Calming Draught

Estimated Brewing Time:

Pewter cauldron: 50 minutes
Brass cauldron: 43 minutes
Copper cauldron: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

One (1) liter of water
Sixty (60) ml syrup of hellebore¹
(Three (3) sprigs of lavender³
Fifteen (15) ml salamander blood²
Thirty (30) ml essence of belladonna²

Instructions:
Part One:

1. Bring 500 ml of water to 363 Kelvin (90°C/194°F).


2. Add 30 ml (about 2 tablespoons) syrup of hellebore.


3. Bring the heat up to 383 Kelvin (110°C/230°F) for 20 seconds, and then reduce heat again to 363 Kelvin (90°C/194°F).


4. Add three sprigs of lavender to the cauldron.


5. Stir four times clockwise with your wand.


6. Leave the potion to brew in your pewter cauldron for 15 minutes (this would be 12 minutes in a brass cauldron and 11 minutes in a copper cauldron.)

The potion will appear a light pink at this point, with a steam of no notable color. If the steam begins to appear grey or pale green during any portion of brewing, please safely dispose of the potion immediately and do not, under any circumstances, consume the potion. This indicates that the potion has become toxic and will kill or cause serious harm to any who imbibe it.

Part Two:

1. Add 15 ml (about one tablespoon) of salamander blood to the cauldron and then wait 25 seconds.


2. Add 15 ml (about one tablespoon) of essence of belladonna to the cauldron.


3. Stir once counter-clockwise with your wand.


4. Leave the potion to brew in your Pewter Cauldron for eight minutes. (This would be six minutes in a brass cauldron and five minutes in a copper cauldron.)

At this point, your potion may be a pale orange or a light red. Either is acceptable, although a light red potion at this stage will indicate that the potion will be slightly stronger in its effect, and may add an element of drowsiness when consumed.

Part Three:

1. Add remaining 500 ml of water to your cauldron.


2. Add 15 ml (about 1 tablespoon) of essence of belladonna to the cauldron.


3. Bring the heat up to 383 Kelvin (110°C/230°F) for 20 seconds, and then reduce heat again to 363 Kelvin (90°C/194°F).


4. Stir twice counter-clockwise with your wand.


5. Add 30 ml (about two tablespoons) of syrup of hellebore to the cauldron.


6. Bring the heat up to 383 Kelvin (110°C/230°F) for 20 seconds, and then reduce heat again to 363 Kelvin (90°C/194°F).


7. Stir once clockwise with your wand.


8. Leave the potion to brew in your Pewter Cauldron for 12 minutes (This would be ten minutes in a brass cauldron and nine minutes in a copper cauldron).

At this point the potion should be a pale lilac with a light rose pink steam. Flobberworm mucus may be added to the potion (only 15 to 30 ml) for texture, but is not necessary, and most potioneers do not use it in their
Calming Draught. The draught only needs three to five hours maturation time, but can be consumed at any point after that.

To Store:

The Calming Draught should be stored in a cool, dry place. It can be stored in light, but kept out of direct sunlight. The draught stays good for up to three years following brewing. After this time, as long as the color of the potion remains a pale lilac, it will not become harmful, but will likely become ineffective. In rare instances, if the potion turns yellowish or greenish around its expiration date, this indicates that the potion has become toxic and should be discarded safely.

To Use:

Only ten to fifteen ml (about one tablespoon) of the Calming Draught is needed to be effective. It can be taken on its own or added to a tea or other beverage. It tastes relatively mild, like a somewhat bitter vanilla, so many simply consume it on its own.

Effects:

The Calming Draught is a very mild potion with very few side effects. Most who take a dose experience a feeling of peacefulness as well as lowered heart rate and blood pressure. It is safe for children to use, so nurses often use it to treat hysteria during exam periods and to calm students in stressful situations. Most of the time, this potion does not cause drowsiness unless, as mentioned in the recipe, the potion appears light red following Part Two.

Caution:

Although this potion does not typically cause sleepiness, it is advised that a witch or wizard not fly or operate complicated magical devices immediately following a dose of Calming Draught. It can cause complacency and in rare cases a very mild forgetfulness, so undertaking complicated or dangerous magic during that time can be hazardous. There have been isolated cases of allergic reaction to this potion, most of which manifested as itchiness and sneezing very similar to hay fever. If the witch or wizard taking this potion develops any of these
symptoms, they should discontinue use of the potion and consult with a healer to determine whether they do, in fact, have an allergy.