A Benefit to Lead?

By now we’ve all heard about the controversy of lead in lipsticks and other cosmetic items. And you may be familiar with the fact that in ancient Rome and Egypt, lead compounds were used as primary ingredients in makeups. But you may not know that the Egyptians actually used lead for its benefits. Wait, benefits?

Some ancient texts suggest that lead was used purposefully to treat eye illnesses and skin ailments. So researchers in France decided to delve further in to this mystery. They took samples of ancient makeup from Egyptian tombs and put it under the microscope. An ultramicroelectrode, to be exact. They found that the Egyptians actually synthesized special lead salts, laurionite and phosgenite–not found in nature–specifically for cosmetic use.  Researchers tested these compounds and saw that once applied to skin, the lead ions created a stress response in the keratinocytes (a type of skin cell). Under this stress, the skin cells created an abundance of nitrogen monoxide–a compound known to stimulate a general immune response. Through this this mechanism of stimulating the immune system, researchers concluded these lead compounds may have actually been used to treat eye and skin conditions. (Source)

What does this mean for us in  modern times? Not much. I’m not proposing the use of lead makeups or medicines. But it does give us some insight in to the complex mechanisms of the body and its reactions to the toxins around us. One of the founding principles of homeopathy is to ingest a highly diluted toxic substance, such as lead, to treat disease. Homeopathy is hotly debated in the medical community, and much less scientifically proven. But studies such as this describe a mechanism that could support the plausibility of homeopathic practices–toxic compounds triggering our body’s own immune defenses to treat disease.

For more information about the chemicals in personal care products to avoid, visit our blog at http://bubbleandbee.blogspot.com and our Chemical of the Day Blog: http://chemicaloftheday.squarespace.com