Shawn Peters
Spagyric Medicine: Ancestor of Botanical Medicine
Spagyric medicine is a ancient form of botanical medicine and is similar to that of homeopathic medicine, in the sense that through the process of creating a spagyric tincture, the herbal remedy becomes more potent and reaches a highly energized state.1,3,4 Spagyric medicine, theory, and philosophy have much more depth than I just stated and if the reader is keen to learn more I would point them to the references listed at the end of the article.
Spagyric tinctures Differ from Botanical Tinctures
Spagyric tinctures differ from regular botanical tinctures in that the process of creating the tincture a remedy is created that not only is in a highly energized state but also incorporates the minerals found in the herb back in to the tincture.1,2,3,4 This is a significant difference because once a regular botanical tincture is made the remaining plant material is generally discarded, including any of the constituents not extracted.
3 Steps Involved in Creation of Spagyric Tinctures
A spagyric tincture involves at least 3 steps, that of separation, purification, and cohobation (recombination).1,3 Separation involves an extraction with alcohol to separate various constituents, for approximately 40 days. Purification involves a process of grinding and burning the remaining dried plant material until it becomes a white ash. Cohobation involves recombining the white ash with the liquid extract, again for approximately 40 days. These steps may involve heat and agitation.
With an interest in nutrition, I both attended and instructed at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition in Calgary. I practised natural nutrition and worked in health food stores for the better part of a decade before I decided to actively pursue naturopathic medicine. The Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine was a natural choice for me and I am loving it. I am deeply passionate about environmental stewardship, intentional communities, and philosophy, including animal rights. Visit me at: https://getwellhere.com/dr-shawn-peters/
References:
- Junius, M. M. (2007). Spagyrics: The alchemical preparation of medicinal essences, tinctures and elixirs. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
- Liquid Herbal Extracts. (n.d.). Retrieved April 3, 2016, from http://www.botanicahealth.com/processes/extracts/
- Sinclair, J. (2013). The alchemy of herbal medicine: Spagyric tinctures, elixirs and the vegetable stone. Australian Journal of Herbal Medicine, 25(4), 188-194.
- What is Spagyric Medicine. (2013, April 09). Retrieved April 03, 2016, from http://www.spagyricmedicine.com/spagyric/what-is-spagyric-medicine/