Search Results

Sträggele is the wife of the Dread Huntsman, der Türst of Lucerne canton in Switzerland. In Lucerne the huntsman, Sträggele and their grim entourage gallop like a shrieking tempest through streets and countryside. Sträggele plays a significant part in local lore. Women of the Wild Hunt: Holle, Diana, Frigg Hags in German Myth & Folklore Wiedergänger - the Undead Walk Again   Sträggele is described as a hideous hag with powers of evil. She can curse cows, causing them to panic in a herd, or run dry of milk. She can blight crops and bring grain diseases into the storage bins. She embodies the forces of Chaos and destruction. Die Pfaffenkellnerin (literally "the parson waitress") is a female spirit with glowing eyes who may be with the hunters. She sits like a Mare  atop fir trees  in raging storms and drowns out the howling winds with her manic shrieks of laughter. Pentagram: Drudenfuß, Five Point Star German Myth: Lindwyrm, Mare & Pig Demons Wild Women and Winter Tales Seebodenalp - highest peak on the skyline Die Pfaffenkellnerin most often appears on the Seebodenalp, Lucerne. Seebodenalp, literally Lake Bottom Alp, is now an alpine tourist attraction purveying Swiss culture and the beauty of the natural landscape. In Lucerne and region many myths come together. Qualities of northern goddesses or entities appear in tales of the region. Many are localized to specific areas. Ancient lore remains, due to mountainous terrain isolating villages from societal and religious reforms sweeping Europe. Edelweiss: Alpine Flower of True Love Rhinestones: Treasures of the Rhine Wolpertinger - German Myths & Folklore View of the Seebodenalp and the town of Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge) If one is in the area on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, or Dirty Thursday, the howling Pfaffenkellnerin might be seen in the grisly parade which falls on that day since 1990. It's the day Sträggele, der Türst and the mad entourage descend from the mountains. Sträggele is a powerful spirit with many facets. She may be related to the Tyrolean Fänggen or Fangga Frauen , enormous female tree entities who eat men and protect the trees of the mountains and the little chamois  who dwell on the alpine slopes. Fänggen (Fangga): Man-Eaters of Tyrol Ancient Grains: Wheat, Barley, Millet, Rice Chamois - Alpine Wild Nature & Lore Fangga Frau, man-eating nature spirit & protector of trees and chamois Sträggele has qualities of a witch, ogre or troll. At the same time she's a weather spirit, able to call up howling winds and slashing rains. In the mountains, weather changes quickly. She can be a giantess as tall as a tree or appear in hag form as a wrinkled old lady. Like many hags, Sträggele has the power to remove Aufhöcker , back-leaping spirits who grow heavier with the victim's every step. An Aufhocker can weigh down and kill a person if the afflicted can't find a cure. One way is to tempt the Aufhocker onto someone else's back. Witches' Night - Hexennacht Germanic Mythology - Brook Horses Chicken Soup: Chickens in German Folklore There are different types of Aufhocker. Some are revenants who have led evil lives thus punish thieves, as represented by the statue below. In the Rhineland, werewolves might be Aufhöcker. Others prey on those they consider weak, such as old ladies. Such an Aufhocker can be tricked by a hag. As it jumps on her shoulders thinking her easy prey, she works a banishing spell and the Aufhocker is thrown back to its place of origin, usually a graveyard or other dark place. Aufhöcker - Cursed Undead of German Myth Elixir of Life: Alchemy & the Emperor Gold - Precious Metal of the Sun Aufhocker statue in Lower Saxony, Germany - bronze The winter activities of Sträggele resemble those of Frau Holle in the north and her cognate entity, Perchta in south Germany. She goes out in early January to be sure daughters and servants of households have finished their allotted spinning. If they work hard she leaves them a silver coin. If not, she doles out brutal punishment. The standard European penalty involves pulling out the offender's intestines and stuffing her with straw. The Many Faces of Frau Holle German Myth & Folklore: Moss People Mad Honey - What's the Buzz? Whatever happened to Inga? On Dirty Thursday, Sträggele , the Dread Huntsman and followers known as the entourage of the damned descend in a horde from the caves of Mount Pilatus. They gallop through the streets and countryside with a pack of baying three-legged hounds. The Huntsman may appear at other times throughout the year. His coming is the wrath of a storm. People must leave their barn and outbuilding doors open to let the Hunt swoop through. If the doors are closed, the mad party will smash them down. Wine God Liber: Liberty & Liberal Libation Industry & the Age of Monsters Thirty Years' War Europe: Five Major Battles Rampant destruction Sträggele originates in the Middle Ages as a rebellious noblewoman. Headstrong and independent, she deifies the laws of church and state. During Lent one year, she goes deer hunting, which is taboo at the time. Due to her misdeeds, while hunting she is snatched up by the Dread Huntsman, who makes her his wife. In Lucerne, followers are the army of the damned, tormented souls who must pay for evil they've done in life. The Host may include monsters such as werewolves or ogres. Werewolf & Werewolves of Germany Kulullu - Fish Man Monster of Tiamat Song of the Loreley - Lethal Beauty Rampaging werewolves are part of the Wild Hunt The Dread Huntsman, Sträggele and entourage are a Swiss version of the Europe-wide Wild Hunt or Wilde Jagd , a supernatural phenomenon occurring in Scandinavia, Wales, France, Germany, Italy and other regions. In Lucerne Switzerland der Türst and Sträggele are leaders of Hunt. In other myth, among the leaders are Odin, Frigg, Diana the Huntress, Siegfried of Xanten , Welsh otherworld figure Gwynn ap Nudd, German Frau Holle, Holda or Hulda and her southern counterpart Perchta. Nibelung - Stories of Heroes & Worms Warrior Queen: Kriemhild of the Burgundians Sacrifice of the Male: Temple at Uppsala Norse Goddess Frigg, Queen of the Gods In Northern Scandinavia the participants are called Juhlfolket or Yule Folk. Participants in the Wild Hunt may be giants, trolls, six-legged horses, witches, gods and goddesses, satyrs, dwarfs, warrior heroes and demonic riders. Revenants include the headless horsemen . In southern regions of Germany and in Switzerland the event is known as the Furious Host or Wütendes Heer. In later years leadership of the Hunt is associated with the Christian devil and the event becomes populated with evil imps and creatures of satanic origin. Lucifer, Venus & Anti-Gods of Mythology German Myth - Headless Horseman Castle Frankenstein - Legend & Lore In traditional European lore, the crazed ensemble doesn't actually hunt anything. It's a riotous gathering. While some sources mention hunting humans as slaves it seems a later attempt to explain the myth. A lone rider in Germanic lands is said to pursue maidens. Humans can be sucked up into the melee as punishment, especially those who have broken laws, such as hunting on a Sunday. These culprits must hunt eternally or until they've served a sentence. Others who hunt eternally may do so at their own request. Pretty Poisons: Holly, Yew, Mistletoe Neolithic Skull Cults & Ritual Skulls Ephedra - Oldest Medical Stimulant Herb If humans finally return to their own realm, much time has passed and no one knows who they are. People can be drawn into the Wild Hunt by accident. In some regions the eldritch host is considered to pull the spirits of people from their sleeping bodies at night. A specific Norwegian wild hunt is called aaskereida, aaskerej or aaskereia (lightning-thunder). The crone Goddess Reisarova, a warrior woman, leads a spectral army of riders who swoop down around Yuletide on black steeds with glowing eyes. Stone Age Botai - First Horse People Hippomancy: Sacred Horse Divination Cattle Goddesses & the Cosmic Cow She's also called Gurorysse, from gurri , a Faerie creature with a long tail and hooves. The riotous hunt celebrations are audible for miles. During the storm of the Host overhead, the sound of a saddle tossed onto a roof is an omen of coming death for someone in the house. In Slovenia the goddess leading the Wild Hunt is called Zlata Baba or ‘Golden Crone’. In some areas the hunt may be heard but not seen. If beheld, the sight of the Hunt can foretell death. A person in the path of a Wild Hunt is advised to lie down in the middle of the road. Baba Yaga - Slavic Forest Witch Erinyes - Vengeful Women of Ancient Greece Lord Rodent (Ninkilim) Sumerian Pest God At times a forerunner appears calling, "Mitten des Wegs!" (Middle of the Way). Anyone in the area must lie down and let the host pass or be sucked into the madness. In Lucerne der Türst has his cry: " Drei Schritt uswäg! " or  " drü Schritt rechts, gang uswägs " ('three steps right, out of my way!') Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top

In forests of German mythology, don't step on the Irrwurz ! The name of this plant translates as errant, astray or mad root. A state of mindless wandering is brought on by leaves, root, seeds or any part of the plant. Germanic Mythology - Brook Horses Butzemann, Witches & Nyx - Scare 'em Good Chamomile - Herbology & Folklore Irrwurz is often identified with plantain (above) or fern Also called Irrkraut (mad herb, astray herb), it will make a person lose the way, walk in circles or run back and forth with no sense of direction. Irrwurz is known in French folklore as herbe d'égarement (herb of befuddlement ). A person can be affected through touching or picking the Irrwurz , eating, stepping on it or over it. The plant works its magic tendrils into the mind, causing confusion and panic as even familiar places look strange. Folk Magic: Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) German Myth - Headless Horseman German Traditions - Candy Canes Regional differences abound. In some parts of Germany, Irrwurz is identified as a type of fern or plantain. In other areas it's a tree root across the path or a root shaped like a St. Andrew's Cross or X. In Thuringia, central Germany, a person goes astray only when stepping over Irrkraut without seeing it. In this area the Irrkraut fern is also known as Atterkreutich (asp or adder herb). It befuddles sense of direction and invokes venomous snakes to chase the person. Seduction of Hedammu, Father of Snakes Lotan - Chaos Sea Dragon of Ugarit Care and Feeding of Your German Kobold Rattlesnake Plantain, 1825 (left) and Fern Seeds or flowers falling into one's shoes can also cause directional confusion. In Switzerland, the plant is called Vexierchrut (vexing herb), resembling a fern. A person goes astray carrying the herb in a pocket. In Tyrol (n. Italy/w. Austria), stepping on an Irrwurz can send a person to a carcass-collector's yard or into a swamp. In Carinthia, south Austria, when a person steps on the Irrwurz a spirit or goblin disguises the correct path. Night Raven (Nachtkrapp) Germania Fairy Rings, Moon & Nature Magic Schrat: German Nightmare Forest Elf Schrat, a malevolent German forest spirit In Burgundy, east-central France, one who steps on the plant walks the same route countless times. Seeds of the Paris quadrifolia , the herb-Paris or true lover's knot, can show the true path. The Irrwurtz tradition is brought to America by German ancestors of the Pennsylvania Dutch, who call it Verirrgraut (going astray herb). If one steps on it in the evening, the person will wander aimlessly until daybreak. The plant is identified with the rattlesnake plantain . Aufhöcker - Cursed Undead of German Myth Song of the Loreley - Lethal Attraction German Myth - Harvest Spirits walking in circles Irrwurz or Irrkraut grow in forested regions of Germany and other parts of Europe, and are often blamed for a person getting lost in the woods. In many regions the plant is identified with the plantain or fleawort ( Plantago ) . Plantago are common in many parts of Europe and the Americas today. They grow wild in forests, rocky meadows, development sites, and are among the first plants in urban vacant lots. Herbology & Lore: Stinging Nettle Herbology & Lore: Plantain Plant (Plantago) Immortal - Quest for the Elixir of Life Botanical Illustration, Otto Wilhelm Thomé, 1885 Prevention and cure for effects of the Irrwurz are similar.  Most commonly, a person switches right and left shoes, or wears an article of clothing inside out, for example an apron, or turns one's pockets inside out. Taking off both shoes and walking barefoot can help ground the wanderer. Walking backwards in one's own footprints might also shake off the curse. Sometimes the person can be shocked out of the trance-like state induced by the Irrwurz . In other regions such as Tyrol, one is simply out of luck until another unwitting victim steps on the nefarious plant. Ephedra - Oldest Medical Stimulant Herb Fire Men & Lights Errant: German Lore Goats in German Myth: Erntebock & Habergeiß ... could work Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top

The Corycian Cave system is a Neolithic ritual site and sanctuary on Mount Parnassus used from c. 4000 BCE. To ancient Greeks it's home to Pan, the goat-legged god of the wild, and the legendary Bee Nymphs. Honey Bees (Apidae): Nature & Myth Pan: Wild Rustic God of Music & Flocks Great Bear - Nature, Spirituality & Lore Limestone formations create organic shapes, pillars, towers over millennia For the early Greeks, the Corycian Cave is the boundary between wilderness and culture. The cave is at an accessible level, below the dangers of the mountain peak, but too steep for horses. Corycian Cave is the home of wild god Pan. The lover of Pan is the nymph Echo, whose call resonates through the caverns. Enormous limestone formations, drips, echoes, steam and rumblings in the ground are activities of the gods. The pilgrim experience is a humbling one. Honey Mead: Most Ancient Ambrosia Ephedra - Oldest Medical Stimulant Herb Great Cormorant: Wild Birds & Mythic Beasts Corycian Cave entrance (credit: Claire.Kittridge) It's a place of ritual and mythology, "... where nymphs are possessed and tamed by the gods..." Wright, John Henry (1906). " The Origin of Plato's Cave " The archaic homeland of pastoral god Pan is Arcadia , on the central Peloponnese. Pan is a patron of rural people. As few valuable items are found in the cave, many historians assume it's an offering place for herders and homestead farmers. Rise of Pan: Fertility Goat God Péh₂usōn Arcadia - Greek Lands of Ancient Gods Mythology: Gods of Mycenean Greece A 19th century pic of Pan - German art magazine 1895-1915 Excavations of the cave uncover over 22,000 astragals, each made from the talus or large ankle bone of sheep and goats. Astragals are also called knucklebones. Variously marked, they're used for games and in astragalomancy, divination by casting the bones . Of those found, 2,500 are smoothed down and pierced as pendants, with 36 set in lead and two in gold. Archeologists also find rings, bronze figurines, ceramics, metal objects and wind instruments such as the auloi, a set of two reed pipes. It's an amazing find revealing the amount of activity centered on the caves. Sistrum (Sistra) Music: Ancient Egypt Lora Ley Adventures - Feast of Fools Ancient Marsh Muse - Rough Horsetail Youth playing auloi, Greek reed pipes Pastoral offerings to the Gods include butter, cheese, milk and honey. The food of the Greek Gods, ambrosia, is made with honey, sometimes identified as a divine form of honey mead . In Greek myth honey is discovered by the nymph Melissa (Bee). From Mycenean times (c. 1600 BCE) honey is offered to the Gods. Bees are associated with the Delphic oracle and Sun God Apollo. The oracular priestesses of Delphi are called bees ( Melissae ) as these insects relate to wisdom. Eventually all priestesses are known as Melissae. Sun Goddesses of World Mythology Elixir of Life: Alchemy & the Emperor Mahaleb Cherry: Spice, Nature & Myth Honeybee collects nectar In nature bees hover over water especially on hot days. Besides drinking the water they bring as much as they can back to the hive, where it's spread over beeswax cells containing larvae. The vibration of the bees' wings then cool the larval cells and the rest of the hive. A medium of divination in ancient lore, water is also a portal to other realms. The habit of bees to hover over water or congregate near water connects them to divine wisdom. In art t he Bee Nymphs or Thriae are shown as women with the lower bodies of bees. Mad Honey - What's the Buzz? Women of the Wild Hunt: Holle, Diana, Frigg Egyptian Blue Lotus: Visionary Beauty Bee Nymph, Rhodes, Greece, 7th century BCE The Thriae Bee Nymphs are Melaina, Kleodora and Corycia. They support Sun God Apollo in his ventures. When Apollo fights the female monster Delphyne, the Nymphs shout to give the god strength. Delphyne is guardian of the Delphic Oracle on Mount Parnassus, placed there by mother goddess Gaia. Pytho is the original name of Delphi and the monster is Python . Ethylene gas, the breath or aura of the dragon, emerges from a natural geologic vent. A priestess sits on a coned stone over the vent and raves while other priestesses interpret her words in verse. Seduction of Hedammu, Father of Snakes Lindwyrm, Mare & Pig Demons: German Myth Wadjet - Winged Snake Goddess of Egypt Delphic Oracle / Temple of Apollo After killing the monster, Apollo takes possession of the oracle. It becomes the Delphic Oracle of Apollo. The Bee Nymphs have powers of divination and truth. They teach Apollo the arts of divination by casting lots. "Lots" may be dice, sticks, stones or animal bones. The nymphs help Apollo develop his adult powers. In various tales the Bees teach him divination by casting lots or cleromancy, or as Naiads they teach him wisdom through mantic pebbles, ie casting stones. Irrwurz or Mad Root: German Folklore Amazons - Warrior Women History & Myth Ornithomancy - Prophecy by the Birds Women with astragals, Pieter Bruegel the Elder 1560 In the Homeric Hymns, Apollo says, There are certain holy ones, sisters born — three virgins gifted with wings: their heads are besprinkled with white meal, and they dwell under a ridge of Parnassus. These are teachers of divination apart from me, the art which I practiced while yet a boy following herds, though my father paid no heed to it. Grayanotoxins: the Madness of Honey Screaming Swiss Spirit: Pfaffenkellnerin Ambrosia: Divine Nectar & Immortal Gods Bee nursery honeycomb cells with larvae and wax caps "From their home they fly now here, now there, feeding on honey-comb and bringing all things to pass. And when they are inspired through eating yellow honey, they are willing to speak truth; but if they be deprived of the gods' sweet food, then they speak falsely, as they swarm in and out together." The Delphic shrine of Apollo is on Parnassus, about 20 km (12.4 mi) from the cave. Apollo has several interactions with the Bee Nymphs. With Apollo the nymph Corycia has a son, Lycorus. Melaina is the mother of Delphos, also Apollo's son. Immortal - Quest for the Elixir of Life Ancient Deities: Proto Indo European Gods Mythic Fire Gods: Hephaestus of the Greek Apollo, god of light, music, poetry, prophecy The town of Delphi is later named for him. Kleodora's son Parnassus is by the god Poseidon, and he becomes the namesake of Mount Parnassus. Poseidon's ancestral homeland is also Arcadia, where he's worshipped as a horse god and freshwater deity. The Corycian Cave features in the mythological fight of Zeus and Typhon. A snake-man beast, Typhon is born of Earth and Tartarus, the infernal regions. He battles the Olympians, especially Zeus. 12 Days of Zagmuk: Chaos & the King Rhododendron & the Toxic Ambrosia Pagan Solstice Fests: Saturnalia Zeus fights chaos snake-monster Typhon, Attic Greek vase Zeus injures Typhon. Typhon fights back, wounding Zeus. Typhon imprisons Zeus in the Corycian Cave, guarded by Delphyne. Finally Hermes, brother of Apollo, and Aegipan free Zeus, who rises to defeat Typhon. Thus, Zeus is also worshiped in the Corycian Cave. Corycia of the three Bee Nymphs is first called Daphnis (Daphne) meaning laurel. The slopes of Parnassus are home to the bay laurel ( Laurus nobilis ) , the only edible laurel of the family. Daphnis is a priestess of Gaia gifted with oracular vision. When Apollo pursues Daphnis she cries for help from Gaia, who turns her into a laurel tree. The laurel is considered to be a sacred herb of oracles, although  Laurus nobilis  has no known visionary compounds. The leaves secrete extra nectar, much beloved by bees. Mulberry Tree (Morus): Uses, Folklore & Myth Eschenfrau: Wicked Ash Tree Woman Hormones in Microbes, Plants & Animals Bay Laurel ( Laurus nobilis ) Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top

Plantain ( Plantago ) is a genus of low-growing plants with tall seed heads and narrow to broad green leaves. Part of history and folk medicine of Europe and the Americas, plantain prospers in clearings and open spaces. Edelweiss: Alpine Flower of True Love Castle Frankenstein - Legend & Lore 19th Century: Home Gym, Bicycles, Antiseptic Broadleaf Plantain ( Plantago majo r) A true survivor, it's one of the first plants to appear and repopulate vacant lots, burnt forests and barren grounds. Plantain is easy to recognize and readily available in the wild. Unaware of its connection to healing and lore, it's often seen as a weed. Plantain is sometimes identified with the nefarious Irrwurz  of European and American German folklore. Chamomile - Herbology & Folklore German Folklore - Irrwurz or Mad Root German Traditions - the Linden Tree It's Irrwurz  in Germany (Astray Root, also called Mad Root) and herbe d'égarement (Herb of Madness) in France. In folklore this plant can cause confusion, temporary insanity and loss of direction if stepped on or over. Among the Pennsylvania Germans the rattlesnake plantain of the genus Goodyera,  a type of orchid ,  is identified with Irrwurz . Downy rattlesnake plantain needs some shade, well-drained slightly acidic soil with sand and organic matter like peat or humus. Honey Bees (Apidae): Nature & Myth Song of the Loreley - Lethal Attraction Yarrow ( Achillea ) Magic & Medicine Goodyera pubescens - downy rattlesnake plantain Types of Plaintain Over two hundred species are known. Broadleaf plantain ( Plantago major ) is native to Europe and parts of Asia. The blackseed plantain ( Plantago rugelii ) is native to eastern Canada and east central USA. It's also called American plantain or Rugel's plantain. Plantago lanceolata , aka narrowleaf plantain or ribwort, is introduced to the Americas from Eurasia. Settlers such as forerunners of the Pennsylvania Germans, other Europeans, and Asians traveling to Canada and the US bring the broadleaf plantain with them. Rhinestones: Treasures of the Rhine Herbology & Lore: Caraway German Myth & Folklore: Moss People Wild Narrowleaf Plantain or Ribwort ( Plantago lanceolata ) Plantain as Food Since prehistoric times, people have foraged for, cooked and eaten the nutritious plantain plant. Leaves and seeds are edible. As a leaf vegetable, the broad-leaved plantain can be eaten raw or cooked in soup, salads, sauces and stews. Plantain leaves are high in vitamins A and C. Tender young plantain leaves are palatable in raw form and should be picked in early spring. Older leaves can be blanched and cooked to reduce bitterness. The large grainy seeds form in abundance on spiky heads and can be cooked like rice or cereal. Ancient Grains: Wheat, Barley, Millet, Rice Women Brewers: Brewing History of Europe Flavors of Coffee: From Harvest to Homestead seeds of broadleaf plantain Plantain Medicinal Uses As an herbal remedy plantain is used for several abilities. astringent - to treat bleeding anti-toxic - to fight toxins antimicrobial - to protect against microorganisms ie bacteria, fungus anti-inflammatory - to relieve inflammation antihistamine - to treat symptoms of allergies clear phlegm from the throat and chest diuretic - to reduce fluid buildup in the body Why Apples Turn Brown: Science & Nature Black Tea ( Camellia sinensis ): Harvest to Cup Polyphenols: Plants & the Environment Poultice made from leaves is used to treat skin ailments such as insect bites, poison ivy rash, sores and boils. Desert tribes in America use local plantains to cure snakebite. In Romania, Russia, Serbia and Bulgaria, leaves from Plantago major  are used as folk medicine. Their antiseptic properties work to prevent infection. In Slovenia and Central Europe, the leaves were traditionally used to cure friction blisters. Alchemist Dippel: the Frankenstein Files Phytochemicals: Natural Chemicals of Plants Fructose (Fruit Sugar): Sweetest Saccharide Plantago psyllium (sand plantain, black psyllium) Extract of leaves is taken as a tea or syrup for cough, bronchitis and diarrhea. When wet, the seed husks especially of Plantago psyllium (sand plantain) expand and soften to become mucilaginous. It's used in such bulk laxatives and fiber supplements as Metamucil. P. psyllium seeds are also effective for constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, a dietary fiber supplement, and to treat diverticular disease. Supplements are usually in powder form and taken with water or juice. They're considered to help manage high cholesterol. Psyllium is also a component of some ready-to-eat cereals. Five Types of Resistant Starch: Fiber & Health How & Why to Ferment Green Beans Gingerbread Houses: German Folklore serious fiber Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top

Rhododendron is a plant genus of the heather family. With bright showy flowers, this glamorous perennial is known for medicinal properties and lethal toxins. Rhododendron species are central to mad honey of the ancient to modern world. Veratrum album - Tragic Toxins Mad Honey - What's the Buzz? Ambrosia: Divine Nectar & Immortal Gods A broad-bordered bee hawk moth ( Hemaris fuciformis ) goes in for a nip of nectar Mad honey is created by bees producing honey from the nectar of plants containing certain toxins, such as grayanotoxins . All Rhododendron species have mild to severe toxicity. Pollinators are not affected by the poisons. Most Rhododendron species come from east Asia and the Himalayas. Today they grow throughout the world as small trees, vines or shrubs. Favorite hedge and ornamental plants, they have white to brilliant shades of red, pink, purple, blue and orange flowers. Poison Hemlock: Herbology & Lore Black Hellebore: Toxins, Health & Lore Edelweiss: Alpine Flower of True Love Alpenrose (Rhododendron ferrugineum) grows in high places The romantic Alpenrose ( Rhododendron ferrugineum ) is an evergreen shrub above the mountain tree line. It's also called snow rose or rusty-leaf alpenrose. Found in the Alps, Pyrenees, Jura and Apennines, Alpenrose is the "type species" for genus Rhododendron . Rhododendrons bear the cluster flowers pollinators love, and are often visited by butterflies, moths, honeybees and hummingbirds. In Ukraine the native rhododendron is Rhododendron kochi , a sprawling shrub of deep pink or violet flowers. Agrippina & Son: Poisonous Plots of Rome Herbology & Lore: Death Cap Mushrooms Ancient Marsh Muse - Rough Horsetail Rhododendron kochi , Carpathian Mountains, Ukraine (credit: Misha Reme) R. kochi grows in the East Carpathian Mountains on the rocky slopes of subalpine and alpine ranges, at elevations to 2000 m (6562 ft). Entire islands of rhododendron exist in Polisia on the azalea preserve near Tomashhorod, west Ukraine. Among the most fragrant Rhododendron is R. occidentale (Western Azalea). Blooming in late spring and early summer, the plant releases oils in the petals for an ambient spicy sweet scent with suggestion of cloves. Mugwort (Wormwood) Herbal Lore Plant Lore: Stinking Nightshade, Henbane Elderberry Tree: Germanic Nature Lore   The most fragrant rhododendrons (Western Azalea) In the Western Himalayas , a drink known as Buransh comes from the bright to deep red petals of Rhododendron arboreum . This plant can grow into a beautiful medium-sized tree. Burnash means "rhododendron" and R. arboreum is the national flower of Nepal. Buransh is prepared from the carefully washed plant petals. Juice of R. arboreum is used in Ayurveda to prevent or treat diabetes, and is considered to benefit heart, skin and liver, and relieve body aches and pains. Hormones in Microbes, Plants & Animals Why Apples Turn Brown: Science & Nature Mahaleb Cherry: Spice, Nature & Myth Rhododendron arboreum Great Laurel or Rhododendron maximus is another tree-sized plant, with lush white flowers. Leaves and flowers of R. maximus produce grayanotoxins which cause sickness such as nervous disorders. Symptoms of R. maximus poisoning include lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea which can be mistaken for mild food poisoning or a "stomach bug". Symptoms get worse leading to severe abdominal pain, abnormal heartbeat, seizures and ultimately death. Wine Making Process: Grape to Glass Phytochemicals: Natural Chemicals of Plants Irrwurz or Mad Root: German Folklore Rhododendron maximus Grayanotoxins are largely responsible for the effects of mad honey. Rhododendron ponticum or Pontic Rhododendron is named for its habitat near the Black Sea. Fossils show this plant ranging across most of south and western Europe about 20,000 ya. Sap from a freshly cut branch is used to treat toothaches. Honey made with the nectar of R. ponticum is toxic ambrosia. The honey is often sold as a remedy for impotence, or "sweet Viagra" causing up 90% of grayanotoxin poisoning cases. Women of the Wild Hunt: Holle, Diana, Frigg The Sex Demons - Incubus & Succubus Egyptian Blue Lotus: Visionary Beauty Rhododendron ponticum nectar produces mad honey and toxic effects The giant honeybee of Nepal, Apis laboriosa, produces a mad honey which is the object of honey hunts. The bees nest only at high altitudes on cliffs. People smoke them out and climb rope ladders to harvest the honey. It's not consumed locally as it sells for high prices. Non-mad honey hunts are lucrative for tourism in some regions. Ambrosial honey mead is connected to the  Philosopher's Stone  of alchemy . A primary quest of alchemy, the legendary Philosopher's Stone holds the secret to the Elixir of Life. Natural plant toxins, such black hellebore  and rhododendron are also of interest. Lammašaga: Sumerian Angel Goddess Elixir of Life: Alchemy & the Emperor Herbology & Lore: Stinging Nettle Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top

Apples turn brown when exposed to air. This phenomenon is enzymatic browning, a chemical reaction not limited to apples, but prevalent in the plant kingdom. Here's the science behind this color change and its effects. Apples: Nature, Spirituality & Folklore German Nature Folklore - Fruit Trees Honey Bees (Apidae): Nature & Myth The browning is a response to breakage of the cell walls when the apple is cut or bruised. In the cells of the apple, the enzyme polyphenol oxidase (PPO) also called tyrosinase dwells in one compartment. Phenolic compounds like chlorogenic acid and catechins, responsible for flavor and antioxidant properties, reside in another. Damage to the apple allows oxygen to interact with phenolic compounds in the fruit. Difference Between Oxidation & Fermentation Black Tea ( Camellia sinensis ): Harvest to Cup Polyphenols: Plants & the Environment The enzyme polyphenol oxidase (PPO), also called tyrosinase, rapidly converts these phenolic compounds into brown pigments or melanin. PPO activity can increase by up to 11 times when apples are exposed to air. The injury triggers a series of reactions. PPO oxidizes the phenolic compounds into quinones. Quinones are oxidants and electrophiles. Phenols: Nature's Creations in Daily Life Nitrogen Fixation & Evolution of Plant Life Five Sugars: Glucose, Maltose, Fructose, Sucrose, Lactose pears are high in PPO Electrophiles accept electrons from nucleophiles. Examples of electrophiles include chlorine, iodine and boron trifluoride. Nucleophiles are elements such as oxygen, hydrogen and sulfur. Highly reactive, the quinones quickly polymerize to form the large, brown pigments melanin. These are the same pigments responsible for the brown color of human skin after sun exposure. Create Artisan Apple Cider Vinegar Song of the Loreley - Lethal Attraction Cherish the Chocolate: Sweet Fermentation Other Browning Fruit & Vegetables While apples are the best known browner, many other fruits and vegetables undergo enzymatic browning. These include Bananas: Brown quickly when exposed to air due to high PPO levels. Their browning is a sign of ripeness and eventual decay. Pears: Like apples, pears are rich in phenolic compounds and susceptible to browning. Can take just a few minutes to show noticeable discoloration. Potatoes: The "blackening" of cut potatoes is a form of enzymatic browning. Avocados: Their browning can be particularly quick due to high PPO activity. Brown quickly after cutting, often within 3 to 5 minutes. Eggplant: Slices of eggplant can rapidly discolor after cutting. Each fruit or veg has its own type of polyphenol oxidase, with variations in speed and intensity of the reaction. For example, some apple varieties like Fuji or Granny Smith brown at a slower rate compared to others. Wine Making Process: Grape to Glass Algae: Evolution, Science & Environment Ethyl Acetate: Scent of Flowers, Wine & Fruits avocado browning More Than Aesthetics B rowning is primarily a surface-level reaction but can lead to nutrient degradation. Vitamin C levels in apples decrease by about 20% within an hour after cutting. Textural Changes: The polymerization of quinones can lead to a softening or degradation of the fruit's texture. In some cases, it can contribute to a mushy consistency. Pyruvate (Pyruvic Acid): Key to Life's Energy How Lactic Acid Bacteria Make Yogurt Hildegard von Bingen: Nature, Music & Beer As enzymatic activity breaks down the cell walls, apples become softer. This textural change is noticeable as a crisp apple can degrade within hours. It's encouraged in making applesauce as it breaks down fibrous structure for ease of digestion. Decomposition of phenolic compounds can also affect the fruit's flavor profile. Flavors of Coffee: From Harvest to Homestead Terroir in Wine & Food: Expression of Place Fructose (Fruit Sugar): Sweetest Saccharide chunky applesauce - manufactures add ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to reduce browning. Lemon works too. Why Browning Happens in Nature Browning has a purpose in nature. The production of quinones and melanin is a defense mechanism for the plant. Wound Healing: The brown pigment creates a physical barrier, protecting the damaged tissue from infection by decomposing fungi and bacteria. Repelling Insects: Some quinones may be toxic or unpalatable to insects who want to feed on the injured plant. Milk into Cheese: Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) Mother of Vinegar & Microbial Life in a Bottle 4 Infused Wines of Ancient Medicine a weevil comes to visit A Few Facts Lemon juice is a common remedy for preventing apple browning because its citric acid lowers the pH, inhibiting PPO activity. Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) in lemon juice also acts as an antioxidant, reducing quinones back to their original phenolic state. Blanching vegetables by briefly immersing them in boiling water denatures the PPO enzyme, preventing browning. Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP), commonly used for pre-cut fruits and vegetables, reduces the oxygen concentration around the product to slow down the browning reaction. How to Cultivate Green Algae for Science & Health Women Brewers: Brewing History of Europe Eight Dye Plants & Natural Dyes in History Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top

Hormones, a term derived from the Greek word hormao meaning to excite or arouse, are signaling molecules sent by cells to influence activity of other cells. They prompt responses to internal and external change. Pheromones in Microbes, Plants & Animals Cell Communication in Living Organisms Why Apples Turn Brown: Science & Nature In the bloodstream, tissues or environment, hormones travel to target areas. They attach to specific receptors to trigger a biological response and interact only with cells having these receptors. This communication system maintains homeostasis , the internal balance of a body. It helps regulate growth, metabolism, reproduction and other biological processes. Difference Between Oxidation & Fermentation Polyphenols: Plants & the Environment Black Tea (Camellia sinensis): Harvest to Cup Microorganisms Bacteria use hormone-like molecules to communicate and coordinate their activities. Known as quorum sensing, this allows bacteria to collectively behave as a multicellular entity. For example one bacterium is no match for the host's defenses. By releasing and sensing hormone-like signal molecules (autoinducers), they decide when their population density is enough for a coordinated attack. Wine Making Process: Grape to Glass Phytochemicals: Natural Chemicals of Plants Yeast & Fermentation: the Crabtree Effect Scientists explore the possibility of disrupting quorum sensing with quorum quenching molecules as an antibacterial ploy. It could prevent bacteria from coordinating but results are not known. Yeasts are reported to produce plant hormones auxin or zeatin, or both. The importance of the compounds to the ecology of the yeast again is vague, though auxin is responsible for cell elongation, common in yeast. Brettanomyces : Favorite Artisan Wild Yeast Amazing Yeast: Feeding, Breeding & Biofilms ATP: Nature of Energy & Vital Functions Brettanomyces sp showing some cell elongation Plants Plants, despite lacking a nervous system, rely heavily on plant hormones, or phytohormones. These chemical signals originate in parts of the plant and travel to other areas to regulate growth, development and responses to environmental stimuli. Auxins: The pioneers of plant hormones, auxins, are responsible for cell elongation, apical dominance (inhibiting lateral bud growth), and root formation. When plants reach for the light, it's based on action of auxin. It triggers cells on the shaded side of a plant to elongate more than those on the sunlit side. This process drives phototropism, making plants grow toward light. Red & White Tartar: Wine Salts of Alchemy Carbon Fixation: Environmental Heath & Ecology Carbohydrates: Sugars of Nature & Health When a plant is cut, auxins accumulate at the injury site, stimulating spontaneous root formation. The ability of trees and plants to sprout roots from a branch or cutting in water is due to auxins. Gibberellins: These hormones promote stem elongation, seed germination, and flowering. They're used to produce seedless grapes. Cytokinins: Counteracting auxins to some extent, cytokinins promote cell division and differentiation. They delay senescence or aging and are important for lateral bud growth and leaf expansion. Lateral buds grow along the sides of a shoot to make a plant bushy. Nitrogen Fixation & Evolution of Plant Life Science of Onion Tears: Demystifying Acids Broad Beans (Fava) - Bronze Age Crops Abscisic Acid (ABA): Often called the stress hormone, ABA helps plants cope with drought and other stressful conditions by inducing stomatal closure (reducing water loss), promoting seed dormancy, and inhibiting growth. Ethylene: Unique as a gaseous hormone, ethylene functions in fruit ripening, leaf abscission or dropping; and response to wounds or pathogen attack. It accelerates ripening in nearby apples to spread rot. Rot & Decay: Process of Organic Putrefaction Five Food Acids: Citric, Acetic, Malic, Tartaric & Lactic Pectin: Nature's Polysaccharide Gelatin Bananas emit ethylene when harvested, prompting the fruit to ripen. When unripe bananas are put in a paper bag with ripe ones, the ethylene from the ripe bananas accelerates the ripening process of the unripe. Plant hormones are used in agriculture to manipulate crop growth and yield. Synthetic auxins are used as herbicides to selectively kill flora like dandelions, plantain and clover. Wort: Sweet Temptation for Beer-Making Yeast Acidosis & Body Fluid Acid Levels: Human Health The Probiotic Yeast: Saccharomyces boulardii ripening bananas Animals In animals, hormones coordinate countless physiological processes. Produced by endocrine glands or specialized cells, they travel through the bloodstream to reach target cells with specific receptors. Insulin: Secreted by the pancreas, insulin promotes glucose uptake by cells. Its counterpart, glucagon, raises blood glucose levels, stimulating glucose release from the liver. The two hormones work to balance blood sugar. Glucose: Essential Functions in Human Health Phenols: Powerful Compounds of Nature Sugar Beets, Altbier & First Newspaper Insulin also affects fat and protein metabolism. Adrenaline (Epinephrine): Released by the adrenal glands in response to stress or excitement, adrenaline triggers the "fight-or-flight" response to increase heart rate, blood pressure and energy levels. Within seconds of release, it influences several organs. Sex Hormones (Estrogen, Testosterone): These are produced by the gonads (ovaries and testes) and are responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics, reproduction and sexual behavior. The Sex Demons - Incubus & Succubus Wandering Womb - Ancient Medicine Photosynthesis: Nature's Energy Production Growth Hormone: Secreted by the pituitary gland, growth hormone promotes growth and development, particularly during childhood and adolescence. Thyroid Hormones: Produced by the thyroid gland, these hormones regulate metabolism, growth, and development. Some hormones also function as neurotransmitters. Norepinephrine for instance is a hormone when released by adrenal glands and a neurotransmitter when released by neurons. Methane (CH4): Science of Microbial Gas Ammonium (NH+4): Nitrogen Needs of Plants Amino Acids: Optimal Body Health & Energy Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top

Cellular communication is a complex signaling system of living organisms from single-celled fungi to massive bodies. Cells use signals to coordinate, cooperate, repel pathogens, colonize territory and respond to stress. Why Apples Turn Brown: Science & Nature Polyphenols: Plants & the Environment Nitrogen Fixation & Evolution of Plant Life This is the foundation of forming a bacterial biofilms to triggering a nerve impulses in the brain. Bacteria and yeast use quorum sensing , with which they monitor their own population density. Bacteria release autoinducers. As the population grows, concentration of autoinducers rises. When it reaches a threshold, autoinducers bind to receptors on or within the microbes to trigger changes in gene expression. Bioluminescent bacteria Aliivibrio fischeri are symbiotic with the Hawaiian bobtail squid. The bacteria light up only when they reach a high enough population density inside the squid's light organs. Phytochemicals: Natural Chemicals of Plants Wine Making Process: Grape to Glass Yeast & Fermentation: the Crabtree Effect Hawaiian bobtail squid full of Aliivibrio fischeri This coordinated luminescence helps the squid camouflage itself against predators. Bioluminescence can be used for counterillumination. Photophores on the bottom side of an animal can match the dim light coming from the surface. This makes it harder for predators searching for prey silhouettes from below to see them. Yeast reproduce asexually by budding. Occasionally they use a form of sexual reproduction. They cannot move on their own but pheromones signal the desire to mate. Amazing Yeast: Feeding, Breeding & Biofilms Feed the Yeast: Nutrients for Microbe Health Maltose: Sweet Delight of Brewing & Energy In humans, the signaling molecule oxytocin is known as the "love hormone" Pheromones alert yeast cells of an opposite mating type. Haploid cells respond to pheromones. They enable mating between a and α cells, but prevent mating between cells of the same type. Of the potentially millions of cells surrounding a cell, yeast partners may be within reach. They can stick to a substrate or travel with environmental forces like wind and water flow which mingle the cells. Yeast can communicate effectively over distances up to 1 mm. Relative to the size of the microscopic cells this is a lot of ground. Stuck end to end, a thousand cells are needed, covering the human equivalent of up to five American football fields. Three Types of Amylase in Digestion & Fermentation Saccharomyces cerevisiae : Queen of Yeasts Difference Between Oxidation & Fermentation A yeast colony is abuzz with specialized signals. These help yeast coordinate responses to environmental stress, like changes in nutrient availability. Killer yeast is an example of cells producing toxins. In multicellular organisms, the need for communication is amplified. Cells must coordinate actions to form tissues, organs and ultimately, a functioning being. Cell signaling is specific. A signaling molecule will affect only cells with appropriate receptors. Microbe Glue (EPS) in Biofilm Formation Polysaccharides: Starch, Glycogen, Cellulose Biofilm Communities: Metropolitan Microbes Plants use chemical signals made of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). When a plant is attacked by consumers, it releases compounds to alert other parts of itself, or neighboring plants. In 2020, Chinese Academy of Sciences researchers identify a pheromone called 4-vinylanisole(4-VA) which causes locusts to swarm. It's released by the insects and attracts nearby locusts into joining the swarm. Among honeybees, the queen releases queen mandibular pheromone (QMP) in response to incoming signals. QMP regulates social behavior, hive maintenance, swarming, mating and prevents ovary growth in worker bees. Sugars D-Galactose & L-Galactose: Nutrition Yeast Fermentation: Nature, Brewing & Food Honey Bees (Apidae): Nature & Myth The queen is the light-colored bee in the center In other vertebrates cellular communication is a mix of hormonal and nerve signaling. Hormones are chemical messengers, released from glands into the bloodstream to enable long-distance communication. During stressful situations, adrenal glands release cortisol. This hormone influences metabolism, immune response, behavior, often with emotional accompaniment. Cortisol levels can increase by 50% during high stress. A hormone like adrenaline has different effects on tissues. In the heart, it increases heart rate and force of contraction. In the liver, it stimulates the breakdown of glycogen to release glucose . Microbes: Bacteria, Actinomycetes, Protozoa, Fungi & Viruses Algae: Evolution, Science & Environment Cyanobacteria: Nutrients & Bacterial Blooms Adrenaline makes the heart beat faster and blood pressure rises for more energy. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases glucose in the bloodstream. It facilitates the brain's use of glucose and availability of substances to repair tissues. Nerve cells use electrical signals or action potentials. These signals transmit rapidly, ensuring quick responses to stimuli. Direct Contact: Cells can directly communicate by physically touching each other. This is important during development, as cells must recognize and interact with their neighbors to establish tissue boundaries and cell fate. Phytoplankton: Environment & Human Health Corycian Caves, Bee Nymphs & Greek Gods Immortal - Quest for the Elixir of Life yeast making biofilm, requiring cooperation of many cells secreting substances Gap junctions are tiny channels connecting cytoplasm of adjacent cells, allowing small molecules and ions to pass directly. This allows for rapid coordination of cellular activities, like muscle contraction in the heart. Paracrine Signaling: Cells release signaling molecules affecting nearby cells. Cell growth and division occur through paracrine signaling, as in wound healing. Endocrine Signaling: Hormones are long-distance messengers of large bodies. These signaling molecules are secreted into the bloodstream. Escherichia coli (E. coli): The Good Bacteria Proteins: Macronutrients of Nature & Health Diatoms: Glass-Making Algae Crucial to Life They travel to reach target cells with specific receptors for them. Insulin, released by the pancreas, signals cells throughout the body to take up glucose. Synaptic Signaling: This specialized form of signaling occurs between neurons in the nervous system. Neurons communicate by releasing neurotransmitters, like dopamine or serotonin, into a small gap called the synapse. The neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the receiving neuron, triggering an electrical signal. Synaptic signaling is responsible for diverse activities, from thought and emotion to muscle movement. Methane (CH4): Science of Microbial Gas Acetogenesis in Nature & Human Health Nitrogen Fixation & Evolution of Plant Life Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top

Honey bees create honey, beeswax and folklore. First domestication of the honeybee is c. 8000 BCE, in the Neolithic Age. At this time the ice sheets of the last glaciation are receding. Climates are warmer. Flowers spread to habitats once too cold, and with them come the bees. Honey Mead: Most Ancient Ambrosia Mad Honey - What's the Buzz? Corycian Caves, Bee Nymphs & Greek Gods According to scientists, bees evolve from predatory wasps who develop a preference for nectar. Although fossil evidence is limited, bees emerge around the same time as flowering plants during the Cretaceous period, 146 to 74 million years ago. Originating in area of the Philippines, honey bees find themselves surrounded by floral abundance with a rise in temperate climates. They propagate like mad and quickly spread. As people grow more aware of the sweet ambrosia, bee domestication soon follows. Artworks of humans collecting honey from wild bees date c. 10,000 years ago. Early people learn how to attract bees with artificial hives in hollow logs, boxes, pottery or baskets. Prokaryotes & Eukaryotes: Life Forms on Earth Stone Age Botai - First Horse People Ephedra - Oldest Medical Stimulant Herb Harvesting honey, prehistoric cave drawing c. 5800 BCE, Spain There are 7 - 11 recognized honeybee species with about 43 sub-species. Honey bees have five eyes. The two obvious compound eyes see shapes. Three eyes, tiny bumps at the top of the head, detect light and shadow. One of these eyes is connected to flight. Insects such as ants who normally don't fly, like ants, have only two eyes atop the head. Honey bees see outside the spectrum of humans. Five Sugars: Glucose, Maltose, Fructose, Sucrose, Lactose Nitrogen Fixation & Evolution of Plant Life Ethyl Acetate: Scent of Flowers, Wine & Fruit While humans see within the visible light spectrum, honey bees see into the ultra-violet spectrum. Some like the Asian giant honeybee ( Apis dorsata ) can differentiate colors even in low light. Many plants take advantage of bee vision to produce phytochemicals invisible to humans but flashing like carnival lights to pollinators. These guide the insects into the flower directly to the source of nectar. Heimchen - House Crickets of Folklore Ninkasi: Beer Goddess Mesopotamia Lord Rodent (Ninkilim) Sumerian Pest God How Bees Make Honey Bees make honey to preserve their gathered nectar. If it's stored without the transformation to honey, the nectar will ferment. Honey fermentation also happens in abandoned hives and inspires the brewing of the world's oldest alcoholic beverage, honey mead . With her long probiscis the bee gets nectar from flower blossoms. The taste of the honey, its color, health benefits and other effects depend on the type of plants frequented by the bees. Honey colors range from almost clear to golden and deep red. Elderberry Tree: Germanic Nature Lore Chamomile - Herbology & Folklore Edelweiss: Alpine Flower of True Love Bee drinking nectar with a chunk of golden pollen on her leg Returning to the hive the bee transfers her nectar by mouth to a house worker. She also combs the pollen from her legs and body. As nectar passes from bee to bee, sugars are further broken down. Moisture content decreases. Each bee in the process has a specialized type of work. The final product goes into one of the six-sided cells. The bee vibrates her wings over the honey to let more water evaporate, and covers the cell with a beeswax cap. Ambrosia: Divine Nectar & Immortal Gods Herbology & Lore: Poison Hemlock Sinope: Poison, Honey, Greeks & Clay Bees secrete beeswax from glands in the abdomen. Wax is used to create the cells of the hive. Female worker bees have eight abdominal glands to produce wax when it's needed to build the honeycomb. The wax hardens when exposed to air and forms a wax scale. Honey is the backup food source for the bees when flowers are scarce. Stored in the hive it's consumed whenever needed. The Queen, busy laying up to 2000 eggs a day, is fed pollen, nectar and honey by workers. She releases queen mandibular pheromone (QMP) in response to incoming signals. QMP regulates social behavior, hive maintenance, swarming, mating and prevents ovary growth in worker bees. Rhododendron & the Toxic Ambrosia Mugwort (Wormwood) Herbal Lore Mahaleb Cherry: Spice, Nature & Myth Queen is about center, orange abdomen, with her attendants The society and behavior of bees is complex. Foragers collect nectar and pollen. Hive workers specialize in meeting the forager on her return and taking charge of the bounty. After entering the darkness of the hive, bees navigate with sensory wing and antennae movement. Within the community there are guards, who patrol outside or in the hive, or perch near entrances. The guards can distinguish a home bee from an enemy. They recognize certain organisms as beneficial, such as the tiny arachnid Forcellinia, who consumes dead matter to help with housekeeping. In case of a foe, alarms spread quickly through the hive. Screaming Swiss Spirit: Pfaffenkellnerin German House Spirits: Beer Donkey (Bieresel) Great Bear - Nature, Spirituality & Lore Guard bees identify an invading wasp When hatched, bee drones are at first fed by workers. Later they feed themselves on honey. Drones of wasps have been observed working in that they feed others, adults and larvae, with nectar they receive. In their cells the bee larvae make a tap or clicking noise unpleasant to bees, triggering feeding behavior. The noise-making is also found in wasp larvae. Nurse bees produce royal jelly from their heads. They feed the larvae, while attendants feed the reigning Queen. Lake Van: Fate of a Primeval Soda Salt Lake Egyptian Blue Lotus: Visionary Beauty Great Cormorant: Wild Birds & Mythic Beasts Nursery worker bee feeding larvae. Bee drones are less often seen outside the hive. Adult males participate in the mating or nuptial flight. At about the same time every year, young queens 6-16 days old take to the skies to mate with up to a dozen males in a swarm of thousands. Mating takes place in spring or summer. Ideal temperature is 69°F (20°C). After the nuptial flight the Queen lays eggs within two days to two weeks. L ammašaga: Sumerian Angel Goddess Elixir of Life: Alchemy & the Emperor Herbology & Lore: Stinging Nettle If a honey bee queen unexpectedly dies, worker bees hasten to find larvae within the proper age range, and raise the larvae to become queens. Queens come from the same type of eggs as workers bees. A newly hatched female larva is not yet a queen or worker. The royal jelly fed to larvae has slight differences in composition for potential queens or workers. Workers and drones get royal jelly for the first few days after hatching. The jelly also helps anchor cells of Queens. Horse in Dreams - Meaning of Horses Song of the Loreley - Lethal Beauty Amazons - Warrior Women History & Myth Royal Jelly with honeybee larvae After a few days, workers are fed "bee bread" a mix of honey and pollen. Young Queens receive more royal jelly. As it's an essential food for developing bees and Queens, collection of royal jelly from a live hive damages crucial functions and can cause the death of a colony. To get the honey and beeswax, people use smoke. Smoking is an age old practice to avoid being stung while gathering honey. In ancient times people build a smokey fire under the hive. It's still done for honey hunts in places like Nepal. Veratrum album - Tragic Toxins Noisy Spirits of German Mythology Witches & Witchcraft: Ancient World Check wind direction before smoking bees Bees exposed to smoke can still sting. Under normal conditions a drop of venom forms at the stinger or modified ovipositor. In Queens the ovipositor is also used to lay eggs. When affected by smoke, the honeybees produce little or no venom. It's thought the venom precedes and triggers the sting. Bees on smoke are less likely to sting, and don't rally their sisters to attack as in a normal hive raid because their senses are confused. For this reason they're often said to be sedated by smoke. Night Raven (Nachtkrapp) Germania Yarrow (Achillea) Magic & Medicine Wild Yeast: Microbes Acting Naturally sugar water num num Beekeeping is practiced in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Honey is found in the tombs of Pharaohs and nobility, along with depictions of active bee keeping and honey harvesting. By c. 2000 BCE the Egyptians make stackable hives from pipes of clay or Nile mud. Workers move the hives up and down the Nile depending on the time of year. The bees then pollinate seasonal flowers such as lotus , flax , mandrake, daisy, chrysanthemum, poppy, jasmine and rose. Emmer Wheat - First Domestic Crops Wine God Liber: Liberty & Liberal Libation Nigella Sativa: Black Seed of Healers In spirituality, bees are associated with the Sun, divinity, prosperous work, cooperation, communication, community, harmony, wisdom, celebration and healing. Bee stings and bee products are used in natural medicine. Bee sting venom contains peptides and enzymes used to treat inflammation and central nervous system diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Bee honey is used on skin lesions or wounds to speed healing. Khella - Ancient Health & Herbology Ornithomancy - Prophecy by the Birds Herbology & Lore: Stinging Nettle In folk medicine honey has antioxidant , antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It's a remedy for coughs, skin conditions and immune deficiency. Natural calming agents harmonize thoughts and ease the mind. It can help alleviate sadness or bad moods because honey stimulates the nucleus accumbens or pleasure center in the brain. Honey and royal jelly are consumed by ancient and modern humans as medicine and for perceived aphrodisiac qualities. Potnia: Mystery Goddess of Ancient Greece Hannahanna - Great Grandmother Goddess Saffron - Most Precious Ancient Spic e Potnia, Nature Goddess of the Ancient World - Greece In Mycenean and Minoan Greek myth, goddess Potnia  is associated with bees. She's called "Pure Mother Bee". Her priestesses receive the name Melissa,  meaning bee. Melissa is another name of Greek Artemis the Huntress (Roman: Diana ). Despoina, also meaning "Lady", is a mystery goddess linked to Kore (later Persephone) and fertility goddess Demeter. She's known as a patron of bees and beekeeping. Melisseus is Greek god of honey and bees. In one version of the escape of baby Zeus, the god's daughters feed Zeus with milk and honey when Rhea his mother hides him from his father Cronus. Cronus tries to eat all his children for fear they'll usurp him. He's right. Pagan Solstice Fests: Saturnalia Bird Woman Elwetritsch: German Folklore Apples: Myth, Nature & German Folklore Bees are important to agriculture such as fruit trees and flowering crops Priestesses of the agriculture goddess Demeter are known as Melissae . Grandmother Goddess Hannahanna  of the Hittites has a bee as her symbol and helper. In the story of angst-ridden agriculture god Telinipu she sends a bee to find him. In folklore, if a bee enters the home, it's a sign of a visitor soon to arrive. It can signify good fortune, but the bee must leave on her own. If the human resident chases, traps or kills the bee, bad luck follows, or the visitor will be troublesome. Telipinu - God of Farming & Crops Women of the Wild Hunt: Holle, Diana, Frigg Erinyes - Vengeful Women of Ancient Greece In Celtic mythology honey bees have great wisdom. Egyptians and Celts believe bees travel between worlds and deliver messages from the gods. In the west islands of Scotland, bees embody the ancient knowledge of the druids. Bees are found in myth and folklore around the world. Honey  and beeswax  are important resources for humans since the Mesolithic  period c. 10,000 - 8000 BCE. Bees are often considered magical creatures. Their honey is both a mystery and divine  gift. Enuma Elish: Marduk & the Chaos Monsters Immortal - Quest for the Elixir of Life Sistrum (Sistra) Music: Ancient Egypt Gold plaques of bee goddess 7th century BCE Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top

Oxidation and fermentation both are used by organisms to extract energy from molecules. These operate in distinct ways and under different conditions. Here's the comparison. Black Tea ( Camellia sinensis ): Harvest to Cup Polyphenols: Plants & the Environment Wine Making Process: Grape to Glass Oxidation vs. Fermentation - Overview Feature Oxidation Fermentation Oxygen Typically required Not required (anaerobic) Energy Yield High Low Breakdown Complete (ideally) Incomplete End Products CO2, H2O (ideally) Ethanol, Lactic Acid, Acetic Acid, etc. Examples Burning, Rusting, Cellular Respiration Brewing, Yogurt production, Muscle Fatigue Phytochemicals: Natural Chemicals of Plants Yeast & Fermentation: the Crabtree Effect Fructose (Fruit Sugar): Sweetest Saccharide tea - oxidation is part of the production process Oxidation: Taking Electrons, Releasing Energy In oxidation, a molecule loses electrons. These are taken up by another molecule, which is then said to be reduced. This electron transfer is a duo; oxidation and reduction are together called the redox reaction. Key Characteristics Requires Oxygen While not always a strict requirement, oxidation often involves the combination of a substance with oxygen. The "oxidizing agent" is the molecule accepting the electron or facilitating the loss of electrons from the oxidized molecule. Oxidation: Metabolism & Molecular Action Cyanobacteria: Nutrients & Bacterial Blooms Pasteurization: Microbial Dominance & Destruction High Energy Yield: Oxidation reactions typically release a significant amount of energy. This is because the breakdown of molecules is often more complete in the presence of oxygen, extracting more potential energy. Complete Breakdown (Ideally): In the ideal scenario, oxidation breaks down organic molecules (like glucose) into simpler inorganic molecules like carbon dioxide and water. Examples of Oxidation Burning Wood: This is a classic example. The wood (primarily cellulose ) reacts with oxygen in the air, releasing heat and light, and forming ash, carbon dioxide, and water. Mother of Vinegar & Microbial Life in a Bottle Secrets of Xanthan Gum for Artists & Chefs Sugar Beets, Altbier & First Newspaper Rusting Iron: Iron reacts with oxygen and water in the air, forming iron oxide (rust). This slow oxidation process weakens the iron over time. Cellular Respiration (with Oxygen): This is how our bodies get energy from food. Glucose is oxidized in the presence of oxygen, producing energy (ATP), carbon dioxide, and water. This efficient process fuels our cells' activities. (This is sometimes called "aerobic respiration".) An example is cutting an apple, and it quickly turns brown. The browning is oxidation in action, as the enzyme polyphenol oxidase (PPO) reacts with oxygen to create the brown pigment melanin. Five Food Acids: Citric, Acetic, Malic, Tartaric & Lactic Microbe Glue (EPS) in Biofilm Formation Sugars D-Galactose & L-Galactose: Nutrition Oxidation affects how the apple looks and can also change its flavor and nutritional value, causing loss of vitamin C. This reaction is inhibited by citric acid. Oxidation is common to biological systems. In cellular respiration glucose converts to energy and produces carbon dioxide and water as by-products. This reaction is fundamental for many living organisms. Honey Mead: Most Ancient Ambrosia Yeast Enzymes: Maltase, Invertase & Zymase Esters: Nature's Fragrance & Flavor Makers Fermentation Fermentation happens without the presence of oxygen. It's a way for organisms to generate energy when oxygen is scarce or unavailable. Yeast, for instance, creates ATP in aerobic conditions and alcohol in anaerobic. Key Characteristics Anaerobic Process: Fermentation occurs in the absence of oxygen. Lower Energy Yield: Compared to oxidation, fermentation produces significantly less energy. This is because the breakdown of molecules is incomplete. Fermentation Energy: Yeast & Lactic Acid Bacteria Maillard Reaction: Science & Flavor in Browning Food Five Major Proteins of Nature & Human Health Fermentation - Pinot Noir wine Incomplete Breakdown: Instead of completely breaking down organic molecules into carbon dioxide and water, fermentation results in the production of other organic molecules. These can be ethanol, lactic acid, or acetic acid. The type of molecule produced depends on the organism and the specific biochemical pathway used. Cheese Making: Rennet & Natural Alternatives Flavonoids: the Big Five of Aroma, Flavor & Color Yeast, Humans & Aerobic Respiration of Cells yogurt - lactic acid fermentation Examples of Fermentation Yeast Fermentation (Alcoholic Fermentation): Yeast converts sugars like glucose into ethanol and carbon dioxide. This is the basis of brewing beer, making wine, and baking bread. Lactic Acid Fermentation: This occurs in muscles during intense activity when oxygen supply limited. Glucose is broken down into lactic acid, which provides an energy spike. Lactic acidosis is too much lactic acid in the system, with symptoms from muscle fatigue to heart attack. Lactic acid bacteria use fermentation to make yogurt, fermented green beans and sauerkraut. Saccharomyces cerevisiae : Queen of Yeasts 7 Primary Electrolytes: Essential Ions & Health Kombucha: Ancient Brew & DIY Health Tea In yogurt making, lactic acid bacteria convert lactose, the sugar in milk, into lactic acid. This process gives yogurt its distinct tangy flavor and creamy texture. The absence of oxygen is crucial lactic acid bacteria are anaerobic. Acetic Acid Fermentation: Acetic acid bacteria ferment ethanol into acetic acid, the main component of vinegar. Fermentation even extends beyond food. It significantly contributes to biogas production, where organic waste decays anaerobically, generating energy for heating or electricity. Acetic Acid Bacteria for Vinegar Artisans: Acetobacter Glauber: Preparation of a Golden Spirit of Wine Queen Eleanor & the Calamitous Crusade apple cider vinegar - fermented by yeast then by acetic acid bacteria Fermentation is Ancient: Fermentation is one of the oldest methods of food preservation, dating back thousands of years. Evidence of fermented beverages c. 7000 BCE is found in China. Digestive Microbiome: Fermentation occurs in the human GI tract. Bacteria ferment undigested carbohydrates, producing short-chain fatty acids. Flavor Development : Culinary experts often apply controlled oxidation to enhance flavors. Olive oil develops a richer taste profile over time and oxidation is a major phase of tea production . Terroir in Wine & Food: Expression of Place Fermenting Green Beans: Salt, Brine & Bacteria Photosynthesis: Nature's Energy Production tea Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top

Polyphenols in plants are protectors, beautifiers and communicators. With diverse structures and functions these phytochemical compounds fortify plant health and resilience, and attract the best pollinators. Phenols: Nature's Creations in Daily Life Nitrogen Fixation & Evolution of Plant Life Five Sugars: Glucose, Maltose, Fructose, Sucrose, Lactose About Polyphenols Polyphenols give blueberries their deep blue color, wine its complex flavor and roses their alluring scent. They're tools of survival, reproduction, and defense in competitive environments. Polyphenols are characterized by multiple phenol units, aromatic rings with hydroxyl groups.. They create countless plant-based molecules. They can be categorized into several groups. These include flavonoids , phenolic acids, tannins and ellagitannins. Polyphenols appear in dark chocolate, and red wine. Cherish the Chocolate: Sweet Fermentation Wine Making Process: Grape to Glass Algae: Evolution, Science & Environment Polyphenols are defense mechanisms for plants against UV rays, disease and pests. In grapevines, flavonoids like anthocyanins give grapes their characteristic color and protect them from oxidative and fungal damage. During stressful conditions, plants often speed up polyphenol production. They also influence growth and development within plants. Polyphenols help regulate cell processes, resulting in healthier plants. Phytoplankton: Environment & Human Health Milk into Cheese: Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) Gum Arabic, Guar, Xanthan: Guide for Artists & Artisans Rhododendrons contain the controversial polyphenol grayanotoxin Types of Polyphenols 1. Phenolic Acids The simplest forms of polyphenols, phenolic acids are precursors to more complex structures. Phenolic acids include caffeic, ferulic and gallic acid. In fruit, vegetables, and grains they fortify structure and antioxidant defense. Ferulic acid is particularly effective at absorbing UV radiation, protecting plants from sun damage. It's found many plants including rice, wheat, oats, pineapple, grains, beans, coffee beans, artichokes, peanuts and nuts. Acetic Acid Bacteria for Vinegar Artisans: Acetobacter Lactic Acid Bacteria: Team Players of Fermentation Five Food Acids: Citric, Acetic, Malic, Tartaric & Lactic 2. Flavonoids Flavonoids create the vibrant color found in fruits, vegetables, and flowers. They're further divided into subclasses such as anthocyanins (red, purple, and blue pigments), flavones and flavonols. Beyond their aesthetic benefits, flavonoids are potent antioxidants. They protect plants from oxidative stress caused by pollutants, UV radiation, and pathogens. Bees can see ultraviolet light. Many flowers have flavonoid patterns invisible to the human eye, guiding pollinators to land at the nectar source. Terroir in Wine & Food: Expression of Place Fructose (Fruit Sugar): Sweetest Saccharide Ethyl Acetate: Scent of Flowers, Wine & Fruits 3. Tannic Acid Tannic acid, also known as tannins, is a complex polyphenol found in bark, leaves, and fruits. These compounds bind to proteins, giving them an astringent taste. Historically, tannins are instrumental to the tanning of leather. They react with the proteins in animal skin and make it more durable and resistant to decay. The characteristic dryness when drinking red wine is due to the tannins in grape skins and seeds. Tannins excel at plant defense against herbivores. Their astringent unpleasant taste deters most, but not all, consumers. Tannins: Complex Astringents of Nature Galls & Gall Nuts: Black Ink, Dye, Medicine Rosemary: Immortal Essence & Balm of Kings 4. Ellagitannin Ellagitannins are another class of tannins, often found in fruits like pomegranates and raspberries. They are known for their unique structure and action against oxidants in plants. They include castalagin and its variations in oak and chestnut. They're famous for adding flavors and color to wines and spirits stored in oak barrels. The ellagitannins in pomegranates, including punicalagin isomers, exist in the sarcotestas or fleshy seedcoats; peel (rind); bark or heartwood of Punica granatum . They help shield against UV and other cell damage. Glass & Arts of Ancient Glass Making Flavors of Coffee: From Harvest to Homestead Milk into Cheese: Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) Facts About Polyphenols Polyphenols enhance soil health by promoting diversity and activity within microbial communities. Compounds released into the soil foster beneficial interactions with microbes, which improve nutrient availability for plants. Polyphenols can enhance decomposition of organic matter within the soil. This natural process helps maintain soil structure, prevent erosion, and encourage water retention. Algae: Evolution, Science & Environment Cyanobacteria: Nutrients & Bacterial Blooms Photosynthesis: Nature's Energy Production Polyphenols also affect the food chain, influencing herbivores and the organisms who prey on them. For instance acorns have high tannin levels, which deter some mammals but don't affect squirrels. Acorns are the favorite food of wild squirrels. These busy rodents bury them as a food stash and often start new oak trees. Dietary preference shapes the foraging habits of animals and the ecosystem reliant on them. Quercetin found in such food as apples, grapefruit, okra and onions is an antioxidant, targeting free radicals in plants. Amygdalin in flaxseed and apple seeds prevents consumers from chewing them, so the seeds pass unharmed through the digestive system. Solnitsata - Neolithic Salt Trade Town Tannins: Complex Astringents of Nature Electrolytes: Vital Minerals of Human & Environmental Health baby red squirrel - squirrels remember up to 24 stashes for two months, but recall puzzles for up to 2 years. Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top

Oxidation is a primary part of chemistry and biology and essential to life. This chemical reaction is vital for energy production. From cellular energy to how bacteria interact with the environment, oxidation is a driving factor. Xanthan Gum & Plant Blight: Xanthomonas Campestris Acid-Producing Bacteria in Sulfuric Acid Creation Black Tea ( Camellia sinensis ): Harvest to Cup staring at various microbes ... What is Oxidation? Oxidation is a chemical reaction. An atom, ion or molecule loses electrons. This can occur in various chemical contexts. It happens alongside a reduction reaction, in which another substance gains electrons. Together, these reactions form what are known as redox reactions. These redox processes are crucial for both biological and chemical systems. Does Oxidation Need Oxygen? No. While oxidation is often associated with oxygen due to its role as an electron acceptor in aerobic respiration, the process doesn't always need it. Oxidation can occur in anaerobic conditions. Catalase: Unseen Enzymes Essential to Life Hydrogen Peroxide: Chemistry, Production, Risks Algae: Evolution, Science & Environment In fermentation, for example, some organisms can oxidize glucose without oxygen, producing energy through alternate pathways. Similarly, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria flourish in oxygen-free environments, relying on substances like hydrogen sulfide to fuel oxidation processes. In anaerobic environments alternate electron acceptors are used, like nitrate (denitrification), sulfate (sulfate reduction) or carbon dioxide (methanogenesis). Microbes adapted to these environments use different metabolic routes to oxidize substrates without need for oxygen. How Does Oxidation Happen in Cells? In living cells, oxidation occurs through various metabolic pathways. One of the primary contexts for oxidation is cellular respiration, where glucose (or other organic molecules) is broken down to produce energy. Glycolysis: Biochemistry of Holistic Health Human Methane: Meet the Microbes of Flatulence Flavonoids: the Big Five of Aroma, Flavor & Color Yum Yum Glucose entry into cells is mediated by specific carrier proteins or glucose transporters. Five types of glucose transporter have been identified. One is found only in tissues requiring insulin for glucose uptake: heart, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue or body fat. During glycolysis, a glucose molecule ingested by the cell. It has six carbon atoms and is converted to two molecules of pyruvate, each with three carbon atoms. Phosphorus: Element of Fatal Fascination ATP: Nature of Energy & Vital Functions Nitrogen Fixation & Evolution of Plant Life For each glucose molecule, two molecules of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) are hydrolyzed to provide energy in the early steps, and four molecules of ATP are produced in later steps. ATP is the energy source of the cell. During this process, glucose undergoes oxidation as it loses electrons, while molecules like NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) are electron carriers, reduced to NADH in the process. Ethyl Acetate: Scent of Flowers, Wine & Fruits Heavy Metals Cadmium, Mercury, Lead, Chromium & Arsenic Gouache Painting: Artist Essentials & Art Tips transport system NADH then enters the electron transport chain, a series of reactions to produce ATP. In microbial systems, processes such as fermentation and anaerobic respiration also involve oxidation reactions. Certain bacteria oxidize organic compounds, extracting energy without need for oxygen, allowing them to survive in environments from deep-sea vents to surface soil. Oxidation is integral for cellular energy production. Methanogens: Microbes of Methane Production The Alembic: Essential Alchemy Equipment Women Scientists of the Ancient World Microscopic cell analysis A classic example is cellular respiration, where glucose is oxidized to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy source of cells. This process unfolds in several stages. Glycolysis : Here, glucose breaks down into pyruvate, producing a small amount of ATP. This process also reduces NAD+ to NADH, which carries high-energy electrons. Krebs Cycle : The pyruvate enters the Krebs cycle, where it undergoes further oxidation, generating additional electron carriers, NADH and FADH2. Electron Transport Chain : The electrons carried by these molecules are transferred through a series of proteins in the inner mitochondrial membrane. This chain culminates in ATP synthesis through a process called oxidative phosphorylation. Some bacteria can use both organic and inorganic substances as electron donors. Unlike eukaryotic cells (any cell or organism with a defined nucleus), these prokaryotes (cells without a nucleus) thrive in extreme conditions like high temperature or low oxygen levels. Alchemy & the Magnum Opus - Black White Yellow Red Bacteria: Unseen Driving Force Behind All Life Flowers of Sulfur (Brimstone): Creation & Uses What Purpose Does Oxidation Have? Oxidation serves several crucial purposes in biological systems: Energy Production : The primary purpose of oxidation in cells is to release energy stored in organic molecules. This energy is then harnessed to form ATP, which powers numerous cellular processes, from muscle contraction to nerve impulse transmission. Metabolic Intermediates : The oxidation processes produce metabolic intermediates which are essential for building various biomolecules like amino acids, nucleotides, and fatty acids. Recycling Nutrients : In ecosystems, oxidation reactions performed by microbes facilitate the recycling of nutrients, such as sulfur and nitrogen, making them available for plants and other organisms. Vitriol in Alchemy: Caustic Compounds Best Mortar & Pestles for Artists, Chefs, Scientists Lunar Caustic AgNO3: Lapis Infernalis  of Alchemy Facts About Oxidation Redox Reactions : Oxidation is always coupled with reduction, forming what are known as redox (reduction-oxidation) reactions. Oxidation States : An increase in oxidation state indicates oxidation, while a decrease indicates reduction. Biochemical Importance : Oxidation reactions are central to many metabolic processes, including photosynthesis, respiration, and the degradation of organic matter. Free Radicals : Oxidation can lead to formation of free radicals. Diverse Reactions : Oxidation is not limited to reactions involving oxygen. Many substances, including metals and organic compounds, can act as electron acceptors. Biological Importance : Oxidation reactions are the backbone of metabolic processes, fueling the growth and energy needs of every living organism. Environmental Impact : Bacterial oxidation processes influence nutrient cycling, necessary for ecological balance and prosperity. Glauber: Preparation of a Golden Spirit of Wine Asphodel: Ancient Dye & Medicine Plants Nitric Acid: Aqua Fortis the Acid Queen Leaf textures Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top