THE LESSER CIRCULATION

MEDICINAL PLANTS

These should be taken while in blossom for best results, but can be
gathered at any time before the frost comes. Dry quickly in the shade.

LEAVES

Leaves should be collected while the plant is in flower. Dry quickly.

FRUITS AND BERRIES

These should be picked when fully ripe. Dry quickly.*

One of the best methods for drying herbs is to spread them thinly on
clean paper, preferably on the floor, over which a constant stream of fresh
air can pass.
Herbs, or all vegetable medicines, should be kept in a dry and dark
place. Tin cans are to be preferred to other containers for storing pow-
ders. Roots are best kept in covered boxes. Tinctures and extracts should
be kept in dark glass bottles to protect them from the action of light.
Let us suppose then that the herb known as Balm, Lemonbalm, or
Melissa (Melisa officinalis) has been selected. After the selection of the
desired herb from which the true alchemical medicinal potencies shall
be derived, we shall now consider the principle ways of obtaining an
extract. They are as follows:

1. Maceration
The fresh or dried herb is soaked in water and left standing in room
temperature.

2. Circulation
The fresh or dried herb is circulated (percolated). This is accom-
plished by having a condenser over the flask which lets the moisture

* The progressive student will learn later on at what planetary times herbs should be gathered.

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