not sure, maybe you find this useful edit: its seems to me that it may not be necesarry to do an extraction after fermenting the plant material.
From: [Email]sagemansd@...[/Email] Date: Thu Aug 30, 2001 2:32 pm Subject: preparation of plant to powder - Important ! [Email]sagemansd@...[/Email] Send Email
I have been looking to prepare this herb and have sent this Question all over:
"I plan to make a product like what is sold. Do you know how this is done,as I have noticed that the product is sold as Sceletium tortuosum 'Fermented and powdered'. Had i not read that i would have just dried and powdered .what do i needto do to prepare it properly if anything?"
I received two gracious reponses- see below
Preparation drying 1.The plant contains a quantity of oxalic acid, which causes some distress in humans. Other plants containing this can cause chemical burns on the portions of the body involved in the ingesting (ie mouth, throat, whatever). I presume that same would be true of Sceletium spp. Fermenting allows for decomposition of the oxalic acids, as does heating. Traditionally oxalic acid containing foods were often leached of their offending compounds in water, though this alone is never sufficient. Very, very thorough drying is suppossedly sufficient to destroy the oxalic compounds, but I have to speak with anyone who has managed to make such a food substance safe to eat by drying alone. Drying (VERY thoroughly) and then heating seems to work if one is diligent enough. I cannot comment on how the fermentation process may alter the active ingredient profile of Sceletium spp. I simply do not know. Heating the powder seems to have no harmful effect.
2. Yeah, you need to break down the oxalates in the leaves. This can be done by placing a whole bunch of fresh leaves in a pile. Since the leaves are made up of mostly water, the leaves will eventualy break down into a gooey mass. As this gooey mass of leaves dries, the oxalates will be broken down. After about two weeks the material should be dry and safe to consume. Another way of getting rid of the oxlates in the leaves would be to dry the leaves like you would dry salvia d. leaves etc. Once the leaves our dry all you have to do is stick them in a 175 degree oven for about 30 minutes. This removes all the oxalates and leaves you with dried leaves that can be powdered and consumed. Oxaltes cause kidney stones and limit the absorption of calcium and magnesium in your body. Knowing this, I wouldn't advise consuming sceletium wihtout removing the oxaltes first. Although it can't be that harmfull as spinach contains 645mg of oxalte per 100 gram serving. Although, I would not attempt to snort sceletium that has not had the oxalates removed as that would cause extreme discomfort.
Edited by giz (04/14/06 03:10 PM)
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