Whether it’s an ancient skin treatment or a new cosmetic product, the ingredients that are used in many of these products are actually quite ancient. They include Henna, Tin, Animal fats, and Dried crocodile dung. While some of these ingredients may seem strange today, in ancient times they were used to treat wounds, burns, rashes, and acne.
Animal urine
During ancient times, people often used animal urine in cosmetics. It was known that urine contains many nutrients and chemicals that can be useful in the healing of wounds. Animal urine has a high pH level and breaks down organic materials. Urine is also a cleansing agent and has a high concentration of ammonia, a nitrogen and hydrogen compound. It is useful for cleaning stainless steel, porcelain, glass and oven grime.
Cow urine contains allantoin, a miracle molecule that can help in accelerating the wound healing process and modulating inflammatory response. It also has antibacterial properties and acts as a moisturizer. Cow urine has also been known for its keratinolytic properties. These properties make it useful for treating calluses, warts, and pimples.
The ancient Indians in the Western Hemisphere knew about the curative powers of urine for over 500 years. Urine was also used by the Romans to whiten teeth. It was also used by the Native Americans to treat wounds and illnesses. Its healing properties were also known by the European Gypsies. It has been used by the Lamas of Tibet to extend life. These medicinal properties of human urine have remained popular in the west in the late 1990s, when it was first introduced as a drug.
Starch
Using starch to make cosmetics may be old hat, but it’s not as if we don’t already have access to the plethora of modern day ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil. The ancients likely used the ingredients on a grand scale to produce bespoke cosmetics to rival the best of the best. The same applies to today’s modern day beauty queens.
Although a small sample of the ingredients are preserved in the aforementioned repository, there’s no denying that the ingredients were sourced from the same source. A lucky dip of sorts yielded a tad more than a half dozen ancient cosmetics of the caliber of those of today’s top dog. One such masterpiece has been unearthed by a team of Pre-Construct Archaeology enthusiasts. The cream has since been donated to the Museum of London where it remains a prized possession.
The biggest question remains is whether the cream can be safely transported from one continent to another. The answer is yes, provided the ingredients are kept in an airtight container. This is not to say that the ingredients were ever harmed in the making. Nonetheless, the cream is currently gracing the museum walls. Using starch as a base, researchers were able to concoct a replica of the original.
Tin
During antiquity, people were divided on the merits of using cosmetics. Some believed it was a waste of time, while others believed it was a sign of high social status. In today’s world, experts approve of using natural ingredients.
While ancient Egyptians produced lead salts and a tin called nitric oxide, which is a potent bactericide, there is no evidence that they used lead in a metallic form. It is not clear if lead or zinc was used in bronze.
The earliest known metallic tin object is a fragmentary ring from Gurob. Other objects include an earring and a pilgrim flask. The latter contains a hinged lid.
Aside from being the earliest known metallic tin object, the pilgrim flask has a small copper ring. This is not uncommon among other early bronze objects.
A number of small vessels containing a white powder have been found in ancient tombs. One example is found in a tomb dating back to the Predynastic period. It was most likely made from boiling wheat. It would have reduced the greasy feeling on the skin.
The earliest radiocarbon measurement of a compound, in this case a synthetic cosmetic, provides an age of the substance. Radiocarbon measurements are based on a purpose-designed protocol.
Thallium acetate
Thousands of years ago, ancient civilizations used a variety of strange ingredients to make cosmetics. Sometimes, they included the urine or feces of animals in their makeup. They also used ingredients like wolf blood and alligator intestine.
Thallium is a toxic metal. It is produced as a by-product of smelting copper and zinc. It acts as an inhibitor of the Na+/K+-ATPase. Thallium also interferes with the vital potassium-dependent processes in the body. Thallium is more toxic to humans than lead and zinc. Thallium poisoning may result in serious gastrointestinal and neurological disorders. Thallium can also cause chromosome abnormalities and oxidative stress. Thallium is toxic to developing fetuses.
Thallium is found in various foods and water. Its presence has been detected in breast milk. Thallium is also found in a variety of tissues, including hair, nails, tears, and tears of the eye. Thallium poisoning has been linked to delirium, hallucinations, and paralysis.
A spectrophotometric urine test is used to determine thallium levels. The test can detect thallium in a urine sample after one hour and for up to two months after exposure.
There is no single antidote that has been proven to be effective in severe thallotoxicosis. Prussian blue and metallothionein are two of the most commonly prescribed antidotes.
Henna
Throughout history, henna has been used as a cosmetic and for healing purposes. It has been used for over five millennia in the ancient lands of the Maghreb, Egypt, and India. Its popularity has grown in recent years due to the use of it as a cosmetic by celebrities.
Henna is a naturally occurring plant that is used to color the hair and the skin. It is also used to stain the skin and fingernails. It is a natural astringent that can help to reduce headaches. It is often drunk as a tea and has been used as an astringent for mouth sores.
Henna is said to have originated in Egypt. The ancient Egyptians used henna to tint fingernails and to paint the nails of pharaohs. It was also used for tattoo-like designs on the skin.
Henna has also been used as a healing agent for burns and skin irritations. It has also been used for the treatment of smallpox. It is believed that henna is rich in nutrients and has healing properties. It was used by many ancient peoples including the Babylonians, the Greeks, and the Egyptians.
Henna was also used as a religious ointment by the Egyptians. The Egyptians believed that it had healing properties and made their nails beautiful.