Herbs

In the Herbs category, we have gathered plant materials in three forms: single-ingredient herbal blends for aromatherapy, ready herbal mixtures, including herbs for vaporization, and powdered extracts. The mixtures have a separate subcategory Herbal Mixtures, and the extracts a subcategory Standardized Extracts. The forms differ in purpose, label description, and how to handle them.

Single-Ingredient Herbal Blend

A single-ingredient herbal blend consists of one plant, usually from a specific part: leaf, flower, flower head, cone, bark, or root. Examples include lemon balm leaf in a 10 g package, whole flower heads of common chamomile in an 8 g package, and cones of common hop in a 7 g package. Check the Latin name on the label, as it clearly indicates what is inside.

Herbs from this category are placed in airtight, light-resistant boxes with a seal or in jars, and inside lies a Boveda humidity regulator sachet. Before use, grind it in a grinder, as the manufacturer recommends for lavender.

The grinding method depends on the part of the plant. Lemon balm leaf is crushed between fingers, so the grinder is only used to even out the fraction, while catuaba bark separates into long fibers that need to be ground in a grinder. Gunpowder green tea consists of leaves rolled into balls: unfold them between your fingers or grind them just before use and sprinkle loosely, as the rolled leaf swells.

Vaporization Mixtures Harmony Blends

Harmony Blends consist of three dried herbs in a 20 g package, intended solely for vaporization, not for brewing or consumption. The manufacturer declares that they do not contain cannabinoids or nicotine. All five compositions, along with ingredient proportions and temperature ranges, are described in the Herbal Mixtures category.

Herbs for Vaporization: Temperature and Grinding

Herbs for vaporization require a vaporizer with temperature control. The recommended range is provided separately for each product; for catuaba bark, it is printed on the jar lid, and for mixtures, it is tailored to the raw materials.

Grind the herbs to a convenient consistency and do not pack them tightly in the chamber, and do not transfer settings between products. You can read more about selecting temperature in the guide which herbs to vaporize and at what temperatures.

Extracts: Ratio or Standardization

Powdered extracts are described in two ways. The ratio notation, for example, 20:1, indicates how many grams of raw material were used to produce one gram of extract, so 1 g of 20:1 kanna extract corresponds to 20 g of raw material. The percentage notation, for example, 5% withanolides in ashwagandha extract or 5% flavonoids in passionflower extract, indicates the content of a selected group of compounds.

Extracts are packaged in 1 g, 5 g, 10 g, or 25 g, and the same extract usually has several weights with the same ratio. The powder is loose, so a scale will be useful for weighing small amounts.

What to Look for on the Label

• Latin name of the plant and the part used: leaf, flower, root, or bark
• net weight, and in mixtures, the weight proportions of the ingredients
• purpose indicated by the manufacturer, for example, vaporization or aromatherapy
• recommended temperature range for vaporization mixtures
• contraindications, for Harmony Blends: allergy to ingredients, pregnancy, and breastfeeding

Store herbs in a dry, dark place, in a tightly sealed package and out of reach of children.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between herbal blend and extract?

An herbal blend is a dried part of the plant in its natural form, such as lemon balm leaf or hop cones. An extract is a powdered extract, described by a ratio, for example, 10:1, or a percentage content of a selected group of compounds. You grind the herbal blend in a grinder, while the extract is already powder. Extracts are packaged in 1, 5, 10, or 25 g.

What does the notation 20:1 mean for the extract?

It means that 20 g of raw material was used to produce 1 g of extract. This is how the kanna extract and valerian extract are described, where 10 g of extract corresponds to 200 g of raw material. The ratio indicates the degree of concentration, not the content of a specific compound.

Where can I check the vaporization temperature for Harmony Blends mixtures?

In the description of the specific mixture: each of the five has its own range, and the complete list can be found in the Herbal Mixtures category. You need a vaporizer with temperature control, and you do not transfer settings from one mixture to another. Grind the herbs and do not pack them tightly in the chamber.

Can vaporization mixtures be brewed?

No. The manufacturer Harmony Blends designates them solely for vaporization, not for brewing or consumption. For other herbs, follow the purpose indicated on the specific product card. Each Harmony Blends mixture consists of three dried herbs and has its own temperature range tailored to the raw materials.

Do Harmony Blends mixtures contain nicotine?

No. The manufacturer declares that Harmony Blends mixtures do not contain nicotine or cannabinoids, and the composition of each consists of three dried herbs in the proportions indicated on the label. The product is legal and subject to excise duty. As contraindications, the manufacturer lists allergy to ingredients, pregnancy, and breastfeeding.