Starting Herb
The relative amount of raw herbal material used, such as dried root, leaf, fruit or aerial parts.
Herb Hub · Label Guidance
Herbal Extract Strength, Explained Clearly
A practical guide to reading 1:1, 1:2 and 10:1 ratios, understanding equivalent dry weight and standardised extracts, and comparing herbal labels accurately.
✦Table of Contents
✦Key Takeaways
- The number before the colon refers to the starting herb; the number after it refers to the extract produced.
- A 1:2 liquid extract uses one part herb to make two parts finished extract.
- A 10:1 extract uses ten parts herb to produce one part extract.
- Equivalent dry weight describes the starting dried herb represented—not the physical weight inside the capsule.
- Ratio, species, plant part, solvent, standardisation and daily dose should be read together.
Start with the relationship
What an Herbal Extract Ratio Actually Compares
Herbal ratios are not a universal potency scale. They describe how much herbal material was used in relation to the quantity of extract produced.
In a ratio such as 10:1, the first number refers to the starting herb and the second to the extract produced. Ten parts of herb produce one part of extract. In a 1:2 ratio, one part of herb produces two parts of preparation.
Australian terminology generally expresses this concentration as the weight of starting herbal material relative to the quantity of the final preparation, measured by weight or volume depending on the product.
Extract Produced
The relative quantity of liquid, soft or dry extract obtained after processing.
Units and Wording
Check whether the label refers to dry or fresh herb, liquid or dry extract, the amount per dose and any equivalent-weight statement.
Native vs Total Extract
A ratio may refer to native extract or to total extract that includes carriers. Confirm the convention before comparing products.
The simplest rule: read a ratio as “starting herb : extract produced”. Treat it as one piece of formulation information—not a stand-alone score for quality or effectiveness.
Liquid preparations
How to Read 1:1 and 1:2 Herbal Extracts
Ratios such as 1:1 and 1:2 commonly appear on liquid extracts and tinctures. When a label uses dried herb and finished volume as its basis, read them as follows.
1:1 liquid extract
One part herb makes one part extract
For example, 1 g of dried herb may be used to produce 1 mL of liquid extract. A 2 mL serving would represent approximately 2 g of starting dried herb.
1:2 liquid extract
One part herb makes two parts extract
For example, 1 g of dried herb may be used to produce 2 mL of liquid extract. A 2 mL serving would represent approximately 1 g of starting dried herb.
When the herb, plant part and manufacturing basis are comparable, a 1:1 liquid represents more starting herb per millilitre than a 1:2 liquid. This alone does not make it the better choice; extraction solvent, plant chemistry, dose and intended use still matter.
Unit check: the label or technical information must establish what the ratio compares. Do not automatically interpret every 1:1 as “1 g per 1 mL” when the product uses a different basis.
Concentrated preparations
How to Read a 10:1 Herbal Extract
A 10:1 ratio means ten parts of starting herb were used to produce one part of extract. Dry concentrated extracts often appear in capsules and tablets and are measured in milligrams.
Worked example: if a capsule contains 500 mg of a 10:1 dry extract, multiply the extract amount by the first number in the ratio: 500 mg × 10 = 5,000 mg. The capsule therefore represents 5 g of starting dried herb.
| Label notation | Plain-English meaning | Example amount | Equivalent starting herb | Important caution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:1 liquid | 1 part herb makes 1 part extract | 2 mL | 2 g dry herb equivalent | Only where the stated basis is 1 g:1 mL |
| 1:2 liquid | 1 part herb makes 2 parts extract | 2 mL | 1 g dry herb equivalent | Read the starting material and units |
| 5:1 dry extract | 5 parts herb make 1 part extract | 200 mg | 1,000 mg dry herb equivalent | Ratio alone does not identify extracted constituents |
| 10:1 dry extract | 10 parts herb make 1 part extract | 300 mg | 3,000 mg dry herb equivalent | Do not compare ratios without dose and extract details |
| 4–6:1 dry extract | 4 to 6 parts herb make 1 part extract | 100 mg | 400–600 mg dry herb equivalent | A range should remain a range |
The number that causes most confusion
What “Equivalent Dry Weight” Means
Equivalent dry weight, often written as “equiv. dry”, is the amount of starting dried herb represented by the extract. It is not the physical weight of extract inside a capsule or the volume of liquid in a bottle.
The TGA calculation is: extraction ratio, expressed as a fraction, × quantity of extract = equivalent dry or fresh weight. Comparable units must be used.
Example labelHerb X root extract dry concentrate 500 mg.
Ratio10:1 means 10 parts starting herb to 1 part extract.
Result500 mg × 10 = 5,000 mg, or 5 g, equivalent dry root.
Dry extract example: 200 mg of a 5:1 extract represents 1,000 mg equivalent dry herb.
Liquid extract example: under a 1 g:2 mL basis, 2 mL of a 1:2 liquid represents 1 g equivalent dry herb.
Range example: 100 mg of a 4–6:1 extract represents 400–600 mg of starting herb. It should not be turned into one falsely precise number.
Fresh versus dry: check whether the equivalence statement refers to fresh or dried material. Those numbers are not interchangeable because fresh plant material contains water.
What is actually in the capsule? If the label says “extract 500 mg, equiv. dry 5 g”, the capsule contains 500 mg of extract—not 5 g of powdered herb.
The comparison trap
Why a Higher Ratio Is Not Automatically a Better Extract
Common assumption
“10:1 must be ten times stronger than 1:1”
A larger ratio can look more potent, but products may use different dose forms, extraction systems or ratio conventions. The number alone does not show which constituents were captured or how much is taken.
What it actually means
Ratios describe material-to-extract yield
A ratio helps calculate how much starting herb an extract represents. It does not by itself establish quality, bioavailability, clinical effect or suitability.
Species and plant part: different species and plant parts can have distinct chemical profiles. Confirm both the botanical name and the part used.
Extraction solvent: water, ethanol, glycerol and other systems extract different groups of plant constituents. The same herb and ratio can therefore produce different preparations.
Standardisation: a standardised extract is controlled or adjusted to a stated constituent or marker level. Check that the label names the constituent and its amount; the word “standardised” alone does not establish greater strength.
Native/genuine versus total extract: genuine extract excludes added excipients, while total extract can include carriers. Confirm which ratio is declared before comparing supplier specifications.
Finished daily dose: compare the total supplied by the labelled daily directions. A high-ratio extract taken in a small dose may represent less starting herb than a lower-ratio extract taken in a larger dose.
A practical seven-step method
How to Read a Herbal Extract Label
1. Identify the herb. Check both the common name and botanical species, as similar common names can refer to different plants.
2. Find the plant part. Root, leaf, flower, seed, fruit and bark are not interchangeable.
3. Identify the preparation. Is it dried herb, tincture, liquid extract, dry extract, concentrated extract or standardised extract?
4. Read the ratio from left to right. The first number describes the starting herb; the second describes the extract produced.
5. Check the actual extract amount. Note the milligrams or millilitres supplied per capsule, tablet, scoop or measured liquid dose.
6. Check the equivalent dry or fresh weight. Confirm how much starting herbal material the extract represents and whether the amount is stated per unit or per daily dose.
7. Look for standardisation, directions and warnings. Check any declared constituent, follow the labelled directions and consider medicines, health conditions, allergies, pregnancy and breastfeeding.
A useful comparison
Compare the same herb species, plant part and preparation type, with a clearly stated ratio, equivalent weight and daily dose.
An unreliable shortcut
Choosing the largest ratio or front-label number without checking what it represents.
Quick answers before you compare
FAQs + Checklist
Use these quick answers when a herbal label combines ratios, extract weights, equivalent dry weights and standardised constituents.
Is a 10:1 extract stronger than a 1:1 extract?
Not necessarily. A 10:1 ratio represents more starting herb per unit of extract, but products may differ in dose form, plant part, solvent, constituent profile or ratio convention. Compare the complete preparation and daily dose.
Does “equiv. dry 5 g” mean the capsule contains 5 g?
No. It means the extract represents 5 g of starting dried herb. The physical extract may weigh much less, such as 500 mg of a 10:1 extract.
Are 1:1 liquid extracts always the best?
No. A 1:1 liquid generally represents more starting herb per millilitre than a comparable 1:2 liquid, but the right choice still depends on the herb, plant part, solvent, intended use and labelled dose.
What does “standardised extract” mean?
It means the preparation is controlled or adjusted to meet a defined level of a named constituent or marker. Check which constituent is stated and how much is supplied instead of relying on the word “standardised” alone.
Why can two products have the same equivalent dry weight but different extract amounts?
They may use different extraction ratios. For example, 500 mg of a 10:1 extract and 1,000 mg of a 5:1 extract can both represent 5 g of starting herb. This does not make the extracts chemically or clinically equivalent.
Can I use the ratio to choose my dose?
No. A ratio helps interpret the preparation; it does not determine an appropriate personal dose. Follow the product directions and seek professional advice where suitability or dosing is uncertain.
Bring it together
Conclusion
Read herbal extract ratios as manufacturing information, not as a universal potency scale. They show the relationship between starting herb and extract, while equivalent dry weight states how much starting dried herb the extract represents.
For a meaningful comparison, also check the species, plant part, extraction solvent, preparation type, standardised constituents, daily dose and warnings.
That extra minute of label reading helps turn a large front-label number into useful context.
Continue exploring
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A final note
Important Information
Disclaimer
This page provides general educational information about herbal extract terminology. It is not medical, prescribing or regulatory advice, and an extraction ratio does not determine whether a product is suitable for an individual. Product formulations and regulatory information can change, so check the current label and manufacturer information.
Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Consult a qualified healthcare professional if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, preparing for surgery, managing a medical condition, considering a product for a child or unsure about suitability. For more details, read our Health Disclaimer & Liability Notice.
References
- Therapeutic Goods Administration. TGA approved terminology for therapeutic goods.
- Therapeutic Goods Administration. Substituting equivalent herbal extract ingredients in listed medicines.
- Therapeutic Goods Administration. Plant preparations.
- Therapeutic Goods Administration. Complete approved herbal names.
- Therapeutic Goods Administration. Supporting claims and indications for listed medicines.
- European Medicines Agency. Guideline on quality of herbal medicinal products and traditional herbal medicinal products.
- European Medicines Agency. Questions and answers on quality of herbal medicinal products.
