Chapter III

The Herbal Elixir

I
n preparing the herbal elixir, we will use those parts of herbs
that contain medicinal value. This may be the leaves, stems,
roots, or flowers, depending upon the particular herb being
used. This presupposes, of course, some understanding on the part of the
students of the healing properties of herbs. Fresh herbs firstly should be
dried in a warm place where there is an adequate circulation of air. If fresh,
undried herbs are used in our work, it will be found that they contain much
water which is of no value to us. When an herb is dried, the essence and
sulphur remain in it and can be easily extracted. The water contained in
fresh herbs will mix with alcohol and will only serve to increase the bulk.
Therefore, the student should observe the following procedure:

1. A sufficient amount of alcohol* should be rectified.**

* Alcohol is derived from various sources. It is obtained from sugar cane, grain, corn, potatoes, grapes, wood, to
name its most common sources. Therefore, all alcohol is not the same. This is especially significant where Alchemy
is concerned. When we refer to the grain spirits, we speak of that which is the essence of the grain. Thus it should
be seen that alcohol is, therefore, the spirit or essence which is freed from the various sources from which we obtain
it. Alcohol derived from wood is known as methanol and is poisonous if taken internally. The alcohol, or spirit of
wine, obtained from wine is the best and most ripened essence of the vegetable kingdom. It has been claimed to have
the highest vibratory rate of any essence in the vegetable kingdom and is, therefore, used as a menstrum to make
extractions from herbs.
** To rectify alcohol, proceed as follows: Take any pure non-poisonous alcohol (190 proof spirits) and distill at 78
degrees C. Whatever is distilled at a temperature above 78 degrees C. cannot be used. Take all that has been distilled at not
above 78 degrees C. and place this again in a clean flask. Re-distill at 76 degrees C. The distillate should then be distilled
again. This is to be performed seven times from the first distillation. That which remains behind will become darker after
each distillation. Finally, at the last distillation the distillate will be a crystal clear alcohol. (Do not use methanol.)

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