Thank goodness for the latest technological inventions and information we now have access to, especially as it relates to hygiene and beauty. Being as prevalent as they are now, have you ever stopped to think about what life was like when they didn’t exist? Throughout history, people have used some weird yet interestingly-insane ways of getting simple tasks done, such as removing a stain, repel insects, or even cleaning their teeth. Here we will highlight a few of the most interesting ones to ever be discovered. Journey with us!
This Hygiene Methods Of Old Are The Weirdest You’ll Ever See
These hygiene practices would never be accepted in this day and age:
Sharing Filthiness?
In early times, bathing was considered a rare practice, and when it happens, bathwater would be shared among multiple people. Yeah, the thought of it spells everything disgusting! It was a bit of trouble getting heated water to fill a tab so everyone could take separate baths, and as such, the one water was shared.
Sharing Filthiness?
But to make matters worse, if family members were the only ones sharing the water, it wouldn’t be as bad. But at times, the water had to be shared for the entire town (this thought makes the body cringe!) Within the family, each member would take their bath based on age, meaning the eldest would go first down to the youngest. This practice basically saw the youngest taking their bath in a pan of filthy water! However, though it seems weird to us, it was a best practice during the 14th century. During that period, there were speculations that the Black Death, otherwise called The Plaque, was spread when the pores of infected persons opened (caused by skin contact with water). As a result, bathing was a rare practice.
Dentures made from Corpses
Most people now use dentures, especially if there are faults with their teeth that are made of mostly plastic or porcelain. But for those who manage to take proper dental care, have theirs to serve a lifetime. Some dentures are installed permanently, while others can be removed.
Dentures Made From Corpses
However, in earlier times, this was not the case as dentures were made with real human teeth – literally! Back in history, people used the teeth of dead soldiers as the base for creating dentures. Surviving soldiers would remove the teeth of their dead comrades (who died during different wars) and later sell them to dentists. They would then be sterilized and placed in artificial gums and sold to their patients. Teeth scavenging was a popular thing during the early days as one popular war, the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, saw hundreds of people searching through dead soldiers to retrieve teeth for sale.
Beaver Testicles as Birth Control
Now this one is pretty crazy, and the thought of it happening is just strange. Women in early history didn’t have access to the many resources we now have, so they had to come up with their ways and methods. Unlike today, women can search the internet for proven ways of reducing fertility levels or prevent pregnancy on the whole. Besides, the internet was not a thing of the past.
Beaver Testicles As Birth Control
During the 16th century, women who lived in New Brunswick, Canada, used beaver testicles to boil tea as a contraceptive method. It was believed that androgen was found in the animal’s balls and was an effective way to reduce fertility. The women’s hormones would be tampered with, and sometimes they would get drunk by adding alcohol elements to the tea before sex. To say it worked…, we have to find someone who lived during that age, which is quite impossible.
Whitened Teeth Unusual?
We are so accustomed to having white teeth that we would go to any lengths to get them to make the perfect smiles. There are so many treatment options you can choose from to include products that improve the quality and look of your teeth. However, many medical experts say teeth should not be so white though most people disagree with this claim. But as you can imagine, the obsession with teeth during the early days was just as popular as it is now.
Whitened Teeth Unusual?
However, the focus on teeth being white was not as much, and it wasn’t considered the basis for beauty. In the past, Asian countries saw lacquering teeth as the craze. The process was a practice known as “ohaguro,” where teeth were tinted to be completely black. The practice is traced back to about 200 CE. Multiple chemicals were used to combine the paste, which they would add to their teeth, and within a week, that perfect smile would be great. Japan seized the move in 1870.
Hand Washing – Not So Popular
It is a bad hygiene practice not to wash your hands often as you can contract lots of infection when you touch areas other persons have touched. A lot of people don’t often get a shower, nor do they wash their hands, and they don’t see this as a bad habit that is unhealthy. In earlier days, there was no cutlery (knives and forks), so people had to handle foods with their hands.
Hand Washing Not So Popular
Those cultures that didn’t have access to cutlery were prone to transmittable diseases as persons used their hands (which weren’t washed as often) to handle the food. Not to mention there were no sanitizers either, so the bad hygenic behavior put everyone at risk. Just imagine someone just exiting the bathroom and having to serve the bread without a knife!
Lysol as a Girl Cleaner
We all know Lysol to be a popular house cleaner and sanitizer that most people have used or heard about before. But, believe it or not, it was not always seen as a house-cleaner and contained a very harmful substance that causes burning and inflammation. At one point, Lysol could be fatal if used without precaution.
Lysol As A Girl Cleaner
With what the product was, would you believe they marketed in as a feminine hygiene product? Well, Lysol was not the best friend of a woman as no one wanted their genitalia to smell like Lysol, nor did they want to experience all that burning in such a sensitive area. Besides, how long the company got away with this bizarre idea, no one can say.
Weird Contraception
Birth control is a thing of old, though. The methods now are completely different than what people use to be. Researches have been ongoing for decades to find the best contraceptive methods to aid in preventing pregnancies and the spreading of STDs. The most common diseases were not unheard of in the past, but women still tried having sex without planning to get pregnant.
Weird Contraception
So, since there were no contraceptives (like we have now) in those days, what did the women use? History has it that in ancient Egypt, women used crocodile poop as a birth control method. They would gather it, shape it into small pieces, and insert it in their genitalia. The thought of it sounds crazy as the smell pops up without even experiencing it. In addition to the awful smell it brought on, we are sure it would cause lots of infection as well.
Ridiculous Hairstyle Trends
Nowadays, women always want to look their best, especially when it comes on to their hair. They have gone as far as to carry a whole cosmetic set on their person each time they are going out. We have also seen major movie industries like Hollywood reenacting movies that portrayed massive hairstyles, especially of the early centuries. In the early days (17th century and before), if your hairstyle wasn’t observable from a mile away, it wouldn’t be counted.
Ridiculous Hairstyle Trends
There were a lot of balls going on in those days, and people needed to impress others. However, there was a problem with this. There was no electricity during that era, so ballrooms had to be decked with chandeliers made of candles. As such, it was inevitable for some hairstyles to catch fire, and just thinking about it right now is pretty funny.
It was Dangerous to Fix your Hair
Many people are of the perception that once a lady fixes her hair, it can have a positive or negative impact on her complete mood. Thus, caring for or fixing one’s hair comes with great responsibility and is a tradition of old. If you were to search a woman’s bag in this age, one of the first things you’ll see is a comb as they want their hair to remain fresh at all times.
It Was Dangerous To Fix Your Hair
However, in the late 1800s, it was not as simple as it is now. Tortoiseshell combs were the hit of that century even though the comb itself wasn’t made of the shells. They were instead made of a highly-flammable material that could catch fire at any time. The combs contained some type of celluloid compound that would allow the combs to explode even if they were just merely exposed to a little heat. Just imagine when the temperatures would 100 degrees!
Vomiting to improve Beauty
When a child is told, “you are eating yourself sick,” it is generally a warning that something bad will happen if they don’t be careful with their diet. But, you better believe eating to get sick and then vomiting was a recreational activity in the 18th and 19th centuries. They would eat the wrong things to induce vomiting voluntarily though you would have a terrible stomachache now.
Vomiting To Improve Beauty
Chalk is harmless to ingest, but many people are allergic to it, so they avoid it altogether. Back then, some women used it as a form of makeup (powder for their faces) and thought it made their skin look paler, which was the trend then. They would eat the chalk and allow it to induce vomiting (which is a way of making you look pale). Gladly that trend has ended because being sick is nothing sweet.
X-Ray used for Waxing
Most people don’t love body hair and always use some healthy options to remove them. X-ray was invented by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895 and is still currently being used in the medical field for internal checks and assessments. But, did you know that x-rays were used as a form of waxing in the early 20th century? However, they went overboard with the practice.
X Ray Used For Waxing
When we go for an x-ray nowadays, we wear protective clothing to guard our skin from the extra radiation. In the early days, people realized the radiation would remove the hair from their body, and as such, they would expose their bodies for an extended period under the heat. As time passed, multiple scientists started realizing how dangerous the practice was as many people started developing various types of cancer.
The Status of the Rich
Certain things set the richer class apart and grant them a higher social standing. In earlier times, the rich were notifiable by their paler skins, flashier clothing, and some types of food. During the Elizabethan period, the rich were easily identified by sugar (as only the wealthier class could afford this amenity). However, problems were looming that they didn’t see.
The Status Of The Rich
Toothpaste was not a thing of that period so, with the consumption of so much sugar, they started to develop teeth problems. The rich used tooth decay as a way of saying it is a signature for the rich and a symbol that only those who could afford good food suffered from it. Many poorer-class people adopted the false proclamation in a bid to seem rich and accepted. However, before long, they realized it was no fun thing anymore after the pains started to hit home.
Smelly Hair the Trend
So many times we wish our newly done hairstyle could last for a long time without it losing its touch. Getting that one style excites everyone, especially women, and they don’t want it to fuzz or go loose. Well, to make you not feel too bad, it was a similar obsession for women in the 18th century. However, the only difference is that their style went for a long time as it would have been too complicated to pull out easily.
Smelly Hair The Trend
As such, women didn’t worry about washing their hair so regularly. But, there was a major problem as lard would be used to keep the hair intact, and with that much grease, dirt, and sweat, we can only imagine the funk it sported. For sure, after just a day or two with the lard, the hair would attract a disgusting smell.
Fly Bate
We must have heard the phrase “you catch more flies with honey than vinegar” and have seen some signs of it, especially when we put out our sweet treats. During the early days, Egyptians would take the phrase literally than we do now and use the exact elements to their benefits. Honey is a sweet delicacy made by bees from pollen they receive from flowers and is considered a household and medical product.
Fly Bate
However, taking the phrase literally saw an act of cruel being portrayed against the innocent and humble. Egyptian Pharaohs used honey to keep flies away from them by pouring it on their servants so flies would swarm them instead. That sure was a heartless thing to do, and even if the servants were beautiful, the flies alone would be a major distraction.
Eating Dead as a Medical Cure
We are not sure how medical methods were invented in the early days, and even those we hear of, we are not sure how true they are. We all know painkillers and antibiotics are a thing of the long history and were also needed in the early times to rid the body of pain and agony. However, some people believed that eating corpses would give them the results they are looking for.
Eating Dead As A Medical Cure
Records have it that in the 17th century, there was a practice known as medicinal cannibalism, a very disturbing thought. Doctors would source pieces of body parts from corpses, ground them, and people would consume it to stop bleeding, headaches, and other pains they experienced. There is also a notion that King Charles II consumed a concoction they called “King’s Drop,” a mixture made of alcohol and dried human skulls.
Shoe Polish was Potentially Fatal
At least most of us have heard the saying “if you give a girl the right shoes, she can conquer the world” It was a trend in early times and is now for people to take pride in cleaning their shoes. History has it that people were keen on ensuring their shoes were of the best standard and would go to any measure to ensure they got it right. They used so many substances from weird to risky, including nitrobenzene, a chemical that would get the job done right and quickly.
Shoe Polish Was Potentially Fatal
However, what many people were not aware of was the high risk associated with using this chemical. If one decides to wear their shoes right after cleaning, they risk inhaling a chemical that could cause a fainting sensation. On the other hand, if you should drink any form of alcohol and then inhale the chemical, you stood the chance of losing your life. So, polishing for a party could be deadly!
Prohibited Advertisement
Birth control products were banned from being advertised in the United States based on the Comstock Act of 1873. There were also strict bans placed on distributing the items throughout the country, with even regulations placed on postal agencies to confiscate any shipping of the products. Yeah, it sure does sound like an insane notion. But as time passed, women got lucky by an initiative made by companies who manufactured the products.
Prohibited Advertisement
No information could be given on the packages about the product, nor could it be mentioned. As such, they renamed the products under the heading of “marital hygiene” and “feminine hygiene,” and fortunately, the plan worked out well. Look how funny it is as now they wouldn’t mind most women coming on board to accept and use these products.
Charm Birth Controls
Some weird birth control methods have been used by women in history, but at least this one is not so weird as no “insertions” were made in the body. In European history, many believed that pregnancy could be avoided if women wore charms that were made of weasel testicles around her neck or thigh.
Charm Birth Controls
Yeah, that’s the weird part and isn’t so attractive at all. Other pieces of jewelry were worn to ward off any potential men trying to seek a romantic relationship. These pieces of jewelry included charms made of mule’s uterus, donkey’s poop, or cat bones. We are sure this barrier did the trick it was meant for.
Cleaning Teeth with Herbs
History has always seen people cleaning their teeth even though dental consultations were not so frequent as it is now. We are knowledgeable of the fact that Greeks and Romans used urine as their mouth cleanser. However, other cultures used herbs as their source for cleaning their teeth and overall improving their oral status. Could this be the inspiration that led to what we now use as our dental cleaners?
Cleaning Teeth With Herbs
Rosemary and mint were the most commonly used herbs for cleaning one’s teeth during some early cultures and is still used by many up to this day. The difference between today’s method with that of the past is that they used to roast the herbs before using. We can’t say what it takes like, but it sure must have been better than using urine. Today, we see lots of people using home remedies other than the shelved-toothpastes.
Sulfur for Freckles – Negative
Many people have freckles, which are flat spots found on the skin and can be more extensive in some people than others. However, freckles are harmless and not detrimental to your health; thus, no need to worry about it so much. If they are moles, then you need to check it out as these can be cancerous. You can develop this condition if you have too much exposure to the direct sun rays.
Sulfur For Freckles Negative
But, for people long ago, they didn’t like the idea of having freckles and would do anything to get rid of them. One option they tried was sulfur, which is a base product for lots of acne and skin patch creams. But, we will tell you that this sulfur trick will not help in removing the freckles.
Pale Skin was the Norm
If you weren’t white back in the day, you would not be considered as a part of the aristocrats and beautiful. Being pale (as you see on a lot of the historical photos) was the best way of showing where you stand in society and your socio-economic status. Being pale meant, you didn’t come in contact with the sun and was too busy for any actions as such and went for both men and women.
Pale Skin Was The Norm
In earlier centuries, people used white makeup to get their skin paler (some people do it today as well) though the makeup had a lot of lead. As time passed, people started understanding the dangers of this product and what the chemical could do to the skin after a while. The lead would seep through the pores of their skin and cause different outbreaks but was overlooked as they didn’t know what was causing it. They would continue to use the chemical, which eventually led to lead poisoning.
Urine was the Mouthwash and Stain Remover
Some of these hygienic practices are pretty weird and, for the most part, disgusting! Urine was not to be left out and served many purposes around the home in the early days and coming down through history. There was a time it was used to trigger and source electricity and also used as a stain remover because of the ammonia it contained.
Urine Was The Mouthwash And Stain Remover
However, it went overboard when people developed the trend of using it as a mouthwash and teeth whitener. They had the perception that it improved their oral health, including their teeth (because of the stain removing benefit). Urine was also used as a tanning product for leather.
Silphium Contraceptive
Birth Control is a topic that is long talked about and will not end shortly. A popular plant that existed during Ancient Rome went into extinction because of the practices of the people during that time. The Silphium plant, a species of fauna and flora, went out of existence as people used it as a form of birth control.
Silphium Contraceptive
The worst part of it is that it went into extinction even before the Roman Empire ended because people overused the plant. The plant was also popular for making perfumes and as a source of food seasoning. It had great value as its seed was worth more than silver, and the only evidence of its existence is the one on the coin from the Roman reign.
Barbers were Dentists
Being able to multitask is a great way of earning additional income because of your skills and knowledge. It doesn’t matter what your core job is, once you can multitask, people would respect you all because you are making life easier. For early day barbers, they were regarded as great by the people of the time as they also served as dentists. Sounds crazy, right?!
Barbers Were Dentists
Dentistry was never a popular thing of the olden days, and when the need for one arose, barbers had to step in and make it happen. They didn’t focus on the cleaning or other complicated works but just the pulling out. So, lucky for you, if you needed a haircut and removed a decaying tooth, it could be done in one place…the barbershop.
Paid to Clean the King’s Butt
Would you take on this weird yet “yucky” job? For decades, people have seen the royal household as a glamorous abode with the finest things of life. They had money, the best clothes, servants and so much more and they didn’t need to do anything on their own. Even today, lots of royalties don’t dress as they have paid help to do this for them. In early times, plumbing was not as prevalent as it is now, though they still had to use the bathroom.
Paid To Clean The Kings Butt
Just imagine the king’s hands being too good to clean his derriere. In early times, a special servant was hired to clean the King’s derriere after he used it. This servant was considered an official member of the royal household and given the title “Groom of the King’s Close Stool,” and was a confidant of the family. This tradition sure would not exist today, no matter the payment they will receive.
Four Suits in the Closet
Fashion is a popular trend of the present day, and there are so many options to get clothing of all sizes, colors, and styles once you have the cash. People change clothes so often whether the seasons change or not. However, people in earlier centuries had only four pieces of clothing.
Four Suits In The Closet
People in early times only had four suits – one for each season – as they didn’t change their clothes as often as we do now. They were not comfortable with wearing anything different and sometimes even went to bed in the same clothes.
Moss Pads
If birth control was a major issue of the early days, we could just imagine the dilemma women went through when it came that “time of the month.” It must have been a real pain in the heart as there were no painkillers for cramps in addition to no menstrual cups, tampons or any pads for that matter. So, just think about the chaos and troubles women went through when that little mess came around.
Moss Pads
Throughout history, there have been different ways people come up with to solve this problem. There have been specially-designed underwear, padded cloth, or the pads themselves. What women had to do is become resourceful and find ways to help themselves. They used moss, which could be used in the form of a pad. Some surgeons who lived during that time (Middle Ages) agreed that is had antiseptic characteristics.
Chicken Poop Manure for Hair Loss
A lot of people suffer from hair loss, and it has some negative impact on some people. For men, they naturally hate the sight of it, especially as they get older, and though it is not a deadly issue and some people ignore it, others can’t. Believe it or not, it has reached the stage for many that it affects them psychologically.
Chicken Poop Manure For Hair Loss
For ages, doctors have tried multiple ways of coming up with a solution to this health issue, but before now, other options were being tested. Some people in the past used a mixture of chicken poop and potassium as a source for growing your hair though it didn’t help. Maybe they thought their head is similar to a plant garden and needs natural manure. Since then, scientists have constantly been working in the lab to resolve the issue by creating biodegradable substances.
No Washing for the Winter
Winter can be hard on some countries while others have a fair-weather right through. Everyone works overtime in trying to keep warm and avoid every condition that would get them wet or at risk of contracting a cold. Personal hygiene is a thing many people of today focus a lot on but not so for early day people. They didn’t see the importance of having a bath or even washing their clothes as they thought it was senseless to be naked at that time.
No Washing For The Winter
Bear in mind people didn’t have many clothes during that time and no heaters or washing machine so this process would be hard. Also, the rivers they usually wash in were probably frozen, and that made matters worse. But, we can agree with them on one thing – we don’t often sweat in the winter, so washing didn’t have to be so frequent.
Eliminating Labor Pains
Labor pains are not the easiest things to imagine, much less having to feel them in. For the most part, we are glad women of today have so many options to choose from to reduce or eliminate the chances of experiencing this issue. Unlike the women of now who have access to painkillers and anesthesia, women in earlier times got the raw deal.
Eliminating Labor Pains
We know some of the earlier cultures used poop as a birth control option, but it was noted eagle dung stood a chance to help reduce the labor pains. It was used as a birth inducer while they had to drink it (mixed with oil and vinegar) to stop the pain. If that was the thing of now, our population would be much smaller for sure!
Rat Brains for Toothpaste
The early Romans had the weirdest and most unethical forms of hygiene practices, and though they were resourceful, we are glad a lot of those traditions are no more. But to think the ones we know are bad, there is more that will blow your minds out of this world. During their existence, they thought it would be great to upgrade from urine as a mouth wash and started using a newly created “toothpaste” made of mouse brains and sodium bicarbonate.
Rat Brains For Toothpaste
We’ll understand the sodium bicarbonate as a base for making toothpaste, as many manufacturers of nowadays add it to their product. But, it is the mouse brains we don’t understand, and if it has any benefits, we will never know. Romans were just too creative when it came to hygenic matters. The only we would like to ask is – what was going through the mind of the person who came up with this idea?
Urine – The Detergent
Romans had some weird thinkers who brought their ideas to fruition. Of course, they had an obsession with where hygiene was concerned, but their methods are questionable when you think about it. We understand their thinking and inventions are what inspired many of the hygenic practices today but, of course, with different products. We know they used urine as a mouthwash, but was that the only thing? No, it wasn’t!
Urine The Detergent
The early Romans also used urine as a source of detergent for washing their clothes. They sighted the stain removing elements as the reason for their choice. But where would they get enough fluid for washing? They usually store a large community container where people would go to ease themselves. It would then be collected and taken to where the bulk washing would be done. Geez…the smell must have been awful!
Why Moats Existed
We often see moats outside of castles that reminds us of the fairytale life we always dream about. However, in early times, moats were used as a protective barrier for the castle against those who wanted to invade. But, after you learn this truth, you will never see them as romantic again or even want to go near one of them. Moats in those days were the public sewer for the castle.
Why Moats Existed
No one would want to swim in the waters to get to the castle when they learn it is the sewer main. Also, other persons used it as a dump where they would throw unwanted food scraps and other debris. That must have been a terrible place to be, especially where the smell is concerned.
Obsession for Beauty – Poisonous
The obsession that comes with being beautiful is not just from the current day but from centuries ago. The chemical used nowadays have been sighted as having long-term effects that will affect those who use them. As such, people have resorted to searching for organic ways of achieving the same purpose as regular makeup. However, women in the 16th and 17th centuries didn’t care about it being processed first.
Obsession For Beauty Poisonous
They used a plant known as Belladonna, which had some small berries they would squeeze for juice. But, the scary part of it is that the juice had poisonous elements and, most times caused hallucinations. When consumed, it would widen the pupils of women, which they claimed gave them a more striking and beautiful appearance. Just imagine though, a beautiful woman telling you about something they see that no one else does – seems reasonable to say she is kinky or insane.
Bed of Hay
There were comfortable beds and cushions like we have now back in the early days, and people had to make do with what they have. They had to get resourceful and used one product to serve multiple purposes. Unlike now, cement nor wood was prevalent or being used, but still, no one like the fact that they had to sleep on the dirt. So, they came up with a plan.
Bed Of Hay
Straws were the best option they could work with, and so they did. The straws were used as a protective method for the home as it reduced the chances of people contracting a cold from the wet ground. They also used it for bedding, where they would stack multiple layers and only replace the top layer once in a while. After all, washing and bathing were not done often, so why should the bed be changed?
Surgery Tools not Sterilized
Certain germs affect people, plants, animals, and every living being that roams this earth. Of course, medical-proof tests have shown us that there are certain germs in our body (healthy to some extent) while there are some that are bent on getting rid of us from the planet. In the olden days, many people died as a result of contracting fatal germs and bacteria because they were not aware of what germs are and how they could get them. Luckily, new tests and inventions were created in the 1800s that saw a reduction in the deaths.
Surgery Tools Not Sterilized
Doctors in those days didn’t know what it was like to clean their tools after performing surgery, so germs would travel from one patient to another and develop deadly complications. They had no idea their tools needed to be sterilized, but then again, hygiene practices in those days were highly questionable.
Mercury to Treat Cold Sores
Cold sores are a thing many people suffer from, which are blisters that appear on the side of the mouth once in a while. The sores are caused by infections associated with the herpes simplex virus type 1 and are spread either through skin contact or saliva. Though there is no cure for the herpes virus, there are ways to get rid of the sores quickly and safely.
Mercury To Treat Cold Sores
Unlike now, where there are multiple options to choose from to get rid of the problem, people in early times didn’t have access to any. As such, they resorted to using dangerous chemicals such as mercury that they thought would soothe and solve the problem. However, old doctors of the time warned about the dangerous and proved just how the chemical made matters worse.
Lead was Prevalent
We all know lead to be a heavy material that is dangerous for health and the environment at large. But, as mentioned earlier, women back in history usually use it as a make-up product that eventually led to damaging their skin. So, because they used it for “good,” they thought it would be great elsewhere, so they added it to their water sources. However, they later learned that it was a huge mistake for adding to the water they drank and bathed in.
Lead Was Prevalent
For sure, lead is present in the atmosphere but not as heavy as in early times. As a result, no one would be too exposed to the harmful chemicals enough so that it would hurt them. If only persons worked directly with the products that contain it or work with it directly, they would get affected. As the body develops, the younger the person, the more risk they are at with getting hurt by the dangerous element.
Cauterization was the Deal
We have discovered that ancient cultures didn’t have any sterilization practices as people were not aware of germs and the dangers they posed. But, doctors of the era stilled performed surgeries and were not so much concerned about the dangers of the open wounds. But cauterization was practiced even though it still wasn’t a sure solution.
Cauterization Was The Deal
The process of cauterization is still practiced today but with more improved skills and better equipment. Cauterization is the process of burning a part of the body that went through surgery and involved cutting. Doctors nowadays mostly use electrocautery or chemical cautery on select surgeries with the use of antibiotics by the patient. As for the earlier times, cauterization was not as effective because there were no antibiotics, so it was just as dangerous, and infections were still on the rise.
Crackers – The Sex Drive Reducer
The kitchen is one of the most favorite places in the house, especially because that’s where the most intriguing delicacies are made. A lot of us eat Graham cracker’s products like pies, cheesecakes, and other baked goods. But do you know the true reason why Sylvester Graham, the creator, created these products? You might be surprised to know it was not because he loved the kitchen so much, but for other reasons.
Crackers The Sex Drive Reducer
Crackers were created to eliminate people’s libido so they would reduce the need to engage in sexual activities. Sure, people use various food items as part of special diets to reduce rate gain but to stop sex drive? Quite funny and interesting at the same time. Graham believed a diet containing vegetables, whole grain, and fruits could help Americans with this movement. But, luckily, they caught unto the drift and started a new trend – S’mores.
Deodorant of Change
In 1888, the first commercial was made for deodorant by a company called Mum. It was created by a US inventor from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, named Edna Murphy. It has been used for decades and was a great accomplishment to drift away from the weird past. People of the earlier centuries didn’t have a deodorant of this nature and, as such, came up with different elements (like nosegays) to reduce the bad odor they sported.
Deodorant Of Change
People didn’t speak of bad anyone’s odor during those days as everyone basically smelled the same way. The deodorant created by Murphey called mum was a type of slang that meant “to keep quiet” and was a cream that would suppress the high scent, which was the norm of the day.
The tissue of the 18th Century
Toilet paper is prevalent now and can be accessed from just about any grocery store. It has become an important part of our daily life, especially when we use the bathroom, and there is no water. But, nothing is more devastating than when you realize there is no toilet paper (especially after you have already done it) while camping or using a public restroom. If it is this hard, just imagine in the early centuries when there was no toilet paper.
The Tissue Of The 18th Century
We might have to agree that they used leaves back in the day, which is a popular thing for campers though some would have rags or other pieces of cloth. Some people would use their hands, and in early Japan, people used sticks to clean their butts when they go. Thank goodness we are born in an era where toilet paper is a bountiful commodity.
The Bed Bug Insecticide
During the 1940s (which was not too long ago), kerosene was used as a home remedy to get rid of bed bugs. For sure, it was the most popular choice of the day and would be effective for most people to get rid of the little critter. However, others noted the practice didn’t work and would only make matters worse. These days, the kerosene may not work out, and you would have to call in an exterminator to get the job done.
The Bed Bug Insecticide
Fortunately, we are in luck! But such a practice, it only leads us to wonder what people in earlier days used as their method. Besides, they were putting themselves at risk as kerosene is highly flammable, so there must have been a few accidents then.
Tampons of the Early Days
Tampons have been in existence for thousands of years, and each culture had its twist to it. Of course, they didn’t have the flexibility most of these have today, but they still got the job done. For Egyptian women, they used papyrus, while Roman women used wool as the base material. But, they didn’t leave it at that!
Tampons Of The Early Days
Knowing how the Romans had some weird creativity skills, they decided to soak their tampons in things like opium to relieve the pain and belladonna for dilating the cervix. Tampons today are mostly made of rayon or cotton-rayon material, as well as some organic versions made from the inspiration of the early days by Dr. Earle Haas.
Plumbing – What’s That?
Plumbing has to be a major part of our lives to live comfortably in modern times. Cleaning can be done easily with the right products and leave your space fresh and clean. Human waste is flushed away with ease, unlike in the early days when it wasn’t done in such a healthy manner. During the early era, human waste and debris were thrown into large bodies of water like rivers and streams, and the ultimate reason why many people choose to live near those regions.
Plumbing What’s That?
The waste would wash away in the water and be discarded organically. Nowadays, sewage goes through multiple stages of processing before it is deposited into the sea, which is way better than it used to be. Also, the foul smell that would have been popular then is not evident now.
Another Teeth Cleaner
Before toothpaste came into existence, teeth cleaning was a major focus, and we know how the Elizabethan period thought tooth decay was an image of the rich because they could afford sugar. Meanwhile, others used herbs as a source to maintain fresh breath and good oral health, and the Romans used urine. In other cultures like Regent British, they thought a mixture of alum and gunpowder would do the trick.
Another Teeth Cleaner
But was it effective? Well, alum is a great choice for teeth whitening and helps with reducing the chances of gum disease, while gunpowder can burn quickly. So, maybe they thought about burning the germs off teeth quickly to make way for the alum to work. Gunpowder was developed in China years before and was used as the first chemical explosive.
A hole for the Sewage
Humans from the past have tried so many things to make their lives simple, and we believe it is the reason we can relax today in comfort and style. When it came to hygiene and cleanliness, many inventions have been made and tried, and we can learn what is good and bad when it comes to our health. As for the toilet, it has come a far way through history.
A Hole For The Sewage
Ancient history didn’t give people the privilege of knowing about plumbing services, but the toilet has a long history. People usually dig holes in the ground where they would go and then cover up with more dirt. Later on, they built mini shelters called “drop toilets,” which provided some sense of privacy for persons. It is still used to this day but mostly for camping or hiking purposes.
Medical Honey-Corpse?
Mummies are things we hear of that were popular in the early days, or we watch them in movies. But, have you ever stop to think the reason behind doing it? 16th-century medical texts and reports note that China had the practice of mellifying people where, as they get old and would soon die, they would consume only honey.
Medical Honey Corpse?
The belief was that all their internal organs and body parts would turn honey, including their sweat and poop. After they die, they would also be placed in a stone coffin with lots of honey, and as they soak, their body parts would be sold as medicinal cures, especially for broken bones. That’s weird and kinky if you ask us!
Releasing Blood as a Medical Cure
The whole existence of the human body is a mystery even though so much is known about it. Many people have the belief that living things were created by a miracle, while others believe it is the final product of years of evolution. Whatever the belief, it is a great and magical feeling, especially seeing a woman giving birth to another human. In addition to this amazing feat, they have periods, which is a monthly release of blood from the body to remove unfertilized eggs and other antibodies.
Releasing Blood As A Medical Cure
Doctors who saw this happening had the “brilliant idea” that the released blood is a way of getting “bad humor” from the body. As such, they started using this weird tactic where they take blood from their patients as a way of ridding the body of illnesses and diseases. They would use leech to help in the removal process.
Curing Illnesses with Mummy Powder
Here we have another mummy story and people using the dead as a way of healing themselves. Early day Arabs had the perception that if they used “mummia,” a word formed from “mūmiyā,” which defines the resin from the embalmed bodies of dead Egyptians, they would be healed of all kinds of diseases and sicknesses. It was known to cure bruises, cuts, and broken bones.
Curing Illnesses With Mummy Powder
They went as far as to ingest the powder with hopes it would cure tuberculosis and belly ulcers. History has it that Europeans used it as well, and at one point, it was a high-demand commodity, so people went all over the world in search of mummia. History has a link of the powder to “mumiya black pissasphalt” in Persia, which was used to cure injuries and fractures.
Flowers for Perfume
Today, flowers are used by many people and companies as a source of making flowers and cleaning products. It’s their scent that helps as a lot of them have pleasant smells and are used for dispelling other foul scents. So, for people in the olden age, they used flowers to conceal the high body odor they had. Bear in mind, people didn’t shower or clean themselves so often, so this was needed.
Flowers For Perfume
Well, this may be one of the sanest inventions of the ancient world as it had purpose and stability. The scented flowers were used to form “nosegays,” which is also known as a bouquet. There are lots of people who still use perfume and deodorant to hide the heavy body odor because they still don’t want to shower. But, olden day folks didn’t have much choice.
Enema Practices
At one point in our lives, we must have heard the phrase: “blow smoke up your ass” and was seen as an insult to many who got the slur hurled at them. History has records that showed people having tobacco smoke enemas, which they would blow up the rectum. It was mainly practiced by Native Americans and later introduced to Europeans.
Enema Practices
The practice was used to cure several conditions and was also used as a remedy for respiratory problems. Tobacco is a medicine used by many Europeans after being discovered in the New World and considered it great fro drowsiness and cold. But as time passed, it was discovered that nicotine (a product in the tobacco) was dangerous to the body. Thank goodness too, the tobacco enemas were also eliminated from history.
Tapeworm Diet Trend
People have tried so many things where some gave worked, and others didn’t, but we have to give credit for creative thinking. Women tried everything to stay pretty and in shape, even if it meant trying something dangerous. For ages, women have worried much about their weight and will not ease up for the near or far future. In the 20th century, a popular diet was invented where women would ingest a pill that contained tapeworm.
Tampons Of The Early Days
The hope was that the tapeworm would help with their weight loss without them having to worry about what they eat. The tapeworm would eat away on the food in the stomach, so there would not be excess to cause weight gain. However, it didn’t work as planned as the practice only ended in persons developing infections and other complicated issues.
Black Underwear to Hide Stains
Menstruation is a natural thing, and women today equip themselves with the necessary products to indulge in the best hygiene practices. “Free periods” are a big no-no of today though, in the early 1800s, it was normal for women just to let it flow. For women who lived in rural areas, they wouldn’t pay much attention to it and gave nature the ability to do as it wished. This practice led them to start wearing black underwear so the stain would not show so much.
Black Underwear To Hide Stains
In the modern age, there are period panties that are designed to absorb the extra fluid the body dispels (a great work of technology). A lot of people have resorted to using them (though a taboo) instead of using tampons and pads. Just imagine a woman having to wash her undies after a heavy-flow day.
Bathroom Wasn’t Needed
When you have the urge to use the bathroom, the only thing you want is just to go! Movies like “The Favourite” gave a romantic perspective of the royal court before the Elizabethan times came into existence. For many, it was about making sure you look your best with big dresses and makeup. But, like many of us, you must be asking how they went to the bathroom when wearing all those layers of clothes.
Bathroom Wasn Not Needed
Well, they did but with the aid of Bourdaloue. These were in existence in Georgian England, where women could easily go when they needed to but in a porcelain jug that was attached to their person. Bourdaloues were attached between a woman’s thighs but were not always worn but removed to be emptied when full.
Mouse for the Brows
The mouse has been used as a major part of hygiene practice in the early days as it was added to other materials to make toothpaste. Well, it was added to other areas of life for women – beauty. The obsession with eyebrows have been a thing of the long history, and as trends come and go, women of the richer class did their own as it relates to their eyebrows.
Mouse For The Brows
The women would remove their real eyebrows and replace them with fake ones. The popular look of the time was a pale face (snow white features) and thick dark eyebrows. So, mice have the hair that would make it real as it was short and seem natural. So, they would place the eyebrows high that would give a surprising look – similar to most women today.
The Fruit Birth Control
There has been a lot of birth control options tried throughout history, and some have worked while others haven’t, and there are still more on the horizon. As history would have it, there are two fruits that many people believe aid in preventing pregnancies. One fruit is the juniper berry that doctors would recommend men and women rub on their private parts. These berries are also used to make gin.
The Fruit Birth Control
Another fruit was the skin of the pomegranate, which women would soak in water and then place it inside them. Well, it worked as it affected the implantation processes of the human body though they had to drink honey water afterward. Thank goodness they have so many effective and “sane” options today.
Lemon for a Contraceptive
Lemons have been in history from the Old Testament and used as a contraceptive method up to the 1700s. Women were only required to cut the lemons in half and put it on her private parts. Just imagine the extent of the burns they must have experienced as we know a little lemon juice can cause terrible pains on even small cuts.
Lemon For A Contraceptive
This practice was widespread because of a womanizer named Casanova, who believed women did this action to avoid getting pregnant by him. So, the lemon juice was seen as a cap for men and may have been the inspiration for many of the contraceptives of today.
Importance of Skincare
We have seen how often urine was used in ancient history and the many purposes it served from washing clothes to being a mouthwash and even cleaning surfaces because of the amounts of ammonia it contains. People in history have also used it to wash their faces.
Importance Of Skincare
As time went by, people had a hard time source of clean water, so they had to drink wine or ale most of the time. So, because of the antiseptic properties of the pee, it was used as a skin cleaning product. Just imagine the smell that was going around, especially when people would come in contact with the sun.
The Huge Wigs were Disgusting
You must have seen a lot of historical figures with large wigs and wonder what the purpose of them was. In the UK to this day, barristers still wear them to court hearings and other legal matters, but the real truth is that the funk and disgust for this item are pretty high. At least the wigs of today are made in factories from organic, plastic, or fabric.
The Huge Wigs Were Disgusting
Disgusting to think about it, the reality is that those wigs were made of animal fat and would get smelly over time. They also had lots of lice and could catch fire easily. Another smelly thing is one we could not do with right now, so luckily, modern technology came up with better ideas for wigs and other hairpieces.
Sewer Systems
Plumbing is a thing of old though the systems we are used to now only came into existence not so long ago. Before now, when people had to ease themselves, they had to find different ways to do it. But as times changed, cities started building sewer systems that are different from what we know now – they had underground tunnels.
Sewer Systems
The tunnels were a “safe place” for people to get rid of their waste, and they would just throw any and everything in. But the issue is, there was no drainage system, so there was the potential for it to overflow. That leads us to wonder what the disaster was like when the drains would overflow.
Water Bodies
Many cities were not built near rivers and lakes, so people were given the answers to their questions – why were tunnels built for waste removal? During the early 14th century, laws were made by the English Parliament that anyone who was caught dumping waste in the lakes and rivers would be charged high taxes.
Water Bodies
But, by the time these laws were implemented, it was already a bit too late. The water bodies were already contaminated by human waste, and other debris people would just throw in. The spread in diseases like water-borne illnesses was a major cause for concern, so the bathrooms we have now are a blessing in disguise.