Serving Size vs. Dosage: Understanding Extraction Ratios

by Jason J. Duke - Owner/Artisan

Fresh Content: December 11, 2025 14:49

The Ratio Reality: Stop looking for milligrams of "powder" and start understanding Extraction Ratios. A "10:1" extract isn't necessarily 10x stronger; it describes Yield, not Potency. It simply means the manufacturer condensed 10 pounds of raw material into 1 pound of product. We decode the math of manufacturing to reveal why efficiency for the factory often means depletion for the consumer.

An alchemical scale balancing a large pile of raw herbs against a small, concentrated extraction, illustrating the concept of herbal extraction ratios
Figure 1: The Alchemist's Scale. (Click to Enlarge) Left: Raw Material (Quantity). Right: Extracted Essence (Yield). The goal is to balance the two without losing the "Ghost" in the process.

The Audit: Yield (Manufacturing) vs. Potency (Biology)

Metric High Ratio Extract (e.g., 10:1 Powder) Full Spectrum Extract (e.g., 1:1 Liquid)
Definition 10kg of herb becomes 1kg of powder. 1kg of herb is extracted into 1L of liquid.
What is Lost Fiber, Volatile Oils (Terpenes), and the "Entourage." Only the insoluble fiber; the Matrix remains intact.
Goal Concentration of specific marker compounds. Preservation of the complete bio-identity.
Risk "Spiking" or "Dusting" (Concentrating poor quality). Requires higher volume for effect (Taste).

1. The Ratio Myth

Marketing has trained you to look for the highest number. You see "50:1 Extract" and think it is superior to a "5:1 Extract." This is the Ratio Myth. A ratio is a manufacturing specification, not a guarantee of quality. It describes Yield (how much weight was lost), not Potency (how much medicine remains).

If a manufacturer starts with 100lbs of root and boils it down to 10lbs of brown powder, they can label it a "10:1 Extract." However, a 5:1 concentration is often more than enough to capture the primary constituents along with their necessary partners. Pushing for a higher number often sacrifices this balance. Conversely, a 1:1 Liquid Extract made from the same root retains a concentration of solids but preserves a vastly higher profile of constituents. These elements work together in the "Entourage Effect" to maintain Bio-Energetic Integrity (Qi).

2. Milligrams vs. Menstruum: The Liquid Advantage

In the world of capsules, we count milligrams. In the world of Liquid Dynamics, we look at the Herb Weight Equivalence. Liquid extracts prioritize the preservation of the "Ghost"—the volatile oils, terpenes, and subtle energetic signatures that are often destroyed by the heat required to dry a powder.

When you see a label on a tincture, do not look for "mg of powder." Look for the ratio. A 1:1 or 1:2 extract means the menstruum (the solvent) is saturated with the essence of the plant. It is "Near-Nature." A 100:1 powder has stripped away the carrier matrix, leaving an isolate that the body may struggle to recognize.

3. The Wisdom of Manufacture

The Alchemist knows when to concentrate and when to preserve. Some substances, like medicinal mushrooms (Reishi, Chaga), have tough chitin walls that require hot-water extraction and concentration (8:1 or higher) to make the beta-glucans bioavailable. This is wise concentration.

However, aromatic herbs like Mint, Holy Basil, or fresh Roots often lose their magic when concentrated too heavily. In these cases, the Sovereign chooses a lower ratio (1:1 or 1:3) to ensure the Entourage Effect remains intact. The goal is not just to ingest a molecule, but to ingest the wisdom the plant used to survive.

The Sovereign Reframe: You are not looking for the "highest number" on the label; you are looking for the truest representation of the plant. Efficiency is not always Efficacy.

Codex V: The Art of Administration

You understand the Ratio. Now, master the Intake: