the extraction is done, the resulting extract is tested to ensure it contains the desired compound in the intended concentration. This might involve further analysis and quality control measures.

Now you have a potent extract containing one or multiple compounds - depending on the extraction technique - from the plant, herb, or mushroom. In order to turn a liquid extract into a dry extract, like a powder to use as a supplement, the extract needs to be dried. Various drying methods can be used, including spray drying or freeze drying. This results in a powder form that can be used for capsulation. 

Here's how full spectrum processing works: 

1. Ingredients: We pick only the most potent parts of the plant, such as the leaves of the Plu Kaow plant and the rind of the Mangosteen fruit. These parts get washed in ozonated water before being processed, so they go into the machine clean and bacteria-free.  

2. Freeze-drying: These parts go into a special freeze-drying chamber, where water will be extracted using sublimation. Sublimation is a natural process, where a liquid will turn into gas. We mimic this process in the machine, turning the water into vapor so it can be separated from the plant parts.

3. Full spectrum powder: The plant parts will fall apart naturally and can be collected as a powder at the end of this process. No grinding or heat needed!

Our commitment to "full spectrum processing" means we use the entire medicinal part of the plant, removing only water through freeze-drying. This is how we like to preserve the full healing power of nature, as we believe nature's healing message does not transfer in one single compound. 

Why did we ditch the extracts? 

Think of nature's healing power like a symphony, where all elements work together. Our freeze-drying technology maintains the plant's original structure, letting active compounds interact smoothly with your body - and each other. 

You can compare it to a natural ecosystem. In nature, various species coexist and depend on each other to maintain balance. Similarly, within a plant or mushroom, different compounds can be seen as the diverse components of this ecosystem.

For instance, consider how antioxidants in a plant might work together. One antioxidant could scavenge free radicals, but its effectiveness might be enhanced when combined with another antioxidant that regenerates it. 

Synergy

Scientifically, this concept is known as synergy, where the combined action of compounds is greater than the sum of their individual effects. In the plant world, this might involve how different phytochemicals, like polyphenols and flavonoids, work together to provide health benefits. 

So, just as a diverse ecosystem is more resilient and efficient, processing the entire spectrum of compounds in a plant or mushroom ensures that each element contributes to the overall effectiveness, creating a natural synergy that mirrors the intricate balance found in nature.

Conclusion

Extracts may contain higher doses of an active compound, but that doesn't necessarily mean that your body will also use that extract efficiently. Sometimes synergy is needed as certain compounds make other compounds more bioactive and bioavailable. We like to listen to nature and give you a product as pure as possible, removing only the water and nothing else.