09/26/2023
A spheel n lant waters…
💧 Water is considered the "universal solvent" and, as such, is the perfect medium for extraction. [Water is like a lover and highly yields to bonding].
🍃 When we talk about distilling medicinal plants, we are referring to using a still, heat, and water to aid us in the extraction process.
🔥… Imagine Earth's hydrologic cycle… the basics of ev***ration, transpiration, & condensation that create our water (hydrologic) cycle.
🌏 Now, imagine the copper alembic pot (representing [belly of] the Earth), where the plant material blends with water as it heats; the water v***rs (ev***ration & transpiration) rise up to the hat (Sky).
🌧 Next they are cooled in the condenser (atmosphere, condensation) where they once again become liquid (as does rain).
🌈 The act of distilling involves combining heat with water to create steam. The steam is used to extract components of the plant material, or mash, in the pot. Through the process of distillation, we are able to extract essences from plant material; with heat, the water transforms from a liquid state into the v***r known as steam. [As water is highly bonding it carries the beauty + virtues + properties of the plant with it. Imagine a rainbow and the effervescence glowing from that].
…the v***rs are extracting, and transporting the volatile components collectively known as essential oils. They also carry non-volatile components that
were in the plant. These components are carried or bond with the rising v***r, where they are eventually cooled and separated [in the rain + alchemized back into a tangible one].
The distillate (hydrosol) contains a small portion of the volatile, hydrophilic essential oil components and accounts for less than 1% of the total solution. These actions make us ponder
what else is in the distillate…
🌌…the hydrosol contains cellular water from the plant cells, water soluble minerals, & possibly many other non-volatile components!
Excerpt shared from Ann Harmon’s book “Harvest to Hydrosol”. Bracket comments from
Find hydrosols on our website. Link in bio. Or at
