Gnaphalium oxyphyllum 1:1 extract: Mexican gordolobo in liquid form
Gnaphalium oxyphyllum belongs to the Asteraceae, the same family as chamomile and the sunflower. The species is native to Mexico and grows in the northwest, in Sonora, as well as in the centre of the country around Morelos, Tlaxcala and Mexico City. Locally it goes by the name gordolobo. That name is worth a footnote: in Spain the same word refers to mullein, a completely different plant, so always check the Latin name when you compare products.
Mexican herbal tradition works mainly with the flowering tops. For generations they have been simmered into a decoction, sweetened with honey and taken warm, usually in the evening. This bottle holds the same plant material in liquid, concentrated form. The 1:1 marking refers to the ratio the tincture was made at: one part plant material per part of finished product. That keeps the extract close to the herb itself, unlike extracts that have been reduced much further.
Measuring and storing the tincture
The Fit-Up! bottle contains 10 ml and has a pipette cap, so you count drops instead of guessing. Give the bottle a short shake before use, since plant extract tends to settle. Follow the instructions on the label and start low. With a concentrated extract you can always build up, but you cannot take anything back. Keep the bottle cool, dry and dark, with the cap firmly closed, and out of reach of children. If you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start using a herbal tincture.
About the herbal tinctures at Avalon
The 1:1 extracts form a long series of single herbs, all in the same 10 ml bottle. That makes them easy to compare and to combine, and you always know exactly what is in your hand. Alongside Gnaphalium oxyphyllum, Avalon Magic Plants also stocks Calendula officinalis, Echinacea purpurea, Matricaria chamomilla, Thymus vulgaris and Valeriana officinalis. Every order leaves our warehouse discreetly packed.
