The 4 Pillars of Ceres Quality

Roger and Hildegard Kalbermatten, the founders of Ceres, are among the pioneers of a modern understanding of holistic medicinal products derived from plants. Dr Roger Kalbermatten, through his research, has developed a contemporary perspective on the mode of action and essence of medicinal plants and has consistently applied these insights to the production of medicinal products. This concerns a new yet ancient objective: the unification of material and immaterial active principles in a medicinal product. This objective is achieved through four stages. As a result, Ceres medicinal products are once again – as in the time of Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy – administered in very low doses.

True-to-the-Plant Quality

Because carefully cultivated and handpicked medicinal plants make a difference.

Our medicinal plants come from organic and biodynamic (Demeter) cultivation as well as controlled wild collection. We select each location with the utmost care to meet the natural needs of the plants. The plants are tended throughout their growth to ensure their quality. Harvesting is done exclusively by hand – a conscious process that ensures gentle handling of the plant. To preserve their valuable properties optimally, we process the freshly harvested plants promptly and carefully.

Handwork

Because manual processes preserve the healing powers of medicinal plants.

The transformation of the medicinal plant into a medicinal product requires special attention and care. Our aim is to preserve the three active principles (active substances, information, life force) of the plant as best as possible and thus to release its entire efficacy potential in the medicinal product.
Therefore, the fresh plants are processed immediately after harvest. Cleaning, picking through and cutting are done carefully by hand. Through such slow and gentle processing methods, we prevent oxidation and loss of life forces, so that the medicinal plant retains its full spectrum of activity.

Mortar Process

Because thorough grinding gently transfers the plant-based active principles.

The specially developed Ceres mortar mill enables a gentle, rhythmic grinding process in a closed system, imitating traditional hand mortar grinding. In the mortar mill, the crushed medicinal plants are carefully ground together with organic alcohol. This process transfers the three active principles – active substances, information and life force – to the medicinal carrier, the alcohol, through rhythmic movements.
The alcohol protects the valuable active substances from oxidation and at the same time ensures effective extraction. With a speed of only 60 to 80 revolutions per minute, warming of the plant material is avoided, so that the quality of the medicinal plants is optimally preserved.

Maturation Cellar

Because prolonged storage unfolds the natural spectrum of activity optimally.

The Ceres mother tinctures undergo a careful maturation process of 2 to 3 years to develop their full potential. During this time, their aroma matures and the entire spectrum of activity of the medicinal plant becomes apparent.
After gentle maceration of 10 to 20 days – depending on the plant – the plant material is stirred daily by hand in stoneware pots. This process takes place in silence to preserve the quality of the tinctures. The medicinal plants are then gently pressed.
The mother tinctures mature in closed glass bottles at a constant temperature in a darkened cellar. This calm storage ensures that the mother tincture develops its full aroma and complete effect – the essence of the plant is expressed therein.