Even Laurie Cabot, in her book. It is a craft, something that studied, and learned, and applied to use. There are many things that are considered science today that were centuries ago considered witchcraft or magic, and vice versa, there are things today that are considered magic and witchcraft that were once considered science. Things such as Astrology, which after the invention of the telescope, became astronomy. Same with alchemy.
Alchemists are today's chemists.
But since alchemy deals primarily with herbs and the like, it is considered holistic hogwash. For about 300 yrs. after Christ, healing was performed. It was a sign of spiritual power to be able to heal. Then medicine came out because it didn't take faith to heal that way. But that was condemned.