Alter Aeon Online Help

Keywords are:  'herbs ingredients spellcomp spell componants components reagents'

There are three different kinds of items which can be used when brewing:

Spell Components are items with strong, latent magical powers.  They can
be powders, liquids, parts of other creatures, even certain types of
stones, dirts, or ash.  Spell components are the most common ingredient
in potions and unguents, but they can also be used to make poisons and
bolster the potency of herbal salves and tonics.  The level of a brew
is often dependent on the quality of the spell components used, and some
spell components may have an affinity for certain kinds of spells.

Herbs are plants and roots that have latent magical powers.  Herbs are
typically weaker than spell components, but certain types of brews can
not be brewed without them.  Salves and tonics in particular rely on
herbal properties for their potency. Herbs can also be used to season
food while cooking.

Food of various kinds may also be added to brews, but food typically
has a very minor effect and is often used merely as a flavoring or a
buffer.  Usually any effect that food lends to a potion is considered
a side effect of fungus or herbs in the food, not the food itself.