Alchemy in the Lab

[Anibis]

I am interested to know of specific scientific applications of the Alchemical Science, both classical and contemporary. What equiptment, conditions, and methodologies are used? What sort of procedures are employed. What constitutes your lab? How might we apply alchemy to the science of genetics, or physics? What branches of science have the most akin to Alchemy?
-Ibisis-

[Luciftias]

That's quite the question! A complete answer would fill several volumes. Here's a couple snippets of info:

Paracelsus was the father of pharmacology. He discovered several compounds useful in the medical field, including laudanum, probably the first medical opiate (we now have several, including codine and morphine.)

As for equipment: brewing supplies, distilation equipment, furnace, crucible, jars and beakers of all sorts. Conditions? It is traditional to take astrological conditions into consideration, although lots of modern alchemical students disregard this aspect. Methodologies? The two most basic would be "ora et labora" (pray and work) and "solve et coagula" (disolve and coagulate). The basic formula is to separate the three Principal elements (salt, sulphur and mercury), remove the "terra damnata" (damned Earth - the impurities), and to recombine the purified Principals, creating a fifth element (aka "quintescence").

Luciftias

[deviadah]

How might we apply alchemy to the science of genetics, or physics? What branches of science have the most akin to Alchemy?
Somehow missed this thread!

I have been into these questions myself for some time now. From my outlook alchemy can be found in everything! Even in the field of economics. In fact the Theory of Everything (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_everything) is Alchemy!

Although I ain't got proof yet, just a hunch...

:cool: