Alchemical Symbolism in the VMS

[Barbrey]

I know that was true for metals, but I wonder if so for elixirs?  Would it be poisonous if ingested?  The few mentions I’ve seen suggest the salt used was brine-derived, so I wonder if when the focus shifted to elixirs in the VMS time period if they were still using ammonium chloride?  I honestly don’t know.

I just found one text (manuscripts exist from the 14th-16th century) by pseudo-Arnaldus de Villa Nova De secretis naturae or De lapide philosophorum written in the style of ancient hermetic dialogs where "sal armoniacus" is elevated to the rank of first "spirit" (whatever that means): "quatuor sunt spiritus: sal armoniacus, sulphur, arsenicum, argentum vivum".

I am looking for a replacement for common salt, preferably non-poisonous. True personal story: since last June I have developed an intolerance to common salt, as if it suddenly became "poisonous if ingested", causing severe dehydration even at low doses. Maybe I should try a little potassium chloride, though I don't need the effect of reduced blood pressure. I'll ask my doctor.

I’m so sorry to hear that, it sounds awful. And the body needs some amount of salt, so I can’t think how you’d get around that.

He means “essence” I think. Spirits were sometimes thought of as “essences” in the Aristotlean sense. But don’t get me started on “spirit” and the Corpus Hermeticum. I think it took me about a month just to vaguely figure out the difference between soul and spirit.