Birth of the pregnancy test

[Psycho4Bud]

Honey, barley, beer, dates, toads, rabbit ears, rats and mice: No, it's not a list of ingredients for a witches brew but a short-list of the many items that have been employed through the ages to help women answer a burning question: Am I pregnant?

The ancients devised endless creative ways to diagnose pregnancy. More than a thousand years ago in Greece, honey water and vaginal suppositories made of onions were used. If the sweet water caused cramps and bloating, or if the suppository led to onion-tinged morning breath, a baby was on the way.

In ancient Egypt, a woman was given beer and dates until she vomited. The more vomiting, the thinking went, the more likely she was to be pregnant.

The Egyptians ultimately identified urine as the place to look to confirm a pregnancy. According to an ancient papyrus, a woman wondering whether she was pregnant would urinate on a pile of wheat and barley. If the barley sprouted after a few days, she was carrying a boy; if wheat sprouted, it meant a girl. No sprouts, no pregnancy.
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You come a long way baby!:thumbsup:

Have a good one!:jointsmile:

Psycho4Bud Reviewed by Psycho4Bud on 05-22-2007. Birth of the pregnancy test Honey, barley, beer, dates, toads, rabbit ears, rats and mice: No, it's not a list of ingredients for a witches brew but a short-list of the many items that have been employed through the ages to help women answer a burning question: Am I pregnant? The ancients devised endless creative ways to diagnose pregnancy. More than a thousand years ago in Greece, honey water and vaginal suppositories made of onions were used. If the sweet water caused cramps and bloating, or if the suppository led Rating: 5

[Bree1978]

I saw about egyptian medicines on PBS or History Channel, can't remember...but they did that peeing on the wheat and it WORKED! The pregnant part, not the gender...but they didn't mention it either.


BTW, they also tested antibiotics (topical) and someother similar remedies to our own....It's amazing what they knew then, and how long it took us to not only 'discover' them and to improve them.

[BabyFacedAbortion]

That's really cool, bud. Thanks for sharin' that! <3

[rebgirl420]

They used to use dead rabbits too

Rabbit test - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Bree1978]

They used to use dead rabbits too

Rabbit test - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

My mother still uses the term "the rabbit died"


:jointsmile: Bree