Spagyrics: The Extraction
Spagyric extraction is an ancient alchemical method that uses a combination of physical, energetic, and spiritual principles to extract herbs, plants, and fungi.
Sound too Wooee? Hang tight – there’s some amazing science involved!
Step 1: Alcohol Extraction
In ancient times people needed to ferment their own alcohol – which was the traditional first step of the process, however, we are lucky enough to be living in the modern age and we can purchase alcohol.
So, in modern times the first step is to macerate (let soak) the plant matter in alcohol. We here at Vera, use an amazing extraction machine (called a Soxhlet) which allows us to do this process in a matter of hours. Without the Soxhlet, it takes around 6 weeks for this step alone.
Step 2: Filtration
Once the alcohol extraction is done, the plant matter gets set aside, and the extract gets filtered to remove any unwanted fats and waxes.
Step 3: Blackening Burning Stage
That plant matter (the body) that was set aside then goes through its first stage of burning – until it turns black. This burning represents the releasing of the ego from an alchemical standpoint and is the first step in extracting the mineral salts from the body of the plant.
Step 4: White Ash Stage
Then the plant matter goes through a second burning stage which, from the energetic and spiritual side, represents transmutation. This stage is where the plant matter gets burned all the way until the ash is white. When the ash is white this means ALL of the impurities (toxins and such) that we don’t want have been removed from the ash.
Step 5: Mineral Salt Extraction Part 1
Within the white ash are the amazing mineral salts from the plant that help our bodies absorb what we put into it. To begin extracting the mineral salts from the white ash, distilled water is filtered through it and collected in a flask. The water filtering through the ash takes all of the minerals out of it.
Step 6: Mineral Salt Extraction Part 2
Then this bowl of mineral-rich water is heated up and the water slowly evaporates over about an 8-hour time period. Once the water is fully evaporated all that is left are white crystals of mineral salts. These mineral salts vary depending on which type of plant matter was extracted. Can we imagine a sort of phoenix rising from the ashes?
Step 7: Re-Combining
Now that the mineral salts have been extracted they can be put back in that original alcohol extract from Step 1. And voila! The traditional Spagyric process is complete!
Here at Vera Herbals we do take it one step further for some of our tinctures and add organic vegetable glycerin sourced from coconuts or sunflowers. This not only improves the flavor but also can improve certain herbal extracts.