Spagyric remedies are a new class of medicine that is gaining popularity in the holistic and natural health communities in the United States. Although the modality was first coined by Paracelsus, the famous Swiss physician in the 16th century, it is still something that relatively few practitioners here in the United States are familiar with. More popular in Germany, spagyric remedies, although similar to homeopathy in many ways, are a unique class of medicine that is used for a wide variety of health conditions.
The History:
Spagyric remedies have their roots in ancient Hermetic, Egyptian and medieval alchemy. More specifically spagyric medicine is the application of alchemical philosophy and techniques to the creation of medicinal plant remedies. Alchemy as a science was always more than just the pursuit of turning base metals into gold. It stood for the much broader concepts of refinement, transformation, and of turning the mundane into the divine. Its application in the field of herbal medicine production is what initially inspired Hahnemann's early energetic theories(1).
Spagyric remedies combine the phyto-therapuetic effects of botanical medicine plant tinctures with the energetic aspects of homeopathy. The remedies themselves have active biochemical constituents based on their specific herbal and sometimes homeopathic metal formulations. However the spagyric process itself then potentiates the energetic signature of the plants in much the same way succession and dilution do in the homeopathic process.
The Process:
The word spagyric comes from Greek words “spao”, which means to tear open, and “ageiro”, which means to collect or unite. Originally coined by Paracelsus, the famous Swiss medieval physician, the term came to mean the application of alchemical principles in the creation of medicinal remedies. The process is intended to separate out the base or course matter of a plant and thereby potentiate the spirit of the plant to higher energetic levels. In simple terms the process involves distillation or separation of the essential oils of a plant macerate and then the reunification of the distilled oils back with the original macerate. This process is repeated several times. Through the continued distillation and reunification process the remedy gains the energetic qualities associated with higher-level homeopathic succussions affecting the mind and spirit. Combing the distillate with the original macerate adds back in the final physical, phytotherapeuitc components.
Paracelsus’s original writings also included the process of calcination, which many modern spagyric manufacturers leave out due to the belief that certain impurities can be reintroduced to the remedy. In these instances supplementation of the known minerals of the plant into the remedy is a way to reproduce this step without actual calcination taking place. Some spagyric companies do however make the effort to recombine the purified plant ash back into the macerate(2).
Modern Use:
The remedies are usually liquid preparations that patients take in drop dosing. Most of the large scale spagyric production is currently happening in Germany with companies like Pekana, Soluna, Solitaire and Phylak. The remedy formulations are designed to support and stimulate the different organs and organ systems of the body. When used to focus on the emunctories or organs of elimination like the liver, kidney and lymphatic systems these preparations act as drainage remedies that help to flush out and eliminate toxins from the body. Many practitioners of the drainage philosophy believe that most chronic disease is a result of improper elimination of toxic build up in the body and that stimulating the organs of elimination with drainage remedies is the way to eliminate those toxins and bring the body back into balance.
As more attention gets shined on spagyric remedies new studies will begin to pop up. In a recent 2016 observation study in Germany patients with rhinosinusitis who took a spagyric combination remedy instead of antibiotic saw a decrease in the severity and duration of symptoms over the course of their illness(3).
Conclusion:
Spagyric remedies are a unique class of medicine functionally distinct from both traditional herbal medicine and homeopathy. Although unique, at their essence they actually combine both the phototherapeutic effects of traditional herbal medicine with the energetic aspects of homeopathy. In this way spagyric medicine could be said to be the child of both traditional herbal medicine and homeopathy.
References:
1. Bartlett RA, Hauck DW. Real Alchemy: A Primer of Practical Alchemy. Vol 3rd ed. Ibis; 2009.
2. Junius MM. Spagyrics: The Alchemical Preparation of Medicinal Essences, Tinctures, and Elixirs, Edition 3. Inner Traditions / Bear & Co; 2007.
3. Schmidt S, Kaestle H-J, Steinhausen U. [Homeopathic-Spagyric Therapy of Acute and Uncomplicated Rhinosinusitis: An Observational Trial on Symptom Severity in 2 General Practitioner Surgeries]. Forsch Komplementmed. 2016;23(5):303-305.