What Everybody Ought to Know About Supercritical Co2 Extraction

First of all, what the heck is supercritical or Co2 extraction? What makes it great? Why does Tattva’s Herbs make such a big deal about it? What does PSE mean that is listed in their ingredients? How does this stuff benefit Ayurvedic Herbs?

Friends, we know this can all seem very confusing, but we will do our best to explain our unique extraction process and the reasons it makes our products unique. We have put many years of research into different extraction technologies, how they effect the efficacy of the herbs, and how these different processes effect the way our bodies interact with the final products. We can tell you that with confidence, the type of extraction(s) technologies that we practice provide you the cleanest and most expansive picture of our herbs that we know to be possible today.

What is supercritical or sometimes referred to as Co2 extraction?

This is a pretty good definition of the supercritical extraction process from Eden Botanicals.

The CO2 extraction process consists of pumping pressurized carbon dioxide into a chamber filled with plant matter. When carbon dioxide is subjected to pressure it becomes “supercritical” and has liquid properties while remaining in a gaseous state. Because of the liquid properties of the gas, the CO2 functions as a solvent, pulling the oils and other substances such as pigment and resin from the plant matter. Thus, the difference between CO2, or supercritical, extraction and traditional distillation is that CO2 is used as a solvent instead of heated water or steam. The temperature involved in the supercritical extraction process is around 95 to 100 degrees F as opposed to 140 to 212 degrees F in steam distillation.

What makes Co2 extraction great?

There are many benefits to using this type of extraction technology, and it can all be a bit confusing. Here is our attempt to break it down to simple terms. Here is a bulleted list of the top benefits (in our eyes) of using this extraction method:

• Superior in terms of both freshness and breadth of active constituents left in the herbs
• Full spectrum or more active constituents of the plant are realized with a potency that cannot be surpassed
• Extracts are pure and clean – free of solvent residues
• Mild operating temperature ensures product stability and quality
• The only type of extraction that unlocks the fat soluable components of the plant

What does PSE mean that is listed in your ingredients?

PSE (Post Supercritical Extract) simply refers to the water soluable extract that is performed after (in addition to) the Co2 extract. That’s right, we perform not one, but TWO different extracts in our products because using different materials, extracts different components of the plant. The Co2 extraction delivers the fat soluable plant “goodies”, while the PSE or water extract, delivers the water soluable components of the plant. In addition to the two different types of extraction, Tattva’s Herbs one-of-a-kind technology combines the two extractions with some of the “raw” unextracted plant material. In every capsule you take from Tattva’s Herbs there are essentially three different components. The final piece “raw herb” is very important as it acts as a “chemical messenger” in your body. In simplified terms, the raw plant or herb component informs your body how to use these extracts. This is a vital in ensuring your body can realize the full potential and benefits of these herbs.

As you can see, this subject can appear very scientific and complex, but hopefully this article helps clarify some of the basic questions you may have had about how Tattva’s Herbs processes their products, and the reasons they are truly of the finest quality available today.

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to send us an email at info@tattvasherbs.com or give us a call at 877-828-8824.