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Spagyric Essences

THE TRIA PRIMA OF SPAGYRICS

The title Spagyric is derived from the ancient Greek words spao (to draw out) and agerio (to gather). This term highlights the basic technique underlying the many forms of Spagyric medicines: Separate, purify and recombine.

It’s central blueprint, the Tria Prima, states that all things are composed of three parts: Salt, Sulphur and Mercury. Regarding plants and fungi, the three essentials include the…

ENERGETICS OF FOODS AND NATURAL MEDICINES

In the realm of the energetics of food and natural medicines a common denominator connecting traditional systems of medicine is the classification of foods and natural medicines by their energetic attributes. Simple concepts such as heat, cold, dryness, and moisture are utilized and correlate intimately with the tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, pungent, and salty.

Plants & Planets

Lets explore the relationship between Plants & Planets. In Alchemy, the system used to categorize and describe the nature of substances (such as herbs, mushrooms etc.) is Astrology. This is the study of the Macrocosmic forces of Nature, their rhythm, influence and manifestation in the Microcosmic material plane.

Plants, minerals, and metals having come before humans, serve a different role in Nature. They display more consistent and pure reflections of these grand archetypal, creative and animating forces..

Spagyric Elixirs

WHAT ARE SPAGYRIC ELIXIRS?

Spagyric elixirs include a balance of fixed and volatile components. As a balance point between fixed and volatile, they are associated with the Sulphur principle (the soul/emotional body). The soul/emotional body represents the experience/expression of the universal spark of life (Mercury) inhabiting a unique body (Salt). Spagyric elixirs contain not only the volatile Sulphur (essential oil), but also the fixed Salt (mineral salts). With the fixed qualities of the Salt and volatile Sulphur combined, the equation totals as balanced….

Spagyric Tinctures

WHAT ARE SPAGYRIC TINCTURES?

Spagyric tinctures are predominantly fixed in nature, and therefore can be associated with the Salt principle (the physical body). They contain not only the volatile Sulphur (essential oil), but also the fixed Sulphur (other active/nutritional compounds). With the fixed qualities of the Salt and fixed Sulphur combined, the net sum totals as fixed…

GEMSTONE TINCTURES VIA SICCA

In “The Art of Volatilizing Alkalis,” Starkey outlines a method for creating glass from “imperfect calx of metals” and alkali salts. Because of the popular “Ens Melissa” process, the use of plant-based salts as a potent menstruum is well recognized. But these powerful alkali salts may also be employed in a Dry Path to open and extract the Sulphur of metals and gemstones. In addition to Starkey, Glauber too wrote of this process – particularly mentioning its effectiveness with gemstones…

NANO ORGANO SPAGYRIC ELIXIRS OF GOLD

This article reviews a recipe from Mademoiselle Grimaldi, referenced in the 18^th century book “Course of Chemistry” by Nicolas Lemery. It is toted as a safe and reliable way to create “Aurum Potabile”, a consumable preparation of “finely divided Gold”. Differing from other alchemical preparations of Gold, it is specifically Rosemary essential oil which “extracts” Gold nanoparticles. This contrasts with the more common method of using a plant, animal, or metallic based solvent. Recently, this technique has been studied and subsequently validated as an effective method of creating colloidal Gold solutions…

MEDICINE FOR THE HEAD, THE HEART, AND THE HARA

Before diving into this subject, it should be well noted that the definitions and terminology of Alchemy and Spagyrics are both highly contextual and not always universally agreed upon by the many authors on the subject. For the sake of educational value and initiation into the unique perspective and potential applications of the Spagyric extracts created by Secret Fire Apothecary,it would best to further elaborate upon personal and clinical definitions, parameters and context of three primary types of preparations:essences, elixirs and tinctures…

What is Spagyrics?

Re-ignited in Europe by Paracelsus, an early 16th century physician and father of modern toxicology, a new branch of Alchemy sprouted up through what he titled Spagyrics.

Spagyrics draws from the framework and practices of both laboratory and philosophical Alchemy. It forged a methodology of holistic medicine-making based upon a concept known as the Tria Prima; Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury. Otherwise known as the Body, Soul, and Spirit, these are the three “primes” of all things in the manifest world…

May Dew

The Spring is a very busy time for the practicing Alchemist as it is the season of collecting the famous “May Dew”. During the Waxing Moons of Spring, different methods are used to capture dew that carries the essential life-giving Celestial, Invisible, and Secret Nature’s Fire. It is most prevalent at this time of year, waking everything from the depths of Winter.

From this special dew, many different types of Water Works can be performed such as deliquescing salts, the creation of many different solvents, extraction of powerful salts such as Nitre (potassium & ammonium nitrate), distillations, and more. All efforts to extract, utilize, potentiate and evolve this “Fire”…

Processing Techniques

Although this list of processing techniques is not exhaustive, as Spagyric methodology can be complex and ever-changing, the following is a brief outline of primary modi operandi:

1. MACERATION

Often a first step of extraction processes, the herb being worked upon is digested by an all natural and plant based solvent. Fresh or dried plant materials are mixed with an appropriate solvent for the work, and then enter into a warm incubation period of 2-6 weeks on average. Solvents used include ethyl alcohol, vinegar/acetic acid and saturated solutions of Potassium Carbonate. These three menstruums as they are traditionally called, cover the full spectrum of Ph; neutral, acid and alkali…

Demystifying The Volitile Salts

Demystifying the Volatile Salts produced via co-distillation of pure Sulphur (essential oil) and Salt (potassium carbonate) of the plant kingdom.

As described by various authors/laboratory alchemists such as Rubellus Petrinus, Jean Maveric, Starkey, Van Helmont, Steve Kalec, Guy Ogilvy, Heliophilus, and Michael Nottingham, there is said to be a secret method of sublimating the fixed/non-volatile potassium carbonate salts via co-distillation with the essential oils/volatile Sulphur of plants.

The theory proposed is that through proper preparation of the Salt and Sulphur, by purification and opposing hot/cold temperatures of the salt & oil when combining, that the normally fixed and fire-resistant potassium salt will fly over with the Sulphur/essential oil…

Metallic Oils... Or Are They?

As Alchemy continues to skyrocket into modern popularity, along with it is a broadening scope of educational and commercial endeavours proposing to offer info & purchase of the infamous metallic oils…but all that glitters certainly isn’t gold. All throughout the history of alchemy, patients and practitioners alike have been poisoned or even met their demise through ingestion of improperly prepared metallic tinctures, elixirs

and metallic oils…therefore we should all take heed and tread lightly….

Herbal NanoTechnology

and metallic oils…therefore we should all take heed and tread lightly….

SPAGYRIC ESSENCES
ENERGETICS OF FOODS AND NATURAL MEDICINES
PLANTS & PLANETS
SPAGYRIC ELIXIRS
SPAGYRIC TINCTURES
GEMSTONE TINCTURES VIA SICCA
NANO ORGANO SPAGYRIC ELIXIRS OF GOLD
MEDICINE FOR THE HEAD, THE HEART, AND THE HARA
WHAT IS SPAGYRICS?
MAY DEW
PROCESSING TECHNIQUES
DEMISTIFYING THE VOLATILE SALT
METALLIC OILS... OR ARE THEY?
HERBAL NANOTECHNOLOGY

THE TRIA PRIMA OF SPAGYRICS

It’s central blueprint, the Tria Prima, states that all things are composed of three parts: Salt, Sulphur and Mercury. Regarding plants and fungi, the three essentials include the:

Mineral salt profile- Salt/Physical Body
Essential oil and active compound profile- Sulphur/Soul or Emotional Body
Alcohol potential through fermentation- Mercury/Spiritual or Mental Body

Generally speaking (but not always), the Salt is considered fixed, the Sulphur is fixed and volatile, and Mercury volatile. This polarity of fixity vs volatility like the Tria Prima, can be applied to all things. Fixed qualities include heaviness, slowness and physicality. Volatile qualities are light, quick and ethereal.

AN IMPORTANT CAVEAT

It should be well noted that not all authors agree upon the definitions and processes described here. Across the history of alchemy, writings which are in total agreement are rarely found – except perhaps between student and teacher. Universal standardization of nomenclature and processes are lacking, but there are indeed central guiding principles of this art.

Definitions and terminology are also highly contextual in alchemical writings. One word can mean many different things – terms and descriptions are sometimes literal, while other times they can be symbolic or allegorical. This article is meant to act as a view into the unique perspective, clinical application and experience of Secret Fire Apothecary.

WHAT ARE SPAGYRIC ESSENCES?

Spagyric essences focus on volatile components. As a predominantly volatile preparation, they are associated with the Mercury principle (the spiritual/mental body). The spiritual/mental body represents the consciousness, the universal spark of life (Mercury) which animates all things.

Spagyric essences contain a subtle fraction of volatile Sulphur (essential oil), the volatile Mercury (alcohol) and volatile Salt (sal ammoniac). They also contain the fixed Salt (minerals), to act as a balancing anchor point, locking in the lofty volatiles.

Volatile Salts in Spagyric Essences — Volatile Salts

PREPARATION OF SPAGYRIC ESSENCES

Spagyric essences as prepared by Secret Fire Apothecary, can be considered as a determined spirit. The volatile Spirit and Salt are universal – but the most volatile “head” of the volatile oil impresses the individual signature of the substance onto the preparation.

The process of making a spagyric essence includes:

Extraction of Sulphur (essential oil and other active compounds) by maceration in alcohol, or by fermentation
Gentle sweat distillation of the Mercury (alcohol) and the most subtle volatile fraction of the volatile Sulphur (a distinct “head” of the essential oil)
Repeated cohobation of the distillate over the honey-like fixed Sulphur left behind after the previous distillation, to obtain Sal Ammoniac (volatile Salts). This may also be obtained via dry distillation (pyrolysis).
Extraction of the fixed mineral salts by burning the plant material to a fine white ash (calcination) and extracting the salts with distilled water. The leftover liquids from distillation are also reduced and burned to an ash, to extract more minerals (Salt of Sulphur).
Recombination and maturation of the mineral salts (fixed Salt) and distillate (volatile Mercury, Sulphur and Salt)

*Clear distillate of the volatile Mercury/Sulphur and the colored fixed Sulphur*

With their mostly volatile attributes, spagyric essences are generally clear, colorless or faintly golden in color. Their lack of color or faint color is another variable which indicates the focus on the spiritual volatile components. In terms of general association in this context, color is indicated by fixity and clarity indicated by volatility.

*A spagyric essence of Datura, maturing with it’s fixed Salts*

INDICATED USES OF SPAGYRIC ESSENCES

Spagyric essences support the spiritual/mental body primarily but also influence the more substantial emotional and physical bodies. Highly bioavailable, they are delivered quickly into the body as a very light and penetrating liquid extract. Spagyric essences can act in both sympathy to support, or antipathy to negate certain mental states.

One method of choosing an appropriate spagyric essence is to consider the associations between personality archetypes and the Stars. Each zodiac sign rules over specific plants, animals, minerals and metals. This rulership can be assessed also by virtue of the substance’s planetary rulership and exaltation. For example:

Aries – the Warrior – Mars/Sun
Taurus – the Anchor – Venus/Moon
Gemini -the Communicator – Mercury
Cancer – the Caregiver – Moon/Jupiter
Leo – the King- Sun
Virgo – the Innocent- Mercury
Libra – the Judge- Venus/Saturn
Scorpio -the Magician – Mars/Pluto
Sagittarius – the Explorer – Jupiter
Capricorn – the Builder – Saturn/Mars
Aquarius – the Intellectual – Saturn/Uranus
Pisces -the Philosopher – Neptune/Venus

MORE INFORMATION AND DISCLAIMER

For further information on the benefits of plants, fungi, spagyrics in general and personal consultation and advice, please CONTACT US.

All information/product provided on www.secret-fire.com is for strictly educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or mitigate any disease, ailment or injury of any kind.

These statements have not been reviewed/endorsed by Health Canada nor the FDA.

ENERGETICS OF FOODS AND NATURAL MEDICINES

These energetic concepts correspond with all body parts and organs, all bodily functions, diseases and ailments, emotions, and mental health. These terms can indicate a very literal meaning, but largely are symbolic of more vast concepts.

For example:

Hot/Warm = raising of body temperature, fast actions, inflammation, catabolic processes etc.
Cold/Cool = cooling of body temperature, slowing things down, anti-inflammation, anabolic processes etc.
Wet = hydrating, lubricating, nourishing etc.
Dry = drying, astringent, cleansing etc.

SYMPATHY VS ANTIPATHY

The energetics of food and natural medicines can be used sympathetically and antipathetically. This is to improve health, homeostasis, and act preventatively.

Antipathetic Treatment

Antipathetic treatment consists of using opposing energetic values in order to restore balance. Hot symptoms treated with cooling substances, dry with wet etc. The aim here is not to be extreme, but to accurately gauge the severity of the energetic presentation of symptoms.

With this approach, balance is achieved without going too far to either end of the energetic spectrum involved. For instance, mild heat symptoms can be resolved with cooling but not cold treatments etc.

Here are examples of antipathetic treatment strategy:

“Hot” acute swelling from an injury can be treated with “cooling” anti-inflammatory herbs.
“Cold” stagnant digestion can be alleviated by carminative, warming and pungent spices.
“Hot” anger aggravates the liver, cleared by hepatic and nervine bitter herbs and food.
“Dry” dehydration is alleviated by the “moist” nature of demulcent herbs and foods.

Sympathetic Treatment

Homeopathic and other specialized types of extracts can be applied as a sympathetic treatment, such as the case of an allergen being used to treat an allergy.

Examples of this include using pollen to treat a pollen allergy, or bee venom to treat a bee sting allergy. Regarding sympathetic treatment, spagyric essences and homeopathic dilutions of spagyric tinctures can be employed.

Other examples of sympathetic treatment include:

Using something hot to release heat: Cayenne pepper to cause sweating, which cools the body.
Using something cold to warm a cold constitution: Cold water causing the blood to heat up in response, thereby raising body temperature.

Rather than a linear spectrum, these energetic concepts are truly circular, one polarity leading into the next. This helps the understanding of how both sympathetic and antipathetic treatment strategy can be used to achieve balance.

similia similibus — “like is cured by like”

THE TASTES OF HERBS AND FOODS

As mentioned, the tastes are intimately involved with the energetics of foods and herbs. Tastes are a key and obvious indicator of overall energetic values.

Sour= astringent and stimulating, moves energy, aids digestion, most often cool and dry. Examples: Lemon, Rosehips.
Bitter= astringent and cleansing, stimulates digestion, most often cool and dry. Examples: Dandelion, Gentian.
Sweet= moist and nourishing, tonifying, immunomodulating, most often neutral to slightly warm and wet. Examples: Astragalus, Shatavari.
Salty= astringent, micro-nutritionally rich, cool and dry. Examples: Nettle, Kelp.
Pungent= stimulating and strongly aromatic, clears stagnation/blockages in the digestive and respiratory systems, most often warm/hot and dry. Examples: Garlic, Cannabis.
Spicy= stimulating, moves energy in the cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive systems, warm/hot and drying. Examples: Black Pepper, Cayenne.
Acrid= irritating or tingly sensation in the mouth, effects the nervous system (analgesic/antispasmodic), a range of hot to cold, usually drying. Examples: Lobelia, Black Cohosh.

THE SIX TISSUE STATES

Although simple at first glance, the fundamental concepts of traditional energetics of food and medicine delve deeply into the complex nuances of health. They are now reclaiming their rightful place in harmony with modern perspectives and sciences.

A recent interpretation using modern terminology is the “six tissue states” system, which focuses on metabolism, fluids, and tone as follows:

Metabolism is measured as hot or cold, meaning underactive or overactive.
Fluids are damp or dry, meaning excessive or deficient.
Tone is tense or relaxed, meaning spastic or atonic.

IN SUMMARY

Armed with the basic principles of energetics, we are much more apt to program our diet and medicine in a personalized way. Often people wonder, why does this herb work for a condition in one person and not in another?

This discrepancy can often be boiled down to the unique energetic blueprint of everyone. A flu virus for example, can present in a wide variety of symptoms, depending upon the energetic architecture of its “host”.

There is no one size fits all; treat the person, not the disease!

Plants, minerals, and metals having come before humans, serve a different role in Nature. They display more consistent and pure reflections of these grand archetypal, creative and animating forces.

Plants are our Elders. Even older and purer reflections of the macrocosm are the minerals and metals. The plants are considered mixti being comprised of mixed planetary influences, although they usually have one dominant influence.

The word plant means to “fix in a specified position”, while planet means “wanderer”. These definitions illuminate the deeper and intimate relationship of the plants and the macrocosmic forces of astrology.

MUSIC OF THE SPHERES

The vibrations of the Macrocosm (the Planets and Stars), are like a symphony, singing everything into being. These Stars and Planets also exist within ourselves, albeit much more prone to falling out of tune (dis-harmony and dis-ease).

By their embodied, potent and clear celestial signatures, plants help our bodies re-calibrate. They tune our body, soul and mind’s songs of health; our unique and inherent, higher potential. Famous 20^th century Alchemist Frater Albertus simply called Alchemy “the raising of vibrations”. This quote refers to the release from leaden shells into True Gold. Learning to “sing” the songs of the Gods and Goddesses, the Planets and the Stars.

Harmony of the World, 1806 — HARMONY OF THE WORLD, 1806

ASTROLOGICAL CATEGORIZATION

Everything in the manifest universe can be categorized under the Stars and Planets. This calendrical system aids us in understanding, experiencing and navigating the process of consciously co-creating and ameliorating the Universal Song.

Astrology provides us a framework and technique to live and work in lockstep with Nature. To re-balance, re-tune, and evolve towards a unified goal in an individualized and unique way (due unique birth charting).

A birth chart in a sense, acts as an individual perspective and experience of the One and only True thing. Order and chaos, fate and freewill, above and below existing simultaneously…and even paradoxically.

PLANETARY CORRESPONDENCES

All plants fall under the banners of the seven classical planets, Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. These planetary rulerships take into account many attributes such as:

The environment the plants grow in
Physical attributes of the plants
Medicinal actions
Energetics values
Affinity to body parts and systems
Associated archetypes
Active and nutritional constituents

The net sum of all these factors (and more) help guide us in understanding which plantets(s) rule which plants.

The Sun

Planet: Sun

Metal: Gold

Herbs: St.John’s Wort, Frankincense, Calendula, Lime, Lemon, Eyebright, Rosemary, Ashwagandha

Energies & Archtypes: Vitality, Self-Knowledge, Confidence, Courage, Dignity, Vitality, Success, Authority, Fame, The King, The Father

Body Parts & Systems: Heart, Circulation, Pituitary Gland, Thyroid Gland, Male Reproductive System, Fertility, Spine, Body Heat, Eyes, Vagus Nerve

The Moon

Planet: Moon

Metal: Silver

Herbs: Calamus, Fennel, Mugwort, Jasmine, Privet, Water Lily, Willow, Ghost Pipe, Gotu Kola

Energies & Archetypes: Subconscious Mind, Dreaming, Psychic Ability, Imagination, Emotions, Intuition, Instincts, Rhythms, The Queen, The Mother

Body Parts & Systems: Stomach, Brain, Body Fluids, Menstruation, Childbirth, Fertility, Female Reproductive System, Posterior, Ovaries, Hypothalamus, Lymphatic System, Ovum

Mars

Planet: Mars

Metal: Iron

Herbs: Ginger, Cayenne, Gentian, Tulsi, Wormwood, Bloodroot, Barberry, Tobacco

Energies & Archetypes: Force, Sexual Instinct, Sexual Desire, Instinct, Victory, Aggression, Energy, Action, Assertiveness, Strength, The Warrior

Body Parts & Systems: Circulation, Formation of Blood, Body Heat, Bile, Male Reproductive System, Testicles, Gall Bladder, Muscular System, Adrenal Medulla/Sympathetic Nervous System, Pancreas

Mercury

Planet: Mercury

Metal: Mercury/Quicksilver

Herbs: Acacia, Valerian, Caraway, Dill, Elecampane, Lavender, Gotu Kola

Energies & Archetypes: Bridging Mind/Body/Soul, Communication, Transmission, Magic, Science, Language, Learning, Divination, Intellect, Translation, Writing, Medicine, Alchemy, The Trickster, The Divine Hermaphrodite

Body Parts & Systems: Nervous System, Brain, Lungs, Smell, Taste, Hearing, Speech, Pineal Gland, Thyroid Gland, Mental Processes

Jupiter

Planet: Jupiter

Metal: Tin

Herbs: Dandelion, Milk Thistle, Garden Sage, Pine, Cedar, Spruce, Fir, Ginseng, Maca, Turmeric, Sassafras

Energies & Archetypes: Expansion, Benevolence, Compassion, Law, Philosophy, Education, Spiritual Growth, Ambition, Luck, Career, Healing, Progenerative

Body Parts & Systems: Liver, Pituitary Gland, Reproductive Glands, Fertility, Enrichment of Blood, Fatty Tissues, Semen

Venus

Planet: Venus

Metal: Copper

Herbs: Echinacea, Honeysuckle, Rose, Yarrow, Lady’s Mantle, Datura, Vervain, Motherwort, Benzoin

Energies & Archetypes: Art, Music, Harmony, Sensuality, Pleasure, Desire, Beauty, Attraction, Balance, Love, Comfort, The Maiden, The Goddess

Body Parts & Systems: Kidneys, Urinary System, Face/Complexion, Skin, Cellular functions, Immune System, Thymus, Female Reproductive System, Adrenal Cortex/Parasympathetic Nervous System

Saturn

Planet: Saturn

Metal: Lead

Herbs: Cannabis, Mullein, Comfrey, Horsetail, Solomon’s Seal, Yew, Boneset, Patchouli, Garlic, Skullcap, Henbane

Energy & Archetype: Form, Grounding, Stability, Time, Discipline, Occult Knowledge, Protection, Patience, Endurance, Restriction, Boundaries, Limits, Contraction, Karma, Death, The Dying/Old God, Father Time, The Grandfather

Body Parts & Systems: Aging process, Skeletal System, Joints, Ligaments, Knees, Hair, Teeth, Fingernails, Spleen, Adrenals, Vagus Nerve

IN SUMMARY

Whether or not one believes in the literal connection of astrology and all things manifest on Earth, at the least this system provides a system of great utility. It simplifies vast and complex subject matter with concise symbolism and meaning.

To conclude let us ponder this question:

If all of Nature on Earth is so intricately connected, also including the Sun and Moon…why discount the other Stars and Planets?

Summary of Plants and Planets Blog - MICROCOMUS HYPOCHONDRIACUS — MICROCOMUS HYPOCHONDRIACUS, MALACHAIS GEIGER 1651

THE TRIA PRIMA OF SPAGYRICS

It’s central blueprint, the Tria Prima, states that all things are composed of three parts: Salt, Sulphur and Mercury. Regarding plants and fungi, the three essentials include the:

Mineral salt profile- Salt/Physical Body
Essential oil and active compound profile- Sulphur/Soul or Emotional Body
Alcohol potential through fermentation- Mercury/Spiritual or Mental Body

AN IMPORTANT CAVEAT

WHAT ARE SPAGYRIC ELIXIRS?

The volatile Sulphur: Essential oil — *The Salt: Minerals*

The process of making a spagyric elixir includes:

Extraction of the essential oil via hydro and/or steam distillation
Extraction of an endogenous alcohol via fermentation and distillation
Extraction of the mineral salts by burning the plant material to a fine white ash (calcination) and extracting the salts with distilled water. The leftover liquids from distillation are also reduced and burned to an ash, to extract more minerals (Salt of Sulphur).
Recombination of the mineral salts, natural alcohol and essential oil into a homogenous solid. This is also known as a “vegetable stone”.
The solid extract may also be dissolved back into alcohol to simplify ingestion and standardized dosing.

Vegetable Stone formed during process of making spagyric elixirs

Fixed and Volatile Attributes

With their mix of fixed and volatile attributes, spagyric elixirs generally have a bright but translucent color (in liquid form). Their increased clarity but brilliant color is another variable which indicates the balance of fixed and volatile components. In terms of general association in this context, color is indicated by fixity and clarity indicated by volatility.

INDICATED USES OF SPAGYRIC ELIXIRS

Spagyric elixirs support the soul/emotional body primarily but also influence the more subtle mental/spiritual and substantial physical bodies. Highly bioavailable, they are delivered quickly into the body as a liquid extract, or as a solid “stone” dissolved into water. Spagyric elixirs can act in both sympathy to support, or antipathy to negate certain emotional states.

One way of discerning an appropriate elixir, is to consider the relationship between the organs of the body and emotions. Traditional systems of medicine such as traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine have long made this connection between the physical and emotional. For example, traditional Chinese medicine notes the following negative emotion/organ associations:

Fear is associated with the kidneys
Excessive joy is associated with the heart
Worry is associated with the spleen
Grief is associated with the lungs
Anger is associated with the liver

Chart that connects emotions to affected parts of our body

In alchemy, substances such as herbs and fungi are placed under rulership of the different planets. Each planet also rules over the organs and other parts of the body:

Saturn rules the spleen
Jupiter rules the liver
Mars rules the gallbladder
Sun rules the heart
Venus rules the kidneys
Mercury rules the lungs
Moon rules the stomach

Elements and regions where they are active in our body

For example: an issue of anger may benefit from an herb of Jupiter, the planet which rules the liver-the organ associated with anger. Traditional wisdom provides many pathways to the root of emotional disorders and where they manifest in the body. Armed with this understanding, we may better choose our remedials.

More Information and Disclaimer

For further information on the benefits of plants, fungi, spagyrics in general and personal consultation and advice, please CONTACT US.

These statements have not been reviewed/endorsed by Health Canada nor the FDA.

THE TRIA PRIMA OF SPAGYRICS

It’s central blueprint, the Tria Prima, states that all things are composed of three parts: Salt, Sulphur and Mercury. In regard to plants and fungi, the three essentials include the:

Mineral salt profile- Salt/Physical Body
Essential oil and active compound profile- Sulphur/Soul or Emotional Body
Alcohol potential through fermentation- Mercury/Spiritual or Mental Body

AN IMPORTANT CAVEAT

WHAT ARE SPAGYRIC TINCTURES?

The process of making a spagyric tincture includes:

Extraction of the active/nutritional compounds via maceration in pure alcohol (or other solvents).
Extraction of the mineral salts by burning the plant material to a fine white ash (calcination) and extracting the salts with distilled water.
Recombination of the mineral salts and liquid extract (alcohol and active compounds).

Due to their fixed nature and full spectrum of active and nutritional compounds, spagyric tinctures are quite dark in color. Dark color is another variable which often (but not always) indicates the fixed nature of a preparation.

TYPES OF “MENSTRUA”

To extract specific desired compounds (Sulphur), different types of solvents (also known as menstrua) can be used. These most commonly include:

Alcohol
Water
Acetic acid (vinegar)
Ethyl acetate

Although all our tinctures begin with pure alcohol, we also employ dual/triple extractions using water and vinegar. Our mushroom tinctures in particular benefit from triple extraction using alcohol, water and vinegar extraction. This allows extraction of both volatile terpenoid compounds, as well as fixed polysaccharides.

Water and vinegar soluble compounds are considered more fixed in nature. Alcohol soluble compounds are considered more volatile. This also relates to the chemical principle of polarity, with fixed compounds being polar and volatile more non-polar.

The volatile Sulphur is considered the higher soul, while the fixed Sulphur represents the lower soul. This again is a universal concept, applicable to plants, mushrooms, animals, metals, minerals and more.

*Alcohol, the most common menstrua of spagyric tinctures*

INDICATED USES OF SPAGYRIC TINCTURES

Spagyric tinctures support the physical body primarily but can also influence the more subtle emotional and mental spheres. Highly bioavailable, they are delivered quickly into the body by the excipient nature of the alcohol.

With their fast actions they lend well to acute needs, although they have a particular ability to aid chronic conditions. Chronic/long term conditions are considered fixed. The pairing of fixed spagyrics with fixed conditions/physical body speaks to the axiom of similia similibus curantur:

“like is cured by like”.

MORE INFORMATION AND DISCLAIMER

For further information on the benefits of plants, fungi, spagyrics in general and personal consultation and advice, please CONTACT US.

These statements have not been reviewed/endorsed by Health Canada nor the FDA.

METHODOLOGY

Gemstones are finely powdered and added to molten plant salts (potassium carbonate) which act as a flux and penetrating menstruum. The molten mixture is then cast into a glass. This allows even gems such as Quartz (Silica) with a much higher melting point than Potassium to fuse into clear and solid glasses. Raw Quartz is not even penetrated by the powerful spirits of Nitre and Sea Salt (nitric and hydrochloric acid), nor their combination as Aqua Regia…but it’s gates are opened with relative ease by the Salt body of the Vegetable Kingdom!

Following the casting of the glass, an oily Sulphur of the opened gemstones can be catalyzed with menstrua such as Philosophical Wine (acetone-based spirits from pyrolysis) or even sharpened Wine Spirits (particularly Wine Spirit determined to the metallic realm such as Kerkring’s Menstruum).

*Various extraction tests with a range of menstrua*

LIQUID-LIQUID EXTRACTION

The Sulphur may also be retrieved through a process quite like the Ens recipe of Hartmann:

The extremely hydrophilic glass is left to deliquesce overnight during waxing Spring Moons, to liquify and “reanimate” it with Secret Fire. The fire of the forge having “Killed” the gem, demands the return of the spark of life. This liquid is extremely caustic, containing Potassium hydroxide and must be handled very cautiously, protecting the eyes especially.

Upon this saturated solution of the alkali glass, a dry and immiscible spirit is poured, floating above as an extractive medium. The oily Soul/Sulphur of the gem then rises from the bottom layer into the top, coloring the floating Spirit in a process known in modern chemistry as liquid-liquid extraction.

*Liquid-liquid extraction of the Sulphur of Apatite*

At this point the tinctured gemstone must undergo a purification and “sweetening” process to arrive at Nature’s balance point, rendering the tincture safe for consumption.

LIVING MENSTRUA

Some authors criticize the Dry Path, indicating that the living Mercurial spark of life is “killed” by high heat. Interestingly it is the “living” menstrua, and not commercial solvents which work most reliably with this process. The “living” menstrua create abundant and richly colored Sulphurs, as compared to the pale results of commercial spirits.

This validates the theory that the materia “killed” by the fire must be reanimated to achieve maximum success. As outlined here, a chemical reality detectable to the senses further confirms alchemical philosophy and practices.

Beautiful blue glass of Malachite — *Quartz glass cooling on cast iron*

A NOTE OF CAUTION

The Fire of an open forge operating in excesses of 1000°C, caustic and potentially toxic alcohol soluble Potassium hydroxide and boiling liquid glass all make this work very unforgiving to mistakes…the razors edge of the Dry Path can lead to success rather quickly but with greater dangers than the Wet Ways of working.

Special thanks to my dear friend Roger Lambert, for working in collaboration on a research project concerning this subject. Results and further details will soon be published, including analysis of final products.

A combination of botanical extracts and Gold nanoparticles.

METHODOLOGY

To begin the work, the Gold must first be “opened”, meaning converted into a water-soluble crystal called tetrachloroauric acid. This is accomplished with Aqua Regia, “The King’s Bath”, a combination of nitric and hydrochloric acid. These acids can be produced naturally via pyrolysis of Sea Salt (sodium chloride) and Nitre (potassium nitrate).

Gold dissolved in the “King’s Bath” — *Gold dissolving in the “King’s Bath”*

The “finely divided Gold” is then extracted with the essential oil of Rosemary. When poured upon the Gold solution, nanoparticles of the metal are drawn up into the oil. This is a technique known as liquid-liquid extraction, with the immiscible oil acting as a “magnet”. As the oil fraction becomes colored (optimally a red color indicating particle size under 100nm)(2), the bottom layer becomes pale.

This denotes the departure of the gold from the acidic chloride solution, into the oil layer above. To complete the process, the Gold saturated essential oil is separated and digested in pure alcohol.

COLLOIDAL GOLD

This unique methodology forms colloidal suspensions of Gold nanoparticles, bound with the volatile essential oils of plants (1). In addition to this technique, Gold nanoparticles have been shown to bind with non-volatile botanical compounds using other methods (3). Looking at the overall comparison, we see a very similar type of reaction with plant-based Spagyrics. In this case, organic oils and other active compounds bind with plant derived minerals such as Potassium.

*Essential oil floating on a gold chloride solution*

Gold colloids rising up into the essential oil — *Essential oil floating on a gold chloride solution*

MODERN APPLICATIONS

Akin to modern pharmaceutical techniques (2,4,5), colloidal Gold is a very effective delivery vehicle for the active compounds found in plants. These microscopic metallic particles are safe to ingest, increase bioavailability and potentiate active compounds that they bind with. They also support the immune system and have been used in tumor detection, gene therapy and radiotherapy (2,4,5,6,7).

Interestingly, colloidal Gold has the ability to bind with the antigens of pathogens such as viruses and parasites. Because of this, it is also employed in modern medicine as a diagnostic technique (8,9,10).

ADAPTATIONS & RESEARCH

Building upon the method of Mademoiselle Grimaldi, further steps may be taken to stabilize particle size and reduce excessive acidity. The initial extracts following Grimaldi’s recipe are quite acidic, requiring ample dilution to be safely ingested. Modern research has also shown that low pH value negatively effects particle size stability (2, 11,12, 13, 14). This leads to agglomeration of larger particles which have evidence of being less effective (15,16,17) and potentially less safe for ingestion. Afterall, the unique benefits of colloidal Gold are due to it being extremely small.

The particle size of Gold nanoparticles is indicated in part by color- red being an optimal color. Red indicates a particle size of 100nm or less. A purple or even blue color occurs once the particles grow in excess of 100nm (often not considered as “true colloids”). In the book “Ars Alchemia”, Gary Nottingham notes that after letting the preparation mature, it will have a purple color. While this color may be aesthetically attractive, the evidence cited indicates the negative effect of Gold particles increasing in size.

Thankfully, there is a remedy to this issue, afforded by an alchemically sound solution. Although not as simple as simply adding the potassium carbonate-based salts of the plant used, the Salt principle can be included. After further processing of the potassium salt, it both stabilizes the particle size and reduces the acidity. Not only is there a chemical value here, but it further solidifies and aligns with the central philosophy of Spagyria. The Tria Prima must be included in final preparations, Sulphur (oil), Mercury (spirit) and the Salt (minerals).

FURTHER RESEARCH REQUIRED

Worth further exploration are methods which include a full spectrum of compounds, rather than just the essential oil. Already there are examples of this in modern research (3), using water extracts of Hemp/Cannabis to draw out Gold nanoparticles. There are also older references which include alcohol in the initial extract, affording the inclusion of other active compounds.

Building upon the original method with modern science and an alchemical mindset, Secret Fire has further developed this recipe. It addresses ideal particle size stability, pH and the inclusion of full spectrum extracts of botanicals.

IN CLOSING

Once again, we have a stark example of traditional alchemy finding a place alongside the modern advances of science. For further reading on the connection between alchemy/spagyrics and modern medicine, please read “Herbal Nanotechnology“.

WARNING:

This technique uses extremely dangerous acids which can cause permanent and significant damage to the eyes, skin, and lungs. It should not be performed without proper laboratory training and personal protective equipment. This technique is incompletely described here. It is intended for educational purposes only. Failing to perform this work correctly will surely produce a dangerous poison rather than a remedy.

References:

MEDICINES FOR THE HEAD, THE HEART AND THE HARA

One of the most famed Alchemical axioms states “as above, so below; as within, so without”, therefore we may deduce that there exists a mirrored congruence of the three types of bodies within the human being (mental, emotional and physical) and thence three categories of specified and congruent Spagyric preparations. In simple terms of spectrum, these three bodies and corresponding types of Spagyric extracts can be delineated by measurement of frequency or in alchemical terms- fixity vs volatility. The temperature required to distill these different preparations in their entirety acts as a key physical marker of this spectrum; the most volatile of preparations requiring the least amount of heat, the most fixed requiring the most and preparations that fall in the middle requiring mid-range temperatures. A simple scale of below, at and above water boiling temperature is appropriate for Spagyric work in the Vegetable Kingdom.

The most fixed body is the physical and is sympathetic with fixed medicines (tinctures); the most subtle, lofty and non-corporeal body is the mental/spiritual, sympathetic with the most volatile of preparations(essences); the emotional/soul body resides between the poles of fixed vs volatile, sympathetic with Spagyrics in the middle of this range (elixirs), representing an embodied spirit. The latin phrase “similia similibus curantur” commonly used in homeopathy today describes this well, meaning “the like cures the like”.

Despite the seemingly distinct categories that proceed, there are no rigid borders between the physical, emotional and mental self and that each of these bodies correlate and influence one another: the physical affecting the emotional body, mental affecting the physical body, emotional affecting the mental body and so forth.

A Tria Prima of Spagyric preparations…

Spagyric Tinctures are predominantly attuned to the Alchemical Salt principle (the Physical Body) and include a full spectrum of active constituents. The process includes:

Extraction of active/nutritional compounds (fixed and volatile Sulphur) via maceration in pure alcohol (or alcohol, water, vinegar etc separately for dual and triple extracts).
Mineral salts (Salt of Salt) are extracted from the spent body of the plant via calcination/leaching with distilled water.

This type of preparation tends to be very dark in color, containing a plants medicinal and nutritional compounds (volatile and fixed Sulphur), as well as the mineral salts (Salt) and the alcohol/water/vinegar (Mercury). They are generally not distilled during the process, unlike the essences and elixirs which will be described next. Their influence is primarily focused on the physical body as a whole, although they too share an affinity with the mental and emotional bodies which correlate more specifically with the essences and elixirs.

Fixed tinctures may be prepared by using the fixed vegetable Mercury: vinegar/acetic acid, whilst un-fixed/volatile tinctures are prepared using the volatile vegetable Mercury: ethyl alcohol. Combinations of alcohol, water and vinegar can be used to create tinctures carrying both fixed and un-fixed qualities, or extracted at the same time using what’s known as the “vegetable radical menstruum” (natural/plant derived ethyl acetate), which is both fixed and volatile in nature. Disease and ailments can be classified by these same terms, with the tendency of fixed diseases and ailments being chronic and un-fixed/volatile diseases and ailments being acute.

Spagyric Elixirs are predominantly attuned to the Alchemical Sulphur principle (the Soul/Emotional Body), with a focus on the complete volatile oil paired in balance with the fixed mineral salts and natural spirits. The word elixir derives from the Arabic word al-iksir, translating roughly to “from the ashes”.This preparation is crafted via multiple distillation processes and a final cohobation with the mineral salts and natural spirits. Their influence is primarily focused upon the emotions, the endocrine system and the individual Soul. Two forms are offered, a solid plant stone and a dissolved/liquid plant stone.

Extraction of the full spectrum essential oil (volatile Sulphur) is separated via steam or hydro-distillation. It is purified via hydro-distillation and the hydrosol is saved for work with the alcohol (volatile Mercury).
Extraction of determined spirits/alcohol (volatile Mercury) created by the fermentation of the spent plant body, hydrosol and leftover waters from steam distillation. It is purified by distillation.
Calcination and mineral salt extraction of the spent plant body (Salt of Salt)
Calcination and mineral salt extraction of all that remains after the distillation process (Salt of Sulphur)
Mineral salts (Salt of Salt and Salt of Sulphur), the essential oil (volatile Sulphur) and the determined spirit/alcohol (volatile Mercury) are combined and matured in various ways to achieve either a solid or liquid elixir.
Additional works of maturation can also be performed to produce a sublimated salt (volatile Salt).

This type of preparation is transparent but rich in color when in liquid form (red, gold, green, purple, blue etc). It contains the mineral salts (fixed and volatile Salt), the full spectrum essential oil (volatile Sulphur) and it’s determined alcohol (volatile Mercury). The initial distillation (extraction of volatile Sulphur) is performed at the boiling temperature of water.

Spagyric Essences are predominantly attuned to the Alchemical Mercury principle (the Mental/Spiritual Body), with a focus on the determined natural spirits (Mercury) paired with only the most volatile aspects of the mineral salts (Salt) and oils of the plant (Sulphur). Spagyric Essences are used similarly to conventional “Flower Essences”, but they differ in that they still contain very specific active compounds and are not diluted homeopathically (although they can be). These Essences are derived from tinctures or herbal ferments. Their influence is primarily focused upon the subtle energetic channels of the body (described well in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine), the nervous system, the mental faculties and the Universal Spirit present in all things; a particular synergy has been noted between these essences and the Jungian archetypes. The process includes:

Extraction of the plant via maceration or fermentation.
Distillation of the maceration or fermentation to extract only the most volatile spirit and oils of the plant(volatile Mercury and Sulphur)

Mineral salts (Salt of Salt and Salt of Sulphur) and the distillate (Sulphur & Mercury) are combined and matured.
Final/repeated distillation and cohobation of the mineral salts (Salt) and distillate (Sulphur & Mercury).

This type of preparation tends to be light yellow in color, containing only the most volatile aspects of the plant’s mineral salts (volatile Salt), a specific fraction of it’s essential oils (volatile Sulphur) and it’s determined alcohol (volatile Mercury). This distillation is performed below the boiling point of water, as low as body temperature (37.5C) and no higher than the boiling temperature of alcohol (78C).

*A Spagyric Essence reacting with it’s Salts*

In summary…

Certainly these methods are not exhaustive of the totality of Spagyria, nor is the nomenclature, definitions, theories, correspondences or manner of working universal and agreed upon by all practitioners and authors as mentioned already. This article represents a summary of a personal path, interpretation, educational sources and clinical practice. That being said, it does illuminate the substantial variance and precision possible within the philosophy, methodology and clinical application of the vast materia medica afforded by Spagyria.

Re-ignited in Europe by Paracelsus, an early 16th century physician and father of modern toxicology, a new branch of Alchemy sprouted up through what he titled Spagyrics.

The title Spagyric, is derived from the ancient Greek words spao (to draw out) and agerio (to gather). The word highlights the basic techniques underlying the many forms of Spagyric medicines.

In regards to plants and fungi the three essential principles to be separated, purified and recombined include the:

Mineral salt profile (Salt/Body)
Essential oil and active compound profile (Sulphur/Soul)
Alcohol or vinegar potential through fermentation/oxidization (Mercury/Spirit)

Spagyrics - salt and the catalytic physical force of the Tria Prima

What is Spagyrics - Passing over the helm

What makes a Spagyric extract different from a conventional extract?

One of the primary differences with a Spagyric extract is its addition of the Salt principle; the mineral salt profile of the plant. A small amount of soluble salts are obtained with a conventional extract using at least some water and/or vinegar. However, the vast majority of a plant’s salts are left behind in what’s called the marc.

This is the pressed out herb mass after macerating in alcohol, water, vinegar, glycerine etc. These “trapped” salts so to speak are still confined by organic materials, unreachable no matter how long you macerate for.

The Salt Principle

The Salt principle can be viewed as the grounding and “fixed” corporeal aspect of a Spagyric preparation. There are two steps in order to free these salts for their recombining with the Mercury (alcohol) and Sulphur (essential oil+active compounds).

Incinerate the marc, purify, then combine

First, the marc must first be completely incinerated to ash, and then the ash must be further subjected to steady high heat. This process is called calcination. When calcination is completed, the salts are then leached out of the ashes and purified/recrystallized.

This purification and recrystallization process uses distilled water or sometimes the plant’s hydrosol. They are then ready to be recombined in a variety of different ways with their counterparts of Sulphur and Mercury… and this is where the real magic of Spagyria begins!

What are Salts?

The salts obtained via calcination from plant sources are predominantly composed of Potassium, arguably the most important electrolyte for the human body. When this alkaline carbonate form of the mineral is re-introduced to the alcohol, essential oils and other active compounds, a variety of chemical reactions start to occur. These reactions include but are not limited to:

Esterification of essential oils/active compounds
Alkalization/neutralization of the end product
Saponification of oils and other non-water solubles, rendering them water soluble
Decarboxylation of organic acids
Formation of carboxylic acid salts & esters
Formation of chelated minerals

As mentioned before, there is still much to discover and rediscover concerning the art of Spagyria. However, these points alone serve as a solid modern scientific understanding and reasoning for the tremendous additional benefits of utilizing this extraction technique in favour of conventional methods.

SOLVE ET COAGULA: Fixing the volatile, and volatilizing the fixed

The Alchemical axioms of “fixing the volatile” and “volatilizing the fixed” provide much insight in regards to the re-introduction of the Salt and additional works to transform and evolve it.

For example, when organic acids such as essential oils are neutralized by the alkaline salt, it forms a carboxylic acid salt. The non-water soluble “volatile” oil has now been “fixed” so to speak, creating a more bioavailable, deeper penetrating, specified and longer lasting effect.

On the other end of the spectrum, the “fixed” salts of the plant can be volatilized through sublimation (turned into a gas, and then recrystallized) by unique distillation processes, or through acetylation using vinegar/acetic acid.

These techniques enable substances that normally do not mix (such as oil and water or alcohol and salt) to reform into a single homogenous extract. The substances are readily available (“bioavailable”) to the body to use on demand. Alchemically speaking, it allows for the combining and balancing of the normally incompatible and opposite Solar and Lunar principles, creating what’s known as the Alchemical Child.

Water Works – Deliquescing of Plant Salts

Perhaps the easiest and most popular work with the dew is the deliquescing of plant salts, which opens the door to numerous other works. The process uses very hydrophilic (water attracting) plant salts extracted from calcined ashes to capture the dew overnight, determining the previously neutral Celestial Fire to the mineral component of the Vegetable Kingdom. This creates an oily feeling liquid called the Oil of Tartar. This liquid can be used as is, as a type of Secret Fire (also known as a Chemical Fire) to be used as a natural plant-based alkali solvent.

A Spagyric Process called Ens

This salt saturated solution is perhaps most famously known for its use in a Spagyric process called an Ens, which means Entity. This caustic liquid drives the essentials of the plant being worked with very quickly into the solution and is particularly useful for targeting alkaloids and plants containing minimal amounts of oil such as Lemon Balm.

Of course, with such a high Ph this solution is not suitable for ingestion so the extracted principles are removed with a Vegetable Magnet, normally Ethyl Alcohol. The alcohol floats on top of the Oil of Tartar and can either be gently shaken/mixed or heated from below to collect the desired substances before being decanted for use or further processing.

Oil of Tartar

Oil of Tartar can also be evaporated and calcined again to repeatedly collect the Fire contained within the dew, creating extremely potent salts. Sometimes the Oil is left to evaporate in the Sun to also capture Solar energies alongside the Lunar Light while deliquescing during the night. Distilling the Oil of Tartar creates a very pure water laden with the Invisible Secret Fire and is called Angel Water. One can even attain a Stone with nothing but this especially charged dew, a stone that is said to easily melt thin slices of Gold and extract its Blood Red oil.

All of the above mentioned is barely scratching the surface of May Dew and Water Works in general…one could truly spend a lifetime working only within this realm of what is called “The Water Works”.

PROCESSING TECHNIQUES

Although this list of processing techniques is not exhaustive, as Spagyric methodology can be complex and ever-changing, the following is a brief outline of primary modi operandi:

1. MACERATION

2. CALCINATION

After the desired Mercurial and Sulfurous principles have been extracted, any remaining plant matter is incinerated first and then subjected to steady heat in order to liberate the Salt for extraction with distilled water, hydrosols, vinegar etc. An arduous but essential step of Spagyrics.

3. DISTILLATION

Distillation has a variety of uses in Spagyric preparations including essential oil extraction, sublimation of salts, distillation of alcohol/vinegar and general potentiating/concentrating of extracts. The basics include a heated vessel containing the substances being worked with, condensers to cool vapors/gasses back into a liquid state, and a receiving vessel to catch the distillate.

4. CIRCULATION

Known as refluxing in modern chemistry, this is a form of distillation where a flask containing the substance being worked with is heated and distilled vertically into a condenser, and then the distillate is returned repeatedly back into the original flask instead of a second receiving flask as with regular distillations. In modern chemistry reflux distillations are most often performed with high heat for short periods of time, in comparison to the Spagyric method where gentle heating for days, weeks or even months is preferred. This technique acts as a catalyst for many different reactions and the general maturation of extracts.

5. FERMENTATION

Fermentation is a metabolic processing technique where sugars are converted to alcohol, acids and gasses when deprived of oxygen. This process is used to produce ethyl alcohol from any plant, but generally plants with a high sugar content such as Grapes or Cane are used, Grape being the preference of ancient and often modern Alchemists/Spagyrists as well.

6. ASTROLOGY

Although a subject of much skepticism and debate, multiple Astrological systems can be used to guide every move, from planting and harvesting to all steps of processing extracts. Using the multi-layered, ever changing and undulating calendar of the macrocosmic movements of the Sun, Moon, Planets, Stars, Planetary Hours, Astrological Houses, and more allows for an intimate connection to the micro-cosmic rhythms and patterns of Nature down here on Earth. Astrology as applied in Spagyric work acts as a form of “celestial agriculture”, harvesting the energetic values of the macrocosm. “As above, so below”.

Demystifying the Volatile Salts produced via co-distillation of pure Sulphur (essential oil) and Salt (potassium carbonate) of the plant kingdom.

After having performed this operation successfully a number of times, I noticed that particular herbs work much better than others. The prime example is that of Rosemary, which is the plant highlighted by almost all of the above-listed authors on the subject. This made me wonder…why so easy with some plants and not others?

Being inquisitive with a healthy dose of skepticism, I started to look further into the potential chemistry that may be underlying this closely guarded secret. This led me to discover that the fixed potassium salt is in fact NOT flying over along with the essential oil/Sulphur as described in the above-mentioned references. That truly, these volatile salts are merely acidic salts that make up part of the essential oil/sulphur content found in plants such as Rosemary.

Unravelling the mystery of the Volatile Salt

How did I discover this fact? And how can I prove what I’m saying to be true? Unravelling the mystery and misunderstanding of this process started whilst contemplating the volatile Salts of Benzoin resin, also known as Benzoin Flowers. Described in Jean Maveric’s book Hermetic Herbalism, Benzoin resin readily provides a highly aromatic volatile salt known as Benzoic acid.

By simply applying heat to the resin within a sublimation device such as a blind alembic, beautiful needles of crystalline Benzoic acid grow as they condense on the cooled alembic head. This immediately raised the question: Is the secret oil & salt method doing the same thing, rather than volatilizing the potassium salts as described? And indeed yes…this is exactly what is happening.

The Reason behind the Result

The reason this method works so well with Rosemary, has nothing to do with adding the potassium salt body of the herb at all…it is due to the Camphor content, a volatile acidic salt found in the Sulphur (essential oil) of Rosemary. To prove out my theory, a test was run by simply dry distilling Rosemary oil with absolutely no potassium salt added at all…low and behold, it readily produced a sublimated salt within the retort, proving this theory to indeed be true.

The reason this salt isn’t detected during the initial steam or hydro-distillation is because the water/hydrosol washes it away before it crystallizes, returning to a dissolved liquid state in the collected oil layer in the receiver. Only by dry distillation without water or alcohol does this volatile salt of the essential oil/Sulphur show its face, with no water or alcohol washing it away.

Now… this does not mean that the fixed, fire-resistant salt can not be rendered volatile…it just shows that this one particular method has been at least partially misunderstood and does not yield the exact results as proposed. A volatile salt is produced yes, but it is not the heavy potassium-based body of the plant as hoped.

I do however feel that further investigation is warranted on this subject, specifically, that of comparative chemical analysis between the results of a distillate produced with and without the potassium salts added. Because it is already known that the potassium salts of plants combined with the acidic oils of plants do in fact create novel crystalline compounds, it is possible that some of these catalyzed salts may also be rendered volatile in the above-mentioned dry distillation method. Tests are underway at present and the results will be published as a follow up to this article.

Final Thoughts

In closing, I’d like to note that I mean no disrespect to the authors mentioned, nor am I discounting in totality the value of repeated distillations or the unique method of combining plant Salts and Sulphur. Rather, I am sharing this discovery so that we may all grow closer to the Truth of Nature, by correcting current and past misunderstandings of Our Art.

Special thanks to my brother and partner in this work Roger Lambert, who performed the first test of this theory.

Metallic oils

and metallic oils…therefore we should all take heed and tread lightly.

Practicing due diligence when preparing oils

Certainly, properly prepared oils created from metals are possible & can be safely ingested; this post isn’t to dissuade anyone from the subject, or insinuate total fraud, rather it is a call to discernment and due diligence of doing no harm.

Due to the pioneering work of modern alchemists such as Robert Bartlett, we can confirm through chemical analysis the lack of metallic salts or extremes of pH and also show that organic oily compounds occur in these metallic medicines…when made properly.

Understanding the error

One common glaring error that has been circulating with popularity as of late is the concept of making “oils” from the chloride salts of metals. A common path popularized by 17th century alchemist Glauber (only briefly described here) is to dissolve metals in the Spirit of Salt (hydrochloric acid) in order to create a chloride salt of the metal. Then Philosophical Wine (acetone) is used to extract (catalyze) the oil of the metal, the menstruum is purged and the remaining oily/resinous residue is dissolved in alcohol.

The issue here is the claim that this produces an metallic oil free of metallic salts…yet many of the metals being used for this work are actually soluble in acetone and alcohol! For example, the popular metals Tin, Copper and Iron chloride are all readily soluble in acetone and alcohol…and are all toxic.

The idea that this simple and fast process alone is a viable path to metal free medicinal oils is simply false, and a simple search of the solubility of these substances is all that is needed to confirm this. Upon evaporation, these substances all leave crystalline salts and sometimes no oily Sulphur, as is the claim, whatsoever.

Producing safe metallic oils

To produce truly safe oils of the metals, a process known as “sweetening” must be performed at this point in order to remove metallic salts and also excessive acidity. “Sweetening” is unique to each metal, requiring numerous steps, some of which can be quite difficult and time consuming. This process is a method of “humanizing” the final product, not only for safety but also for the purpose of increasing bioavailability by finalizing the transfer of the informational & energetic blueprint of the metals from the inorganic metallic kingdom down into the organic realm of the plants & animals.

Closing Thoughts

Again, there is no intent here to stop the very valid pursuit of alchemical preparations of metals…the purpose of this article is to encourage proper education, safety and patience in this Art. If you are planning to ingest, or even more importantly, to sell to the public, these substances should be properly researched and tested BEFORE they go in someone’s body.

We have an incredible opportunity at this time to access knowledge of this path through books, through sharing with one another, living teachers of this truly Great Art such as Robert Bartlett and of course modern chemical analysis that can help us determine whether our works have produced successful medicinal oils, elixirs & tinctures…or poison.

“Primum non nocere”- Do no harm

How Spagyric Tincturing Methods Produce Full Spectrum Colloidal Suspensions of Natural Prodrugs.

3d Illustration of a micelle structure — A Micelle

Father of Modern Toxicology - Paracelsus

What is Spagyrics?

Re-ignited in Europe by Paracelsus, an early 16th-century physician and father of modern toxicology, a new branch of Alchemy sprouted up through what he titled Spagyrics. This system, drawing from the framework and practices of both laboratory and philosophical Alchemy forged a methodology of holistic medicine making based upon a concept known as the Tria Prima; a passive/negative element called Salt representing the Body & Moon, a positive/active element called Sulphur representing the Soul/Sun and a neutral element called Mercury representing the Spirit/Mercury.

The title Spagyric, deriving from the ancient Greek words spao (to draw out) and agerio (to gather), highlights the basic technique underlying the many forms of Spagyric medicines.

Regarding plants, the three essential principles to be separated, purified, and recombined include the:

Mineral salt profile (Salt, Body, Lunar, negative/passive)
Essential oil/active compound profile (Sulphur, Soul, Solar, positive/active)
Alcohol potential through fermentation/oxidization (Mercury, Spirit, mutable/neutral)

What makes a Spagyric extract different from a conventional extract?

Perhaps the most obvious and uniquely differing variable of a Spagyric extract is it’s addition of the Salt principle; the water-soluble mineral salt profile of the plant. Although a small amount of soluble salts are obtained with a conventional extract using at least some water and/or vinegar, the vast majority of a plant’s salts are left behind in what’s called the marc – the pressed out herb mass after macerating in alcohol, water, vinegar, glycerine etc.

These “trapped” salts so to speak are still confined by organic materials, “leaden shells”, unreachable no matter how long one macerates for. The Salt principle can be viewed as the grounding and “fixed” corporeal aspect of a Spagyric preparation.

Calcination of the Marc — Calcination of the marc

Crystallized plant salts — Calcination of the marc

The process of Calcination

In order to free these salts for their recombining with the Mercury (alcohol) and Sulphur (essential oil/active compounds), the marc must first be incinerated completely to ash, and then the ash must be further subjected to steady high heat. This process is called calcination. When calcination is completed, the salts are then leached out of the ashes and purified/recrystallized with a process using distilled water or sometimes the plant’s hydrosol. They are then ready to be recombined in a variety of different ways with their counterparts of Sulphur and Mercury…and this is where the real magic of Spagyria begins!

Salt – the catalytic force of Spagyric tinctures

The salts obtained via calcination from plant sources are predominantly composed of Potassium (carbonate), arguably the most important electrolyte for the human body¹. When this alkaline carbonate mineral is re-introduced to the alcohol, essential oils and other active compounds, a variety of chemical reactions start to occur. These reactions include but are not limited to:

Alkalization/neutralization of the extract
Formation of carboxylates/chelated minerals
Formation of colloidal suspensions/microemulsions

The sum of these reactions include a notable increase in stability, improved bioavailability, decreased side effects and lower dosage². Before moving on with the organic and biochemistry of Spagyric extracts, a brief overview of how the tincturing of plants in alcohol increases bioavailability is in order.

Bioavailability of tinctured plants – micellar microemulsions

In the plant kingdom, therapeutically active constituents are predominantly comprised of carboxylic acids (terpenes, polyphenols, alkaloids etc)³. These acids share the issue of limited bioavailability, as they are commonly broken down, denatured and deflected by the body’s natural defence systems such as first pass digestion⁴ or the blood brain barrier.

Taking the example of Cannabis

A clear-cut example of this is with THC, the primary psychoactive found in Cannabis. With fresh and even freshly dried Cannabis, THC presents mostly as THC acid (THCA), which has little to no psychoactivity/bioavailability unless decarboxylated (generally by heating) into THC^5,6.

Although thermal decarboxylation does an efficient job of rendering THC available to the body, the heat required can both destroy or denature the volatile and heat sensitive compounds such as terpenes, which are highly medicinal and well worth preserving. Could there perhaps be a better way? Let us explore…

Exploring the possibility of a better way

Recent research conducted by Rutland Biodynamics⁴, a UK based biodynamic farm and tincture producer has given us a modern view of how tincturing herbs (particularly fresh herbs) with alcohol increases their bioavailability. In their 10 years+ of research, Rutland’s validated their focus on fresh plant tinctures by highlighting the importance of amphiphilic⁷ (partially water-soluble) macro molecules such as sugars, proteins and lipids.

These compounds which are largely destroyed or denatured during the drying process⁴ were found to form bonds with non water-soluble lipophilic active therapeutic compounds, acting as surfactants, creating what’s known as micelles⁸. These micelles were also found to be stabilized by the alcohol which acts as a co-surfactant.

What are Micelles?

Micelles can be explained as nanoparticle aggregates which form colloidal emulsions rather than solutions, meaning they stay suspended in solutions as a microscopic dispersion rather than dissolving. These pairs of water soluble and insoluble phytochemicals have the significant benefit of being able to bypass the body’s usual defense mechanisms, with the active but insoluble compounds hitching a ride into the blood/cells with the water-soluble macro compounds⁴. Once inside the body, the aggregate compounds are cleaved into the original contributing compounds by enzymes in the blood and cells⁹.

The organic chemistry behind Spagyric tincturing methods

First described by Warren Kistenbroker of Evolved Alchemy³, the Spagyric tincturing method and it’s chemical reactions is summarized as such:

First, the primary actives of the plant which are comprised mostly of carboxylic acids are extracted with an alcohol (ethanol in this case). When these organic acids are combined with the ethanol, esters start to form, but this reaction is limited by the presence of water³.

This is no doubt one of the reasons why a “sharpened” or “rectified” spirit is recommended in both the classic and modern texts10. But even with so called “pure alcohol” and dried plants, the alcohol is still only 95-96%, therefore some water always is involved, inhibiting the full potential of esterification³.

Once the plant material has been fully exhausted of it’s targeted constituents, the recrystallized alkali/carbonate mineral salts extracted from the calcined/leached marc are reintroduced to the acidic alcohol extract causing a catalytic acid-base reaction that creates novel soap-like compounds.

The reaction is even further aided by the extremely hydrophilic nature of the salt, which removes the remaining tiny amount of water and allows for the full potential of esterification of the organic acids. In addition to the esters formed in the tincture, the carbonate salts in combination with the organic acids form what’s known as carboxylic acid salts³. Both carboxylic esters and salts are otherwise known as carboxylates¹¹.

Reaction of introducing the salts — Reaction of reintroducing the Salt

Color change after addition of the Salt — Reaction of reintroducing the Salt

Spagyric carboxylates – natural prodrugs

Interestingly, in today’s modern pharmaceutical world carboxylate esters and salts are synthesized to create some of the most efficacious and safe types of medications called prodrugs¹².

Prodrugs consist of an aggregate compound, often comprised of a surfactant such as an alkali salt and and a medicinal lipophilic acid¹³. Sounding familiar? These are the same two ingredients found in Spagyric extracts!

Inert until metabolised by the body¹⁴, the lipophilic active drug is rendered water-soluble and transported past the body’s defence mechanisms such as first pass digestion⁴. Easily making it’s way into the blood and cells, the inert aggregate is activated through the cleaving of the active acid and alkali surfactant.

Literally, the active compound found in the living plant has been “snuck in” so to speak, reanimated by enzymatic metabolism in the body. Prodrugs also have the benefit of being used on demand by the body, similarly to endogenous compounds, reducing side effects drastically due to their specified actions and reduced dosage due to their increased bioavailability and potency^12,15.

In contrast to the amphiphilic proteins, fats and sugars acting as surfactants as seen in Rutland Biodynamics research, Spagyric tinctures achieve the same mechanism of forming micellar microemulsions of their active compounds via the addition of alkali/electrolyte mineral salts, most notably potassium carbonate.

Rather than the combination and cleaving of macro-nutritional sugars, proteins and lipids from a medicinal acid at the target site, with a Spagyric tincture it is the micro-nutritional potassium salt that acts as the surfactant and is later separated by enzymes. This potassium carbonate anion¹⁶ with it’s negative charge has the added benefit of once again acting as a chelating and cleansing magnet for positive ions, which occur in the body as toxins such as heavy metals, mold, pollution etc¹⁷.

Further improving upon the synthetic/isolate prodrug model, Spagyric tinctures contain the plant’s full spectrum of active compounds, therefore creating naturally buffered and ratioed complexes of prodrug microemulsions.

Using this method also addresses the issue of using dried plant material which may result in denatured or entirely lost proteins, sugars and lipids. Because potassium salt is used rather than the proteins, sugars and as a surfactant, the process of creating Spagyric micellar compounds can be maximized by performing the extraction anhydrously (water being a catalytically limiting factor as mentioned above)³.

Summary: Comparing fresh plant alcohol tinctures to anhydrous Spagyric tinctures

To summarize the key factors of the increased bioavailability of both conventional fresh plant and Spagyric tinctures:

Conventional fresh plant ethanolic tinctures include microemulsions comprised of:

Amphiphilic sugars, proteins and lipids (surfactant)
Hydrophobic/lipophilic acidic active compounds (active compound)
Ethanol (co-surfactant)

Spagyric tinctures include nano emulsions of:

Water soluble/potassium carbonate salt (surfactant)
Hydrophobic/lipohphilic compounds (active compound)
Ethanol (co-surfactant)

Both of these preparations mirror the alchemical framework of two opposites and a neutral variable, yet the Spagyric method differs in that it actually forms a balanced chemical equation³ with the benefit of a fully water-soluble and negatively charged alkali (the potassium carbonate salt) a positively charged acid (the lipophilic acidic active compounds) and a neutral pH solution to combine within (ethanol, Ph7.14). Again, it is this combination of alkali salt and acidic active compounds which form the natural carboxylates similar to synthetically produced pharmaceutical prodrugs.

Although with conventional alcohol macerated tinctures microemulsions are still obtained, they are limited to aggregates comprised solely of partially water-soluble acidic compounds in contrast to the neutralizing effect of the alkali salts found only in the Spagyric method. In the case of the fresh plant conventional tinctures the active lipophilic compounds are delivered into the blood/cells and the cleaved proteins, sugars and lipids serve in various nutritional roles; with a Spagyric extract the cleaved potassium salt acts as a cleansing/chelating agent after being released from the delivered active compounds.

Alchemically speaking, it could be said that the fresh plant ethanolic tinctures are more “fixed” or nutritional in nature, whereas the anhydrous Spagyric tincture is more “volatile” or stimulating in effect. That being said, it is certainly not the intent of this article to put down “non-spagyric” botanical extracts, rather it is to note the differences between different methods of preparation to better elucidate the topic as a whole. Anyone who works closely with the plants knows that you can derive healing just by being with them, so of course all incarnations of their medicines have an important place in the healing arts.

The Tyndall effect – a simple testing method for detecting colloidal suspensions

So how can we easily tell if our tinctures contain colloidal/microemulsions? Thankfully there is an easy technique that can be performed without expensive analytic laboratory testing! By shining a laser (any laser pointer will do), we can test whether a liquid is a true solution or a colloidal microemulsion by shining the laser through the mixture in the dark. With fully dissolved particles, the path of the laser is not visible, but with nano emulsions, the light refracts off of the suspended particles revealing the laser passing through! This is known as the Tyndall effect¹⁸.

A laser passing through a Spagyric tincture diluted into water

A call for further conversation, exploration, and research

Thanks to the pioneering research of Rutland Biodynamics and Evolved Alchemy, it is clear that there is a provable modern scientific reality behind full spectrum/whole plant herbal tinctures, and in this case particularly with conventional fresh plant ethanolic tinctures and Spagyric anhydrous tinctures. Their work studying the benefits of full spectrum tinctures has significantly helped to further the understanding how nature’s perfect combinations of plant constituents deliver medicine to the human body, validating holism alongside the conscious and creative role of medicine making.

Undoubtedly, the chemistry presented regarding Spagyria in this article indicates uniquely bioavailable and therapeutic botanical extracts achieved via this method…but of course there is so much work to do from here! For the sake of brevity in introducing this topic, the many various methods of Spagyric preparation of plants has been limited to simple pure ethanolic extracts of dry plants in this article. In reality, there are many methods of creating Spagyric extracts, all of which merit further exploration and research under a modern lens.

The author would like to call upon interested persons working within relevant fields such as the health sciences, laboratory/analytic sciences, herbalism, naturopathy, traditional medicine, western medicine etc to add to this conversation, explore the topic further and hopefully help to foster rigorous scientific

research into the varying methods of preparing this ancient yet newly lime-lighted practice of natural medicine making.

For inquiries, interest in further research or more information please feel free to contact us.

Special thanks to:

Warren Kistenbroker of Evolved Alchemy for his research into and explanation of the modern organic chemistry underlying the Spagyric methodology of tincture making.

www.evolvedalchemy.com

Rutland Biodynamics for the foundational work referenced in this article concerning bioavailability, colloids and microemulsions created by tincturing plants.

www.rutlandbio.com

Last but not least, many thanks to my only living teaching Teacher of this Great Work, Robert Allen Bartlett and his wife Karen Bartlett for their tremendous contribution to research and education within the field of modern Spagyria. To them I am eternally indebted!

www.spagyricus.com

References:

1 https://opentextbc.ca/anatomyandphysiology/chapter/26-3-electrolyte-balance/

2 The prodrug approach in the era of drug design

3 https://www.facebook.com/evolvedalchemy/videos/1345811528814441/

4 http://www.rutlandbio.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/plants-colloids-tinctures.pdf

5 https://www.beyondthc.com/thca-is-virtually-impotent-at-the-cannabinoid-receptors

6 https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Binding-affinity-of-THCA-A-and-THC-illustrated-in-competition-binding-curves-against-3_fig3_317127970

7 https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/amphiphilic-molecule

8 https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/micelle

9 https://www.unmc.edu/pharmacy/faculty/pharmaceutical-sciences/docs/v5.pdf

10 http://www.gclvx.org/Junius%20Practical%20Handbook%20of%20Plant%20Alchemy