Spagyric Tinctures

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.

What is Spagyrics?

The word spagyrics means “herbal alchemy.” It also means “to separate” and “to recombine”.

In Alchemy there are three philosophical principles that are said to represent the three parts of the plant –  Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury, correlating with its Body, Soul, and Spirit.

BODY:

The Salt component of the plant involves the minerals and physical matter.

SPIRIT:

The Mercury components of the plant are the water and fermented alcohol essences.

SOUL:

The Sulphur components of the plant are the essential oils.

These three components are what are separated and recombined in the Spagyric process.

Spa-jeer-iks

A spagyric tincture is an extraction process that uses alchemical practices to create potent and full-spectrum herbal medicine. These alchemical practices include the fermentation, distillation, burning, and calcination of the plant as well as the extraction of mineral salts from the remaining ash. Through these practices, one can extract the essential oils, alcohol, and body (salt) of the plant.

These physical aspects represent the soul, spirit and body of the plant respectively, and are the three principles that make up the basis of all matter. Once separated, the three elements are then recombined to make a more potent version of the plant itself, ultimately creating an herbal medicine used to treat nearly every ailment.

LEARN MORE: WHAT IS A SPAGYRIC TINCTURE?

Why choose a Spagyric tincture over any other extract?

Well Spagyric is the only extraction method which uses the whole essence of the plant. Why is this important?

1st – Full Essence: The mineral salts from the plant allow your body to absorb the extract at a much higher rate than a traditional extract. Spagyrics is the only process that keeps the mineral salts in the end product.

2nd – Holistic Process: Spagyric extraction involves all three aspects (body, mind and spirit) which science is starting to prove that our energetics and mind play an important role in the wellness of our body.

3rd – Minimal Processing: Spagyrics is very focused on maintaining the integrity of the plant’s compounds, this means the medicinal properties are not broken down in the extraction method and you can see more benefits.

The word spagyric comes from Greek words “spao,” which means to tear open, and “ageiro,” which means to collect or unite. The purpose of spagyrics is to separate the plant matter (the body), raise the energetics of the plant to higher levels, and then recombine the three components to be back in its full essence.