Bees’ wine

Next time you are out in the wild and mosquitoes are hovering around you, stick a sprig of elder behind your ear to ward them off. To ward off flies and gnats, crush elder leaves and rub them over your face or hat. The effect is said to last about an hour and then needs to be repeated. Should you get stung by a bee, remove the stinger and rub the affected area with crushed elder leaves to bring quick relief. Historically, snake bites have also been treated with elderberries or roots infused in wine. 

First, in India, the Iris juice from fresh erushed roots of Iris species with wine has bee used traditionally for the treatment of dropsy as an oral medicine from since long ago. The Iris juice has been also used in a cosmetic for the removal of skin freckles. Moreover, the Iris plant has been used in the treatments such as cancer, inflammation, bacterial and viral infections [41]. 

A carboxylic acid contains a carboxyl group, which is a hydroxyl group attached to a carbonyl group. Many carboxylic acids have common names, which are derived from their natural sources. Formic acid is injected under the skin from bee or red ant slings and other insect bites. Acetic acid is produced when ethanol in wines and apple cider reacts with the oxygen in the air. Propionic acid is obtained from the fats in dairy products. Butyric acid gives the foul odor to rancid butter (see Table 14.2). 

Like all acids, carboxylic acids taste sour. The most familiar carboxylic acid is ethanoic acid, better known by its common name, acetic acid. Acetic acid is the active ingredient in vinegar. It can form by the oxidation of ethanol, which is why wines left open to air become sour. Some yeasts and bacteria also form acetic acid when they metabolize sugars in bread dough. These are added to bread dough to make sourdough bread. Other common carboxylic acids include methanoic acid (formic acid), present in bee stings and... 

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