The 4 pillars of quality
3. Grinding the plants in a closed system
Rubbing and pounding plant material in a mortar together with an extracting agent is the classic method of making medicine. Yet with this method, the material may come into contact with atmospheric oxygen during the extraction process, which causes oxidations in the plant material.
At CERES Heilmittel AG we therefore perform this extraction process in the glass-encased CERES mortar grinder. The chopped plant material is mixed with a certain amount of alcohol and water, as specified in the Book of Homeopathic Medicines. Then, in the protective medium of alcohol, the careful extraction process in the glass-enclosed mortar grinder begins.
The grinding stones inside the grinder pound and rub the plant material with the extracting agent without air being able to leak in. During this stage, the plants’ three mechanisms of action are transferred to the extracting agent. Depending on the structure of the plant or part of the plant that is being processed, extraction takes between 15 and 45 minutes and is performed at a rotating speed of 50 to 70 rotations a minute.
This processing stage is closely attended, since the experience gained for each plant must be taken into account in its processing. The grinding process is complete when the plant matter and the extracting agent have reached the point of perfect processing, i.e. when they form a smooth blend.
The mixture of alcohol and plant material, the macerate, is left to macerate in earthenware pots for 10–20 days and is hand-stirred each day. After this, the macerate is pressed to separate the liquid from the solid matter. The mother tincture thus obtained is then filtered.
