Elixir Of Life

> The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing powers. The Stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal.
>
> A Hogwarts Library book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

The **Elixir of Life** was a ***potion*** procured from the Philosopher's Stone that made the drinker immortal, as long as they consumed the potion on a regular basis.Template:Potion

## Powers

The Elixir of Life would extend the lifespan of those who drank it, and so long as they keep drinking it regularly, they would remain immortal.
The Elixir was also able to restore a disembodied but earthbound soul to full life, creating a body. Indeed, Lord Voldemort, surviving as a lingering spirit due to his Horcruxes, planned to steal the Philosopher's Stone to use the Elixir for that purpose, but was thwarted by Harry Potter in 1992.
One of the three main goals of ***alchemy*** was to create ***panacea***, a remedy that would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely. The creation of the Elixir of Life could be considered to be the success of this goal, as the potion extended life if drunk for eternity, and could bring a disembodied soul back to a physical form.

### Limitations

The Elixir of Life was not infallible. If a person used the Elixir to age beyond their natural lifespan, they would become completely dependent on it, and ceasing its consumption will lead to death. Furthermore, while the Elixir extended one's lifespan, it did not cease one's body from ageing, and if using it to reach an exceptionally advanced age, it would leave them with a decrepit appearance. For example, Nicolas Flamel, who created the Philosopher's Stone, lived for a little over six-hundred and sixty years along with wife ***Perenelle***, but took on a senile and ancient appearance, dying when he and his wife decided to have the Stone destroyed which subsequently depleted their supply of Elixir.
In addition, the supply of Elixir could become contaminated, which may have either annuled the drinker's immortality or outright become poison.
According to Albus Dumbledore, Lord Voldemort refused to rely on the Elixir of Life for his immortality, as he would have been required to drink it for eternity, and the possibility of contamination or the stone's loss would result in his death. His streak of independence made it intolerable for him to rely on the Elixir to survive, and only desired it to recreate his body.

## Behind the scenes

* In the first film, Lord Voldemort claims that unlike unicorn blood or the living off another, the Elixir of Life can give him a body; however, in the film, it is not made clear that the Elixir can supply one with a spare body.
* In Template:DH, the Elixir of Life can be collected as an item (often from defeated enemies) and consumed, which will greatly heal the player (Harry Potter) rather than render them immortal or invincible to harm.

## Appearances

* Template:PS Template:Mention Template:1st Mention

## See also

* Alchemy
* Panacea

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Template:PS
2. ↑ Template:PS - Chapter 24 (*Norbert*)
3. ↑ Template:PS - Chapter 30 (*Man with Two Faces*)