where to buy 80-100% proof alcohol to make herbal medicines in CM

[Greeen]

I would like to try and make some herbal medicine tinctures

does anyone know where I can buy 80-100% proof alcohol suitable for internal use?

[WinnieTheKhwai]

[Pond Life]

Pharmacies only seem to sell 70%, its tinted blue.

Hardware stores sell 100% in their paint departments.

BUT, is this stuff safe for medicinal use ?

Ive just noticed that in the OP you asked for 80-100% proof.

Thats only 40-50% by volume.

If thats what you realy want, then some Lao Khao from the village will be plenty strong enough.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

Union Science on Suthep road sells 95, 97.x and 99.x% ethanol

Not sure if its suitable for internal use due to additives but they should be able to confirm

[Konini]

I bought some once for cleaning my electronic ciggies from the pharmacy supply shop inside the moat almost exactly opposite the Samsung Service Centre. I think it was 98% and definitely clear.

[Greeen]

Union Science on Suthep road sells 95, 97.x and 99.x% ethanol

Not sure if its suitable for internal use due to additives but they should be able to confirm

I was thinking of going to Union Science, I bought some PH strips there some time ago...

I thought I'd ask on the forum first and to see if any of you guys knew of anywhere else...

[Greeen]

Pharmacies only seem to sell 70%, its tinted blue.

Hardware stores sell 100% in their paint departments.

BUT, is this stuff safe for medicinal use ?

Ive just noticed that in the OP you asked for 80-100% proof.

Thats only 40-50% by volume.

If thats what you realy want, then some Lao Khao from the village will be plenty strong enough.

Thanks for the info

I just want some really strong alcohol to make the tinctures

I will probably end up going the Lao Khao route!

[northernjohn]

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Union Science on Suthep road sells 95, 97.x and 99.x% ethanol

Not sure if its suitable for internal use due to additives but they should be able to confirm

190 proof 194 proof and 198 proof

I bought some once for cleaning my electronic ciggies from the pharmacy supply shop inside the moat almost exactly opposite the Samsung Service Centre. I think it was 98% and definitely clear.

196 proof.

I believe the man asked for 80 to 100% proof. Are you people trying to kill him?

Seems to me any whiskey store would have a bottle in that range. They are also suitable for internal use.

[masuk]

Pharmacies only seem to sell 70%, its tinted blue.

Hardware stores sell 100% in their paint departments.

BUT, is this stuff safe for medicinal use ?

Ive just noticed that in the OP you asked for 80-100% proof.

Thats only 40-50% by volume.

If thats what you realy want, then some Lao Khao from the village will be plenty strong enough.

I think you will find that alcohol/methylated spirits is DENATURED alcohol, that is, it contains about 70% ETHANOL or normal alcohol and 30% METHANOL and often PYRIDINE (which gives it a foul taste and the smell warns you off)

METHANOL or METHYL ALCOHOL is deadly. It goes straight for the optic nerve and blindness occurs. The methanol then breaks down in the body, producing FORMALDEHYDE, which is an embalming fluid amongst other things and fatal.

To sum up, when you drink denatured alcohol, you will go blind and when you are buried, you will be well and truly pickled.

Leave the paint shop stuff well alone.

To buy pure alcohol for food production usually means a high duty must be paid.

[cloudhopper]

The blue alcohol is isopropyl and the paint store sells methanol. The purest ethanol easily available would probably be a good vodka, since you are making small quantities of medicinal tincture. Would be easy enough to further distill a small amount if you need it really pure.

[Greeen]

I came across a chemical supply shop near Chang Phuak Gate

They sell Pharmaceutical Grade Ethyl Alcohol 95+99% for 105 baht for 500ml

The girl in the shop said people use it to make Whiskey

[jaideeguy]

An old friend used to make herbal tinctures using a 150 proof Russian vodka and I always thought 'what a waste of alcohol'..............

[cloudhopper]

An old friend used to make herbal tinctures using a 150 proof Russian vodka and I always thought 'what a waste of alcohol'..............

I imagine some herb is better than others.

[masuk]

I came across a chemical supply shop near Chang Phuak Gate

They sell Pharmaceutical Grade Ethyl Alcohol 95+99% for 105 baht for 500ml

The girl in the shop said people use it to make Whiskey

Wow! I'm amazed they can get away with this. In Australia, pure alcohol is monitored by Customs and every drop must be accounted for.

Where it is used in the confectionery industry, it has a duty of $16.00 per litre.

I'm not surprised it's used for making whisky in Thailand!

[damole]

There's a 2nd chemical supplies shop on Suthep Road called Vechavit. It's next to the 7-11 at the junction with Sirimangkalajarn. The man that runs it is very friendly, I have been going there for a some years. I bought some iso-propyl alcohol last week to clean some RAM slots in my PC. I was told it was pure 100%. I guess he meant 99.nn%.

[femi fan]

Using lao kao, or any thai whiskey, riddled with chemicals and other crap, to make herbal tinctures is a crazy idea!! Herbal tinctures are supposed to help with health, not hinder it with chemicals galore.

I did think you could use vodka for such things. But the key thing is to avoid thai spirits, and to use a quality western brand.

I wonder if the chinese herb shop near worawot market would sell any alcohol for this purpose? After all, they sell herbal alcohols there, but not seen any actual tinctures.

I"ve just checked in my chinese herb book, and instructions to make tonics say to use x litres of vodka, rum, or brandy, or chinese kao liang (which is 150 proof).

But i'd reiterate not to use thai spirits!

[Greeen]

Using lao kao, or any thai whiskey, riddled with chemicals and other crap, to make herbal tinctures is a crazy idea!! Herbal tinctures are supposed to help with health, not hinder it with chemicals galore.

I did think you could use vodka for such things. But the key thing is to avoid thai spirits, and to use a quality western brand.

I wonder if the chinese herb shop near worawot market would sell any alcohol for this purpose? After all, they sell herbal alcohols there, but not seen any actual tinctures.

I"ve just checked in my chinese herb book, and instructions to make tonics say to use x litres of vodka, rum, or brandy, or chinese kao liang (which is 150 proof).

But i'd reiterate not to use thai spirits!

Thanks for the advice...

I think people may have been joking about using the Lao Kao, I would never use it, but I wouldn't use a Chinese brand either...

I'm using pharmaceutical grade 99.8% ethyl alcohol purchased from the chemical supply shop just past Chang Phuak gate

[DavidOxon]

You really need to check that it is food grade!

[Greeen]

You really need to check that it is food grade!

I think Pharmaceutical grade is of a higher quality than food grade, it does say Pharmaceutical grade on the label...

It's produced by

Liquor Distillery Organisation Excise Department

http://www.liquor.or.th.122.155.171.22.no-domain.name/EN/product1.php

Edited October 3, 2014 by Greeen

[muratremix]

Sorry to bump up old thread but, avoid any ethanol over 96 percent volume.

They have to use benzen (cancer causing chemical) to make ethanol over 96 percent (99% for example).

 

food grade ethanol must be obtained from natural ways and distilled up to 96 percent, if you want safe for whatever goes to your belly (medicine, vodka, liquor etc)

[Dante99]

9 minutes ago, muratremix said:

Sorry to bump up old thread but, avoid any ethanol over 96 percent volume.

They have to use benzen (cancer causing chemical) to make ethanol over 96 percent (99% for example).

 

food grade ethanol must be obtained from natural ways and distilled up to 96 percent, if you want safe for whatever goes to your belly (medicine, vodka, liquor etc)

There are really a lot of good books to read, you can buy them online and read on your computer or smart phone.