Description

Not since baking soda has there been a natural commodity that has so many different uses. In the days of the Egyptian Pharaohs, gum arabic was essential to mummification, and since Biblical times, it has been used to maintain the integrity of paints. It can also soothe a worried belly, diarrhea, and constipation, and it&#**9;s a key ingredient in soft drinks. Gum arabic is sap from the branches of Acacia Senegal trees. It&#**9;s a natural emulsifier, which means that it can keep together substances which normally would not mix well. Pharmaceutical companies use it to keep medicines from separating into their different ingredients, and a dab of gum arabic makes newspaper ink more cohesive and permanent.