The ratio describes the concentration of a tincture. We use a 1:4 ratio, meaning 1 part dried herb (in grams) to 4 parts menstruum (the combined alcohol and herb). A ratio of 1:5 has more liquid to the same amount of herb and is therefore more diluted. A ratio of 1:10 or higher is very diluted and requires very high daily doses and is not recommended. Tinctures made at 1:2 are often too concentrated for Lyme patients and commonly induce Herx reactions that can be very intense. Most tinctures on the market are made at 1:5. We’ve chosen to use 1:4 to ensure greater potency while  still being very safe and tolerable.

Using the correct alcohol percentage to extract the specific medicinal constituents of that herb is of highest importance when making a tincture. Using more or less alcohol essentially reflects the chemical nature of the compounds that we want to extract into the liquid portion. A tincture made at 40% versus one made at 80% is not twice at strong. It simply implies that for the first herb, 40% alcohol will optimally extract the medicinal qualities. For the second herb, 80% is the concentration for optimal extraction. We’ve gone to great lengths to ensure that our tinctures are made using the correct concentrations.

Please note that not all herbal tinctures on the market are made with the appropriate alcohol concentration so use our site as a reference or conduct your own research to make sure you’re purchasing the best formulated tincture possible.

We source our herbs from multiple suppliers, with the aim of providing the very best final product. We aim for certified organic or wildcrafted where available, but that is not always possible for harder to find herbs. Some herbs (Cryptolepis for example) are native to West Africa where organic certification is non-existent. In these cases we’ve spoken at great length with the suppliers to verify that they are in fact organically grown, even if there is not documentation. Most of the herbs that are used in the Buhner protocol are not native to Canada so the vast majority are imported.

Ultimately, the herbs come from their native habitat, which will vary widely. The more common western botanicals that we carry are all organically sourced and certified however there is not clear documentation for the rest of the herbs so we decided against making that claim across our website. Despite that we have gone to great length to ensure that we’ve sourced the highest quality possible herbs that we are confident in selling to our customers.

Our tinctures are primarily made using dry herbs. There are only a few herbs that are best prepared fresh because their constituents are present in higher concentration. Based on that, we will use fresh herb when applicable and it will be noted within the product description. 

Herbal tinctures are generally taken on an empty stomach (1 hour before and after meals). They can be taken directly or added to 1oz of water if the taste is hard to swallow. Dosing of herbal tinctures will vary from 1 drop once per day up to 1 tsp 3 times per day. When taking anti-microbial herbal tinctures, starting at a lower dose and increasing slowly is the general rule of thumb. Speak with your primary care provider to determine the correct dose for your needs.

Store your herbal tincture in the brown glass bottle it was shipped to you in, at room temperature and away from direct sunlight.

The length of time a tincture should be taken  will vary considerably based on your state of health, the infection / symptom you’re trying to treat and other medications or treatments you are concurrently taking.

Most people with chronic tick-borne infections take an herbal tincture for between 3 months and 2 years.

For more general purpose, its recommended to take an herbal tincture for at least 1 month to see the best results.

It is not required that you evaporate the alcohol content of your herbal tincture but if you find it too hard to tolerate, or if you are providing the tincture for a child, you can evaporate the alcohol by warming the tincture on the stove in an uncovered pot. The alcohol evaporates before the liquid boils so take it off the heat just before starting to boil. Boiling the herbal tincture will decrease its potency. Note: if you’ve evaporated off the alcohol, store the herbal tincture in the fridge and consume within a couple weeks.

Liquid tinctures are absorbed faster and more completely. Doses are easily controlled which allows you to start slow and increase gradually and liquid tinctures are also better tolerated by the gut, leading to less nausea or upset stomach compared to taking dry herbs.

Yes! Shipping is free on orders over $249 to addresses within Canada and the USA.

*Our free shipping policy / minimum is subject to change at anytime.

Shipping costs are calculated based on delivery location and the size/weight of your order.

To get an accurate shipping quote, add your desired products to your cart and fill in your shipping address on the checkout page. All available shipping options and their prices will be presented to you.

We use a variety of couriers including, but not limited to:

• Canada Post
• UPS
• Fedex
• ICS
• Canpar
• Purolator
• DHL

Packages that have cleared US or international customs may be transferred to you by additional carriers.

Yes we do! Just make sure to include your PO information in address line 2 during checkout.

Yes! All international orders will be sent by tracked international air and typically arrive within 6-14 business days.

Please note: customs may hold your package and shipping times could be increased.

*Additional custom fees may be added to your package upon arrival. This cost is at the sole ownership of the purchaser.

We will gladly refund the purchase price of your unopened, returned product in full within thirty (30) days of the original purchase date. 

• Items for return must be sent back at the expense of the customer.
• Unwanted items must be unopened with the safety seal fully intact for refunds to be issued. No exceptions.
• Product sent back without pre-approval may not be refunded.

All refund requests should be sent to support@apexbotancials.com. Include your order number and a description of the reason for the desired return. We will investigate, and evaluate the request. We will contact you before a replacement or refund is issued.

If a product is opened and/or used, we cannot offer any refunds.

Apex Botanicals is not responsible for adverse reactions to our products (including but not limited to: temporary worsening of symptoms, rash, nausea, upset stomach, headaches, etc). Reaction to our products is not cause for a refund. 

Should there have been an error in your order which warrants a refund, please contact us.

No you do not need to be a client to shop on ApexBotanicals.com, however, as a guest you will have limited access to our product catalog.

Guests will have access to licensed Natural Health Products (67 in total as of May 2023). To access an additional 100+ products, register to become a client.

Yes, becoming a client is 100% free!

As a client of Apex Botanicals you will receive:

• Professional herbalist support and guidance
• Access to our comprehensive compounding dispensary of herbal tinctures, capsules and powdered products
• Custom blending services tailored to your needs
• Regular educational content and access to our future online educational database
• Exclusive offers and discounts

Click here to become a client today!

Generally speaking, it is safe for children to consume herbal tinctures, but dosing should be adjusted. Refrence ‘Clarks Rule’ for further information.

As always consult your primary care provider before starting a new protocol or giving your child herbal tinctures.

Some herbs are strictly contraindicated in pregnancy and should be avoided. We do our best to indicate this on the product information page but are not held liable for any errors or omissions.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding consult your primary care provider before consuming any herbal tinctures.

Interactions of herbal tinctures with medications or supplements do exist. We strongly recommended consulting your primary care provider or pharmacist before taking any herbal tinctures if you are concerned about potential contraindications.

Our tinctures are made with the highest-quality herbs we can find. Each herbal tincture is made at a concentration of 1:4 to ensure potency and effectiveness. The concentrations of alcohol in each herb varies based on the medicinal properties of each plant. The concentration of alcohol used was determined based on the chemistry of the active ingredients.

We have over 170 different herbs in our dispensary, including all the most common western botanicals, however there are many other herbs not listed on our site.

If you are interested in a specific herbal tincture that is not listed on our website, please contact us at support@apexbotanicals.com.

Note: full access to our herbal catalog is available only to clients. Click here to register.

Yes! You can place an order for a custom blend here.

Each custom blend can contain up to 4 herbs at equal or varying ratios. If you need more than 4 herbs in your blend, please contact us.

We do not sell powdered herbs at this time, however we do carry a small line of encapsulated herbs you can find here.

We may add powdered herbs to our website in the future if the demand is present. Please email us if you have interest.

Yes we do! If you are a qualified practitioner or retail business owner, you can register for a wholesale account here. 

Yes we do! Approved affiliates will make 10% commission on every sale that you refer. To apply, click here.

Note: the affiliate program cannot be used for your own personal purchases.

Conversion for our current bottle sizes:

25ml = 0.85oz
50ml = 1.7oz
100ml = 3.4oz
250ml = 8.5oz
500ml = 16.9oz

Conversion of most common oz sizes:

1oz = 29.6ml
2oz = 59.1ml
4oz = 118.3ml
8oz = 236.6ml
16oz = 473ml

Yes! We’ve listed a few of our most trusted doctors here: Find an LLND/LLMD