Teenagers told to drink ALCOHOL to treat their acne in advice found in 300 ... - Daily Mail

• Eating rhubarb is also known to calm skin conditions

By Emily Allen

Last updated at 2:18 PM on 29th August 2011

A controversial cure for teenagers suffering the angst of acne has been discovered in a 300-year-old medical journal.

The handwritten manuscript recommends that acne stricken teens should drink alcohol to counter their blotchy blemishes.

While the modern consensus is that alcohol can make angry skin considerably worse, the eighteenth century guide prescribes wine.

For a pimpled face: The 300-year-old book advises to take 'wine three drachms' to cure acne

The book advises adolescents to: 'Take of wine three dracms. Flour of brimstone one dracm. Of cardamons one ounce.

'One teaspoon to be taken twice a day in a wine glass of water.'

The mystery source goes on to say that eating rhubarb is also known to calm volatile skin conditions.

With the first entry made in 1767 this encyclopedia is believed to be one of the oldest specimens of its kind.

Myth: While the modern consensus is that alcohol can make angry skin considerably worse, the eighteenth century guide prescribes wine

Cure: The 300-year-old manuscript says to drink wine to cure acne and eat rhubarb

It includes cures for cancer, a 'putrid sore throat', 'violent convulsive hiccups' and corns.

For a cancer one of the book's authors says that you must: 'Anoint the part with the juice of the wooly headed thistle.'

The text, bound in green-stained vellum, has several authors with the last entry dated in the mid nineteenth century.

For cancer: The book recommends you must: 'Anoint the part with the juice of the wooly headed thistle.'

It was discovered by a Derbyshire antique enthusiast who bought the item in July at a car boot sale for a mere £1.50.

The early catalogue of cures is now expected to fetch between £100 and £150 when it goes up for auction in September.

Steven Iredale, of Bamford Auctions, in Derby, said: 'Whenever you look at something handwritten you automatically feel closer to the person who wrote it.

Wise words: The book was discovered by a Derbyshire antique enthusiast who bought the item in July at a car boot sale for a mere £1.50

'It was never meant to be published so the language is very accessible and friendly.

'This book has dozens of cures for diseases and you can see that it has been added to over the years by different family members.

'The first entry is in 1767, which makes it one of the oldest of its kind ever discovered.

'I'm not sure if I'd like the cure for pimples, I think I'd stick with the rhubarb over the wine and brimstone.'

29 Aug, 2011

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