Comments on: 7 Historic (and Seriously Unhealthy) Beauty Practices

By: J. Tithonus Pednaud

J. Tithonus Pednaud — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:59:00 +0000

The ‘tapeworm diet’ has never been confirmed or authenticated as an actual product. IF something was marketed as such, it is highly unlikely that such a product was sold as advertised.

A tapeworm can grow to over 50 feet and live for 20 years or more. Larva are burrowing worms, meaning that ingestion of eggs or larva would result in serious health issues caused by the young eating their way out of the intestinal tract into other areas of the body.

By: Skink

Skink — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 04:16:00 +0000

It didn’t last long, but for a time, capsules containing the scolex (head segment) of tapeworms were sold as weight lose pills. They were banned once it became apparent that pretty much everyone who took them eventually starved to death from the parasite.

By: JT

JT — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:54:00 +0000

rice flour and bird droppings !!! I’m pass…

By: h20 fan

h20 fan — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:02:00 +0000

Ewwww. Gross. Interesting though!

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:00:00 +0000

Thank God that we do not have to do these nasty things today to make us look presentable or to fit in. I’m sure that in other countries, they still have their beauty secrets and rituals that are not so clean and sanitary to us in the U.S, but at least I do not have to participate.
In the U.S. we do have some interesting beauty routines also, especially for hair removal. At one point, body hair was manly for men but nowadays, women are not so attracted to men with lots of body hair. And women with hairy armpits, usually raise an eyebrow. Shaving and waxing is such a pain to do, especially when you have to do it 5 times a week. I think overall, laser removal is the way to go. It has saved me time and money, because I don’t have to buy any more shavers or wax and waxing strips and it is less painful too.

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:59:00 +0000

In the U.S. we do have some interesting beauty routines also, especially for hair removal. At one point, body hair was manly for men but nowadays, women are not so attracted to men with lots of body hair. And women with hairy armpits, usually raise an eyebrow. Shaving and waxing is such a pain to do, especially when you have to do it 5 times a week. I think overall, laser removal is the way to go. It has saved me time and money, because I don’t have to buy any more shavers or wax and waxing strips and it is less painful too.

By: Orange

Orange — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:49:00 +0000

I’m pretty sure I could have happily lived my whole life without knowing that urine can prevent the gum disease gingivitis. Ew, ew, ew.

Really interesting article though!

By: abbott

abbott — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:41:00 +0000

another one for the list is using bella donna eye drops to make ones eyes sparkle, prolonged usage caused blurred vision, increased heartrate, inability to focus and blindness

By: abbott

abbott — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:33:00 +0000

here’s another one for the list, the use of bella donna eye drops to make one’s eyes ’sparkle’…. prolonged use could cause blurred vision, inability to focus, increased heartrate and blindness

By: Giana

Giana — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:08:00 +0000

Ha! Love the Portuguese Urine technique. But yeah, Christina, I HAVE heard of nightingale poop face products!
Also, mercury was used in a TON of cosmetic products over the years. In fact, I’m pretty sure that even recently, a couple of companies had to remove traces of mercury from their products!