When a herbal supplement lists a dose in milligrams, it is telling you the weight of the material in the capsule. It is not telling you the concentration of active compounds within that material. These are not the same thing.
A raw powder is exactly what it sounds like — dried plant material ground to a powder and encapsulated. The active compounds are present at whatever concentration they occur naturally in the raw material. Which is low. Typically 1–2% of the total mass.
The Difference Between Raw Powder and Extract
To produce a 20:1 extract, you start with 20kg of raw plant material and reduce it to 1kg of concentrated active compound. The capsule contains that concentrated compound — not the raw material. 500mg of a 20:1 extract is the equivalent of 10,000mg of raw powder, concentrated into a form the body can absorb more efficiently.
"Two products listing the same dose can have radically different effects. A 500mg capsule of raw powder and a 500mg capsule of a 200:1 extract share a name and a dose number. Nothing else."
Alchemy Fit — The Alchemy StandardWhy This Matters in Practice
The majority of products on the high street and the dominant players in online supplement retail use raw powders or low-ratio extracts. They cost less to produce. They look identical on a label to someone who does not know to check the ratio. And they produce a fraction of the effect of a properly extracted compound at a dose that reflects the research.
What to Look For on a Label
- The extraction ratio — stated as X:1. If it is not stated, assume raw powder.
- Standardisation — some extracts are standardised to a specific percentage of active compound, e.g. 'standardised to 40% eurycomanone'. This tells you the active compound content directly.
- The 'other ingredients' list — a long list of excipients indicates a product formulated for manufacturing efficiency. Read our full guide on fillers and binders here.
- The source of the extract — compounds like Thai Black Ginger are geographically specific. Southeast Asian source matters.
Our Approach
Every product in the Alchemy Fit range lists its extraction ratio explicitly. We use 200:1 for Tongkat Ali — the highest ratio commercially available. 20:1 for Lion's Mane, Cistanche, Fadogia Agrestis and Panax Ginseng. 25:1 for Berberine. 10:1 for Thai Black Ginger and Ashwagandha.
These ratios are not marketing. They are the difference between a dose that reflects the research and a dose that reflects what is cheap to produce.
Editorial note: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the MHRA. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before beginning any supplementation.