Herbs Etc. ParaFree - 60 Fast-Acting Softgels

ParaFree is an herbal medicine formula for exceptional health. ParaFree promotes healthy digestive function and intestinal cleansing. ParaFree also tones the gastro-intestinal system. ParaFree is useful as a bi-annual intestinal cleanser. ParaFree is recommended for individuals who travel to foreign countries or are exposed to questionable water and food sources. ParaFree offers the effectiveness of a liquid in a convenient softgel! ParaFree is an alcohol-free formula.

• Promotes Intestinal Cleansing
• Tones Gastro-Intestinal System

Are alcohol-free extracts as potent as alcohol-containing extracts?
As the market stands right now, most alcohol-based extracts are much stronger than alcohol-free extracts. The fact is that most alcohol free extracts only contain a few active constituents and, as such, they are not a good value for the money.

Generally, herbs in liquid herbal extracts made with alcohol are stronger because they have more active constituents available to the user, and they have a longer shelf life as well. One study compared alcohol-free extracts of Goldenseal to alcohol-containing extracts of Goldenseal by measuring the levels of two major active alkaloids in each form of extract. The study verified that there was a direct correlation between the alcohol percentage and the level of alkaloids present. The results showed that the lower the percentage of alcohol equated lower levels of healing alkaloids in the extracts. In fact, the alcohol-free extracts tested were so low in potency that they were practically useless. According to the study's ratings, you would need ten bottles of an alcohol-free extract rated "Best" and up to 256 bottles of an alcohol-free extract rated "Worst" to equal one good bottle of alcohol-based extract.

Does this mean there are no potent alcohol-free extracts on the market then?
No, the good news is that one manufacturer, Herbs, Etc., Inc., has found a way to produce strong alcohol-free extracts. Two main factors determine if an alcohol-free extract is potent: first, how are the active constituents of the herbs extracted, and second, is heat used in the alcohol-removing process. When it comes to making alcohol-free extracts, manufacturers are faced with the question of how to effectively extract the active constituents of herbs and make a potent alcohol-free extract at the same time. Most manufacturers, therefore, choose glycerin over alcohol in their extraction processes. The problem is that glycerin does not effectively extract the active constituents, as the study cited in the last question verifies. Capitalizing on these findings, Herbs, Etc., Inc. uses alcohol in the extraction of herbs for its alcohol-free extracts. A second problem arises if heat is used in the removal of alcohol to produce alcohol-free herbal extracts as heat destroys the active constituents. Herbs, Etc., Inc. has found a way around these two issues using alcohol, not glycerin, and then removing the alcohol by a vacuum extraction, (not hot) process.

A recent study conducted by a renowned Canadian university specializing in Echinacea analysis confirms the effectiveness of Herbs, Etc., Inc.'s manufacturing process. In the study, Echinacea angustifolia in several alcohol-free extracts were analyzed both for water-soluble constituents (caffeic acid derivatives) and alcohol-soluble constituents (isobutylamides). The results showed that the extract made by Herbs, Etc., Inc. was three to 20 times stronger than any other leading alcohol-free extracts.

A second finding indicated that this new alcohol-free extract had the same amounts per volume of water-soluble and alcohol-soluble constituents as the best alcohol-containing extract.