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Sylvia Rose
Oct 15, 20244 min read
Secrets of Xanthan Gum for Artists & Chefs
Xanthan Gum, a versatile ingredient with various applications, is a growing trend in multiple industries. In art and food it's valued as...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 15, 20245 min read
Gum Arabic, Guar, Xanthan: Guide for Artists & Artisans
Thickening gums such as gum arabic, guar and xanthan gums are indispensable for creation of inks and pigment by individual or industrial...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 15, 20245 min read
Elemental Carbon (C) Science & Secrets
Carbon is the ubiquitous element. Art, beauty, science and health pivot around the life force of carbon. Here's the nature of carbon, its...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 13, 20245 min read
Rot & Decay: Process of Organic Putrefaction
Decay is a fundamental aspect of life cycles. An essential and complex process in the natural world, decay involves breakdown of organic...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 13, 20243 min read
Metal to Rust: Unseen Organisms in Action
Rust, the reddish-brown coating on metals, is formed by exposure to oxygen and moisture. Responsible for this phenomenon are several...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 13, 20245 min read
Fermentation & Rot: Comparing Processes
Fermentation and rot are natural processes. While they may seem synonymous, a closer look reveals the differences between the two....
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 5, 20244 min read
Mother of Vinegar & Microbial Life in a Bottle
Mother of vinegar ( Mycoderma aceti ), is a fascinating compound of life, with a range of health benefits and versatile uses. The Mother...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 5, 20244 min read
Vinegar Eels: Life Cycle & Survival in Vinegar
Vinegar eels ( Turbovecula aceti ) are a vital link in the complexity of microscopic life forms. These tiny creatures are only 1-2 mm...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 15, 20245 min read
White Herb of Maria: Ancient Alchemy Secrets
Maria or Mary the Jewess c. 100 AD is considered the first true alchemist. In her works she mentions a clear white herb growing on small...
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Sylvia Rose
Sep 1, 20245 min read
How to Make Iron Oxide Pigment at Home
Make non-toxic iron oxide pigments for painting, dyes, glazes, artistic to industrial uses. Iron oxide (Fe2O3) or rust exists on Earth...
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Sylvia Rose
Apr 29, 20248 min read
Honey Bees (Apidae): Nature & Myth
Honey bees create honey, beeswax and folklore. First domestication of the honeybee is c. 8000 BCE, in the Neolithic Age. At this time the...
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Sylvia Rose
Apr 28, 20243 min read
Rhododendron & the Toxic Ambrosia
Rhododendron is a plant genus of the heather family. With bright showy flowers, this glamorous perennial is known for medicinal...
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Sylvia Rose
Apr 20, 20246 min read
Lake Van: Fate of a Primeval Soda Salt Lake
Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey. A saline soda lake, it's fed by numerous mountain streams. Van lacks a water outlet, making it...
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Sylvia Rose
Apr 4, 20245 min read
Mugwort (Wormwood) Medicine & Herb Lore
Mugworts are used in folk medicine of India, China, Europe, America and other regions. A member of Artemisia , mugwort is also called...
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Sylvia Rose
Mar 26, 20243 min read
Ib the Heart: Book of the Dead Egypt
Ib ( jb ) is the ancient Egyptian heart, the center of intelligence and existence in a body. It's also called qaib or qa-ib referring to...
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Sylvia Rose
Mar 5, 20244 min read
Milk & Dairy: Ancient Lactose Gene
Neolithic farmers in Britain and northern Europe are the first to drink milk. Early humans are lactose intolerant but consume dairy...
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Sylvia Rose
Mar 4, 20244 min read
Broad Beans (Fava) - Bronze Age Crops
Broad beans ( Vicia faba ), faba or fava beans are cultivated as a crop from pre-Neolithic times to present day. Among the earliest...
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Sylvia Rose
Dec 27, 20233 min read
Cress, Watercress: Natural Health of Ancients
Watercress ( Nasturtium officinale ) grows in fresh water. With hollow stems, it floats and is easily gathered from the water's surface....
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 11, 20235 min read
Rabbit Fever Plague & Warfare: Hittites
Disaster strikes as the first plague of tularemia or rabbit fever breaks out in the ancient Hittite Empire in the 14th century BCE....
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 23, 20233 min read
Rosemary: Immortal Essence & Balm of Kings
In natural health, magic and alchemy the fragrant herb rosemary ( Salvia rosmarinus ) is associated with memory, immortality and...
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