Chicken dung for baldness?

Putting chicken dung on your head doesn't sound like a good idea nowadays. But back in the 17th century, it was recognized as a cure for baldness.This bizarre recommendation comes from an old medical journal that was recently put up for sale by auctioneers Bonhams in Oxford, England. Titled "The Pathway to Health", this rare book was authored by Peter Levens whose credentials include a Masters of Arts degree in Oxford. The latter is the home of the University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world. The book boasts of revolutionary cures for a variety of health problems, including baldness. Levens apparently took great pains in assembling the weird cures found within its pages and it is believed to be one of the earliest medical journals written in English. The cover says it all: "Wherein are to be found the most excellent and approved medicines of great virtue, as also notable potions and drinks, with the art of distilling divers' precious waters, for making of oils and other comfortable receit for the health of the body, never before printed." Also on the cover of the journal is the name of John Wilcox who bought the book in 1721 and made notes in its margins. It appeared that Wilcox turned to the pages of the journal for advice. However, it is not known how much of it he followed.For bald men, Levens recommends washing the head with a curious mixture of chicken dung and "lye" - a strong alkaline solution of potassium salts made from ashes and used in making soap."Take the ashes of culver-dung in lye, and wash the head therewith. Also walnut leaves beaten with beares suet, restoreth the hair that is plucked away. Also, the leaves and middle rind of an oak sodden in water, and the head washed therewith, is very good for this purpose," he wrote.His advice is self-explanatory except for the part of "beares suet" which no one understands today. But book collectors don't mind since Leven's work is a part of history."It is a fascinating volume - on the cusp of being an enlightened work and a quack book. It is a genuine attempt at a medicinal guide, accumulating worthwhile remedies from established sources with old wives' tales," according to Luke Batterham, a book specialist.Luckily, bald men today don't have to go looking for "beares suet" whatever that is. Neither do they have to turn to untested and potentially harmful "remedies." Modern medicine has come up with several ways to cover up - if not remedy - those trouble spots. For the fullest, most natural-looking hair possible, go to the specialists at Hair Restoration Doctors Ohio.
About the Author
National Press Club and Philippine Dental Association awardee George Nava True II is a popular Manila-based freelancer who has written thousands of articles on a variety of topics under the pseudonyms Janet Martin, Jill Stewart, Sharon Bell and Tracy Anderson. He can be reached at sparklingtrue@yahoo.com.
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