ALCHEMY WITHOUT EQTIIPMENT
]EXIIIRACTNON
O]FMHI]E
V]EGtr1I"A]E]I"tr
6NYS
by
JeanDuBuis
(The Vegetable or Primum Ens, according to Paracelsus,is
the ffrltSA t$AttfilA of the PlantWorld)
The EllS is the spiritualprincipleof the plant and containsthe
elements
fireA andAir A, the factorsof healing.
Most of the methodsof extractingthe VegetableEns,that we have
studied,requiredsome alchemical materialand presenteddrawbacks
makingthe extractionbarelysatisfactory.
lf we attemptthe extractionof a freshplant,the water it contains
contaminates the underminate
alcoholwhichthereforis no longercapable
of extractingthe Ens.
lf we operateon a drv plant,the Ens is greatlyweakenedby the
processof the plant.(the dryingof it)
dessication
Thesolutionwe proposehere,usesthe dry plant,but reinforcesits
Ensin the courseof the extractionprocess.
Materials Needed
1. Driedpowderedherbof choice
2. GlassFunnel
3.9O"/o(or drier)alcohol
4. Cleanjars or beakers(2)
5. PotassiumCarbonate
6. AbsorbentCottonWool
7. HeatproofDish
8. ElectricOven
9. Hot Plate(optional)
1O.Clean dishesor plates
The Process
Obtain what the ancientscalled "calcinedtartar". ("weinstein
which has been calcined).Nowadays,it can be found readily
obtainedand alreadypurifiedunder the name of 'Potassium
Carbonate'.(Chemical
suplyhouse,drugstore,efc)
Spreadthis white powder in thin layers (about 1/2 cm thick)
onto glassplatesor dishes.
Betweenthe beginningof March and the end of September,
leavethe plates(or dishes)in a roomwith an open window.
The powder will attract the " SpiritusMundt' from the atmosphere
and will go into deliquescenceand takeson a clearand oily appearance.
The Ancientscalledit "Oil of Tartar". Duringthe deliquescence, the
potassiumcarbonateis chargedwith SolarFire A, the elementthat had
beenlost to the plantduringdessication.
Filter the deliquescencefor, almost always, it has been
contaminatedby dust, smallinsectsor otherforeignmatter.
Filterit usinga glassfunnel;at the bottomof the funnel,placea
pieceof absorbentcotton wool. Placethe funnelon top of a glass
jar, and fill the jar about 1/3 full with its volumeof deliquescence.
Pour the dry and powderedplant you wish to use, into the
deliquescenceuntilthe jar is half filled.
2
- Hermetically seal the jar.
- Placethe jar in a warm place(or on a heater).
- The best temperaturefor this is 4OoC, but this is not absolutely
essential.In fact, it can only contributeto shorten or lengthenthe
extractiontime.
- The liquid takes on a red color, and tends to progressively
get
darker.Whenthe coloris stabalized,the extractioncan be considered
to
be complete.The red colorsindicatesthat the Enshasbeenregenerated.
The extractiontakesfrom 8 daysto a Philosophical Month.
- Filter the liquid againthrough the glass funnel with a piece of
absorbentcotton wool into the samejar.
- Let the maximumamountof tincturedrainfrom the solidresidue.
- Thenobtain90% (orabsolute)alcoholin a volumeroughlyequalto
that of the tincture.
- Pourthis alcoholinto the jar with the tincture.The whole mixture
shouldnot fill morethan 213of the volumeof the jar.
- In a Pyrex dish (Corningwarewill do), place a quantity of
potassium carbonate
corresponding
to 15% to 2Oo/oof the volume
of the alcohol.
- Placeit in an electricalovenat 15OoC for an hour.
- Let it cooldown,leavingthe ovendoorclosed.
- Ouicklypour the carbonateinto the flask containingthe alcohol
and the tinctureand immediately
sealit Hermetically.
- lf all the carbonatehas been dissolvedor if it has a paste-like
appearance, beginthe operationagain,this time addingcarbonate
corresponding to 5% of the volumeof the alcohol.The goal of
3
addingthe dehydratedcarbonateis to extract:
o the 90% alcohol
o the 1O%water it contains
o possibleexcesswater in the 'oil of tartar,
- The two liquids,alcoholand oil, do not mix. Replacethe jar in a
warm placeandshakeeverydayto blendthe two liquidsas bestas
possible.
Theywill separatesimultaneously.
Thecolorof the tinctureis progressively
transferredto the alcoholwhich
first becomesyellow, then red. The plant's impuritiesassembleat the
levelseparatingthe two liquids.
- When the color is stable, after one or two months, separatethe
alcoholby decantingit off .
It is bestto fill severalsmallflasksto the top with a minimumof air
abovethe liquidto ensurepreservation.
Wrap the jars in aluminumfoil if there is light in the room,
particularlyduring the alcohol extraction,and for the smaller
extractflasks.
It is possibleto recoupvariousproductsfrom the oil.
it .t+ .*
fn this methodof extractingthe VegetableEns, Celandine(Chetidonia
Majuslor Lady'sMantle(Alchemilla),yield an excellentproduct.(Take
1Odropsin the morning,of the product,in a glassof water),
(See following sketches of these plants
4
EXTRACTIONOF TI{E VEGETABLEENS
Cclandinc
iH
Alchemilla
1, Commonalchemilla(lady'smantlc)
2. The flower
3. 4. 5. Different shapesof the leavesof Alchcmilla hom the Alps
6. Lcavesof thc smallermeadow-alchcmilla'
PREPARATION OF ANGEL WATER
-2. CalcineArgot or: Weinsteinto whitenessor leachout salts.
2. Hangin a sack or spreadon a glassplate outdoors,out of
the reachof rain,overnight,to
attractSffii.ffffiSfil$t'iii-i
i$
3. Filter and store in a dark place.
PREPARATION OF VEGETABLE MERCURY
1. Distillalcoholfrom wine or from brandyor use "storebought"
since the mercuryis anonymousin the vegetablekingdom.
2. Distillthe mercuryover calcinedtartar at least three (3) times.
3. Labeland save.
PREPARATI ON OF M ELI SSA OFFI CIANALI S (Lemonbalm)
1. Collecta quarterpound (or thereabouts)of fresh Melissatips.
Whilethe whole plantgan be used,the tips are by far the best
productof the plant.
2. Harvestthese, dry and powderthem. Store in asealedairtightjar
for lateruse. ("storebought"herbmay work)
EXTRACTION OF SULFAR OF MELISSA
1. ln a suitablevesselplacethe powderedMelissa.Cover to a fingers
depth with the Angel Water. The vesselis an air-tightjar.
2. Macerateat the first degreeof heat (bloodwarmthl lor 24 hours.
3. Filterout the herb and discard.Savethe tincted menstruum.
EXTRACTION OF THE ^ENSSECUNDA
1. Pourthe TartarizedvegetableMercuryon the tincted Angel
Water,Tartarand Sulfurmenstruum.TheVegetableMercury(the
Spirit)will automaticallycollectand trap the ENSSecunda(the
SpiritualizedSulfuror the brown-coloredtincturel The apparatus
can be set in a first degreeheat to expeditethe process.
COLLECTIONOF THE ENS SECANDA
1. Decant or pipe off the Spirit Tincted with the Ens Secunda.
2. Distill off the Spirit, leaving behind the ENS.
3. Distill off about 85o/oot the Spirit.
4. A coagulated ENS will remain. lf ALL the Spirit is distilled
off, a gel-like matter will remain. This is PhilosophicSulfur.
EXTRACTION OF THE (GREEN)PRIMAM ENS
This processwill be revealed by GregBoag once the ENSSECUNDA
has been successfully obtained. For further information, read
Paracelsus' book "Renovation and Restoration' to be found in the
'CompleteHermeticalWritingsof Paracelsus'asedited by A.Waite.
The particular item to look for here is called 'The First Entity
of Herbs".
