CAMEL URINE
CAMEL URINE SOAP - WHY?
AN ANCIENT SKINCARE INGREDIENT REVISITIED
We’re going right out on a limb with our new soap; we’re using camel urine an ingredient! Yes, really, we’re making camel piss soap! Actually, we’re adding sterilised camel urine to the camel milk and CBD oil in our new Camel PSO Soap, which is intended to sooth and aid the symptoms of psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis.
But why would we use camel urine in a soap? In this blog, we explore camel urine and its medicinal use across the dromedary camel belt where camels are perhaps the most important livestock species. The academic expertise for camel medicines lies in the Middle East; several of our contacts are very positive about the benefits of camel urine and there are numerous research papers exploring its make up and benefits.
So we thought "why not"; at worst we will divide the crowd into those who go "yuck, no way" and those who go "I'll try it".
the history of camel urine in healthcare
Historically, camel urine was used to treat a variety of human diseases. The Bedouin and other camel pastoralists routinely drink camel urine and use it to wash both their body and hair and have done for centuries.
You see, camel urine has a very different biochemical composition to human and other mammalian urines; containing, amongst many components, albumins, hypoxanthine, creatine, uric acid, sodium and a range of phosphates including sodium ascorbic phosphate.
As a result, camel urine has antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria, has inhibitory properties against fungal growth and is very anti-inflammatory. There is even research using an active nano-particle found only in camel milk as a cancer treatment.
SOME KEY COMPONENTS OF DROMEDARY URINE
Many of the components of camel urine are recognised cosmetic ingredients, used in isolation in skincare products:
- Serum albumen is used in anti-inflammatory skincare products for treating acne, psoriasis and eczema and is also used in cleansers and anti-ageing products.
- Hypoxanthine is used in a number of anti-ageing products because of its anti-oxidant activity.
- Uric acid is an alpha-alpha-hydroxy acid, which has a humectant effect and helps to turn over dead skin cells. It's like a turbocharged version of the lactic acid found in camel milk.
- Sodium ascorbic phosphate is a powerhouse anti-oxidant.
- Sodium salts are used as binding agents and to thicken the lather produced by a soap.
WHY IS CAMEL URINE DIFFERENT?
So why is camel urine so different form other mammalian urines? Well, camel kidneys are very good as absorbing water, the medullary part of a camel's kidney occupies twice as much area as a cow's kidney and the renal corpuscles have a smaller diameter, reducing the surface area for filtration. As a result, camel urine has a thick, syrupy consistency allowing camels to conserve water in extreme desert conditions.
You might expect camel urine to have a pungent odour; in fact, it doesn't. Its quite sweet smelling and not unpleasant at all, which is probably why people manage to drink it!
AND FINALLY
Our new Camel Milk PSO soap is now available in the CameLife store packed in boxes of six bars. If you suffer from psoriasis, eczema or dermatitis and struggle to find a soap or shower gel that doesn't exacerbate your condition, why not give it a go? After all, we've picked up an idea that works from a region with a high preponderance of psoriasis.
Alternatively, its a great present for the one you love; we're amazed how many people who buy their first PSO Soap as a bit of joke and don't tell their partner until they've used it. And then they rave about the lovely, creamy lather that leaves your whole skin feeling clean, moisturised and relaxed.
