Minced Mice and Other Ancient Baldness Remedies
Some men think that the receding hairline, the thinning mane and the smooth cranium give them an air of sophistication. For those who are not so sure, over the centuries there have been more baldness treatments and preventative measures than there are hairs on your head, in some case, very literally. Some of them were more successful than others but it goes to show that men, even back in Egyptian times were keen to cover the evidence of the receding hairline.
In an ancient Roman medical text dating back to mega B.C., several remedies were offered to the man about Rome who was follically challenged. Hippo fat was popular as was fat from a tomcat, a croc, ibex and a snake or if none of them worked there was boiled porcupine hair smeared onto the scalp for four days. For the more adventures a sautéed leg of female greyhound with the hoof of a donkey were also recommended. Don’t even think of trying any of these at home. The RSPCA know where you live.
The Hippocratic Growth
In ancient Greece, physician Hippocrates, born about 460 B.C. is often thought of as the father of medicine. Being a victim of male pattern baldness (MPB) himself, he came up with a topical concoction of pigeon droppings, opium, beetroot, horseradish, and various spices. Surprisingly, it didn’t work.
Hippocrates was not a quitter and went on look at a more radical hair loss treatment when he realised that eunuchs never lost their hair. Although it is doubtful that men then or now would opt for castration over a thinning thatch, researchers working on the problem at the USA’s Duke University in 1995 confirmed that the procedure actually would stop hair loss. Who knew?
The Roman Comb over
When MPB affected Julius Caesar he tried absolutely everything to disguise his shiny pate. Al la Trump, he grew his thinning mane long and then coaxed it over his scalp in a prototype of the comb over. That didn’t work, but luckily his lover, Cleopatra, had a home remedy handy that was made up of horse teeth, bear grease and minced mice. Strangely this didn’t work either so Julius just plonked a laurel wreath on his bonce.
The age of the Toupee
Seventeenth century King Louis XIII of France was one of the first to rock a toupee to cover up his thinning hair. Huge wigs, heavily powdered, often with very elaborate curls were ‘the look’ for French and English nobles at that time. Rich Americans adopted the look to advertise their wealth and status till the American Revolution after which royalty-inspired fashion was more or less over.
These days there is a lot more on offer for those of us who are looking to go from zero hair to hero hair. No longer do we have to accept the old mantra hair today and gone tomorrow. Thank goodness.
Thankfully we have a perfect solution to your hair loss worries. Book a consultation today to find out more.
