Things People Did To Their Bodies In The Past That Are As Interesting As They Are Terrifying

This article was originally published on Natureworldtoday.com

Looking for some inspiration for your next beauty routine? Look no further than history! From slathering themselves in crocodile dung to using lead to whiten their faces, our ancestors went to some pretty extreme lengths in the name of beauty and science. Join us as we take a hilarious and sometimes cringe-worthy trip down memory lane to explore the weird and wacky things people did to their bodies in the past.

Communal Stick

Known as the tersorium, this sea sponge attached to a wooden stick was a tool used by ancient Romans to clean themselves after using the toilet. The Romans also had a system for “sterilising” the sponge, which involved dipping it on vinegar before handing to the next person.

I can just imagine the conversations that took place back then. “Hey, Bob, can I borrow your butt sponge stick?” “Sure thing, Frank, just make sure you give it a good rinse first!” It’s enough to make you want to swear off all historical reenactments. But hey, maybe the ancient Romans were onto something. Maybe they knew something we don’t.

Childbirth Horror Show

Now, I know what y’all might be thinking – a chainsaw for childbirth? That’s just crazy! But back in the late 1700s, cutting the pelvic bone during childbirth was a common practice to make the birth easier. And what better tool to do it with than a chainsaw, right?

Back in the day, medical practices were much different than they are today, and doctors had to be creative when it came to difficult procedures like childbirth. And while the chainsaw might seem like a gruesome invention, it actually helped to make the process quicker and less painful for the mother.

Leeches and Vinegar

Back in the day, hair dye was a luxury item, and people had to get creative with their beauty rituals. And while leeches might seem like an odd choice, they actually contain a natural dye called Hirudin, which can give hair a reddish-brown color. Thank goodness for modern technology and chemical hair dyes, am I right?

Now, I’m not saying I’m about to go out and try this recipe for myself. I’ll stick to my trusty box of hair dye, thank you very much. But it’s fascinating to think about the different beauty rituals throughout history, and how they’ve evolved over time. I wonder if this practice is still alive in some parts of Rome…

Furry Eyebrows

Now, I don’t know about you, but I don’t fancy the idea of gluing dead mice to my face! But it seems this practice was all the rage back in Georgian times. Women would catch mice, kill them, and then carefully remove their fur, which they would then glue onto their own eyebrows using adhesive. The result was a fuller, bushier brow that was fashionable at the time.

In fact, some women went to great lengths to make their eyebrows appear even bushier by adding extra fur from various animals, including cats and dogs.The practice of mousetrapping eventually fell out of fashion as eyebrow trends changed, but it remains an interesting piece of history.