<P> Modern discussions of alchemy are generally split into an examination of its exoteric practical applications and its esoteric spiritual aspects, despite the arguments of scholars like Holmyard and von Franz that they should be understood as complementary . The former is pursued by historians of the physical sciences who examine the subject in terms of early chemistry, medicine, and charlatanism, and the philosophical and religious contexts in which these events occurred . The latter interests historians of esotericism, psychologists, and some philosophers and spiritualists . The subject has also made an ongoing impact on literature and the arts . Despite this split, which von Franz believes has existed since the Western traditions' origin in a mix of Greek philosophy that was mixed with Egyptian and Mesopotamian technology, numerous sources have stressed an integration of esoteric and exoteric approaches to alchemy as far back as Pseudo-Democritus's first - century AD On Physical and Mystical Matters (Greek: Physika kai Mystika). </P> <P> The word alchemy was borrowed from Old French alquemie, alkimie, taken from Medieval Latin alchymia, and which is in turn borrowed from Arabic al - kīmiyā' (الكيمياء ‎). The Arabic word is borrowed from Late Greek chēmeía (χημεία), chēmía (χημία), with the agglutination of the Arabic definite article al - (الـ ‎). This ancient Greek word was derived from the early Greek name for Egypt, Chēmia (Χημία), based on the Egyptian name for Egypt, kēme (hieroglyphic 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 khmi, lit .' black earth', as opposed to red desert sand). </P> <P> The Medieval Latin form was influenced by Greek chymeia (χυμεία) meaning' mixture' and referring to pharmaceutical chemistry . </P> <P> Alchemy covers several philosophical traditions spanning some four millennia and three continents . These traditions' general penchant for cryptic and symbolic language makes it hard to trace their mutual influences and "genetic" relationships . One can distinguish at least three major strands, which appear to be largely independent, at least in their earlier stages: Chinese alchemy, centered in China and its zone of cultural influence; Indian alchemy, centered on the Indian subcontinent; and Western alchemy, which occurred around the Mediterranean and whose center has shifted over the millennia from Greco - Roman Egypt, to the Islamic world, and finally medieval Europe . Chinese alchemy was closely connected to Taoism and Indian alchemy with the Dharmic faiths, whereas Western alchemy developed its own philosophical system that was largely independent of, but influenced by, various Western religions . It is still an open question whether these three strands share a common origin, or to what extent they influenced each other . </P>

What is an alchemist and what do they do