The Navapashanam Energetic Elixir

[Maoshan_Wanderer]

The effect (of the actual alchemical mixture) is primarily Physical, but there are also associated energetic effects such as stilling of mind, balancing of Doshas, etc.

Parad Energies (Self and Atmosphere)

It is not merely metaphorical or symbolic in Alchemy schools - Western, or their more ancient Asian predecessors from Tantra and Daoist schools. Mercury was literally used in alchemical potions, and like many other things, got sublimated into a philosophical/symbolic concept over a period of time. There are two schools of Alchemy in Indian tradition - Physical and Spiritual - which overlap in many aspects. The Physical Alchemical schools focused on physical metallurgy, using Mercury, Sulfur, …