Today we will study three types of ingredients: magical, mundane, and transitional.

HEADS ON SCIENCE APART (MAGIC INGREDIENTS)

Magical ingredients, as the name suggests, are ingredients that are already imbued with magical properties in their natural state.

Very often these ingredients are derived from magical creatures, although there are also many plants that possess their own inherent magical properties, for example the mandrake.

The mandrake, despite looking like a beast, belongs to the Plantae Kingdom. Despite its danger when transplanting, it has particular qualities as strong antidotes against poison.

Magical ingredients take effect much faster than mundane pills or creams. This is because the magic temporarily speeds up the body's metabolic reactions. Metabolism is the process in which the body releases energy to sustain life and grow.

This works as a catalyst, speeding up the metabolism until the magic ingredient is consumed.

DISARMING YOUR PUZZLES (MUNDANE INGREDIENTS)

The wizarding community often doubts mundane acts. However, mundane ingredients offer a milder organic alternative for those who are concerned about the impact of magical ingredients.

Ginger is a mundane root that can soothe digestive inflammation and ease motion sickness. It doesn't have the drastic effects of the potion, but it's mild enough to take as a daily tea. Children can also take it, and it does not usually cause allergies.

If you don't like the taste, you can add lavender or mint. This can also be used to soften off-flavors in potions. Although as long as the potion allows it and does not influence the final result.

Adding the wrong ingredient can have fatal effects. You can't add a magic ingredient without first consulting an expert, in case it doesn't appear on the list.

ISSUES OF SCIENCE, SCIENCE AND PROGRESS (TRANSITION INGREDIENTS)

Transitional ingredients, such as dragonfly thoraxes, have no magical qualities on their own. But they acquire them when they are mixed with other magical ingredients or with the magic of a witch or wizard. They can be used, for example, in the girdle potion.

Some theories suggest that these mark the signs of an early development of magic in species that were once non-magical, but are slowly developing magical ability of some kind.

Others suggest that this form of hibernating magic is simply another expression of magical gift or talent.

The idea is that these little creatures with untapped magical talent were once very powerful elementals on Earth. Or, in a more biological sense, that they looked a lot like fairies, although some folktales say that they were much more powerful than even us witches and wizards.

Eventually the magic became a vestigial organ, or a part of the creature that once had use, but slowly fell into idleness.