Chocolate

During 18th century, chocolate was used as medicine. It was believed commonly that chocolate could cure stomach aches. Studies recently have suggested that cocoa (dark chocolate) may indeed possess certain beneficial effects on human health. With its high cocoa content, cocoa is thought to possess cardio protective properties. It also possesses a significant antioxidant action, protecting against LDL oxidation, perhaps more than other polyphenol antioxidant-rich foods and beverages.

Water

Water was used as a medicine in many ancient cultures. The ancient Mohawk people used a full plunge in the river as a medicine each day. There are numerous examples of water used as a medicine in traditional Mohawk stories. For instance, when a child doesn't mind his parents, is causing a fuss, or is misbehaving, parents will take that child to a sink or other running water source, and drench the child's face in order to teach a lesson. No wonder it worked. :)

Blood

It is widely believed that vampire stories and sucking blood in Eastern and central Africa had medical meanings. Many believed that human blood was used as medicine. Persian roots and its use in nineteenth-century Zanzibar, or the word mumiani in modern Swahili, meant a kind of medicine used externally for broken bones, melted and then drunk.

In Tanganyika, African blood was taken to urban hospitals and converted into red capsules. These pills were taken on a regular basis by Europeans who needed this medicine (or felt like they needed it) to stay alive in Africa. In colonial Northern Rhodesia, it was believed that African blood was necessary to cure European diseases. In Kenya, it was thought that men were taken by the Nairobi Fire Brigade so that their blood could be used for “the treatment of Europeans with anemic diseases. It is believed that ancient Romans also used blood as medicine for some of the illnesses.

Coffee

Due to its mystical connections and assumed magical properties, coffee was used as a medicine and in religious ceremonies. In ancient India coffee was used as a medicine. It was carefully prepared by authorized practitioners only. Before coffee was ever roasted and brewed, the berries were fermented in water creating a wine. This coffee wine was used as a medicine.

Most of the scientific studies are contradictory as to whether coffee has any specific health benefits. The results are similarly conflicting regarding negative effects of coffee consumption. Coffee appears to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, cirrhosis of the liver, and gout. Some believe that the health effects are due to its caffeine content and some think that the antioxidants in coffee prevent free radicals from causing cell damage.

Marijuana

It is still used as a medicine in the Middle East and in India and Asia. Humans have been using Marijuana from prehistoric times, but 20th century saw a rise in its use for spiritual and medicinal purposes. The synthetic form of one chemical in marijuana is also a controversial treatment for medical use.

The American Marijuana Policy Project claims that it is an ideal therapeutic drug for cancer and AIDS patients who suffer from clinical depression, and from nausea and resulting weight loss due to chemotherapy and other life sapping treatments. A recent study by Italian scientists has also shown that a chemical found in marijuana inhibits growth of cancer cells in animals.

Ambergris

It is a waxy, flammable, solid substance produced in the digestive system of sperm whales. It was known to Arabs as "anbar" and was originally called amber in the West. It was used as a medicine for the heart and brain. During the time of the Black Death in Europe, lots of people believed that carrying a ball of ambergris would help prevent them from getting the plague because the fragrance covered the smell of the air which was believed to be the cause of plague.

This has also been used as a form of medical supplement. For example, the middle Easterners have used it to increase their strength and virility and to treat heart and brain diseases. People also considered ambergris as an aphrodisiac and during the Middle Ages Europeans had used ambergris as a medication for headaches, colds, epilepsy, and other disorders.

Monkey's Gall Bladder

The monkey's gall bladder was a common folk medicine in China often used for a wide range of disorders including eye diseases, stomach complaints and even a child's tantrums. Many ancient cultures used monkey blood for increasing the strength and stamina. It was also believed to have anti-aging effects. Over the centuries, people of various cultures have experimented with monkey blood and meat for anti-aging effects. Some even went to the extent of transplanting monkey gonads. In some of the places in Indonesia even until now, monkey brains are consumed as health remedies, impotency cures or as gourmet treats.

Pearl

Pearl is a gem of purity and modesty. It has been believed to be an agent of goodness and it is supposed to bring the wearer comfort in difficult times. They are also thought to improve the memory and to solidify friendships. The gem was even used as a medicine. The Persians even used it to cure insanity and other diseases, and it was given as an aid to increase longevity in ancient China. Even now, there are individuals who utilize pearls in drinking water to stabilize hormones or that wear them directly on the skin to alleviate headaches.

The Mummy Powder

This is one of the strangest of the lot. Ancient Egyptians are known for using various different strange things as cures for popular ailments. Powdered mummy was also used as a medicine! The word mummy comes from Arabic mumiyah, which meant bitumen. It was long believed that bitumen would conserve the mummies. Bitumen was even used directly as a cure. The Egyptians used the powdered mummy to make different potions and used it for longevity.

Urine

Urine is considered as a magic cure for diseases like diabetes, cancer, and tuberculosis as well as for those affecting the eyes, ears, teeth and skin. Urine therapy was practiced widely in the interior villages of India to the extent that old grandmothers gave children their own urine to drink to prevail over fever, loose bowels and many other ailments. In ancient Ayurvedic medicine texts, the mixture of cow urine and human urine was considered as an essential therapy for various ailments.

Three hundred years ago a French dentist advised to wash the teeth with urine many times daily, so that those suffering from teeth ailments could get relief. The knowledgeable scientists describe urine as a product of the body's excretory system but it also contains a chemical composition with minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride and many more, all of which are essential for the body's health. This proves that urine is a least used as a natural tonic.

Side note

I am sure others may have also come across various bizarre treatments or medicines. Feel free to list and discuss them in the comments section.

1. Most Tattooed Person

   
   
   This one is very impressive, seeing how getting a tattoo of a dot is very painful. This record was set by Lucky Diamond Rich who has spent 1000 hours of his life getting tattoos that cover his entire body.

2. Most Books Typed Backwards

   This one seems very tricky ... I still don't know where anyone would get the idea to do this. It's amazing, actually, seeing as he did it entirely by memory. Michele Santelia of Campobasso, Italy typed 58 books backwards without looking at the screen and with a blank keyboard. He typed books in their original language ... ranging from The Odyssey to The Book of the Dead.

3. Most Rattle Snakes To Be in A Bathtub With

   
   
   This one I've heard of, but I still think these guys are crazy, in a good way. In 1999 Jackie Bibby and Rosie Reynolds-McCasland sat in different bathtubs both with 75 rattle snakes in Los Angeles California.

4. Most Live Rattlesnakes Held in Mouth

   
   
   One of the same guys as the last record, still insane, still awesome. In 2006, Jackie Bibby held 10 Rattle Snakes in his mouth for 10 seconds. In New York City, this is one of many Jackie Bibby Records.

5. Car Window Opened by a Dog the Fastest

   I think this record is cool because if I had a dog that could open a window for me, my ultimate dream would come true. Striker, a border collie owned by Francis V. Gadassi from Hungary, set this record.

6. Largest Collection of Penguins

   Most people have collections. Like me they, keep you from going crazy I collect human hair. Just kidding, but this collection is very impressive. It consist of 2,520 different penguins. And belongs to Brigit Berends.

7. Largest Gathering of People Dressed As Gorillas

   
   
   I can't really type this with a straight face because it is so hilarious of a concept. This gathering consisted of 637 people dressed as gorillas. It was organized to raise money for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

8. Longest Title of a Book

   This one is great. As an active reader, I find this one very entertaining. The full title is "Per favore dite a mia madre che faccio il pubblicitario lei pensa che sono un pierre e che quindi regalo manciate di free entry e consumazioni gratis a chi mi pare, rido coi vips, i calciatori le veline e le giornaliste, leggo Novella e mi fotografano i paparazzi, entro neI privé saltando la coda, bevo senza pagare, sono ghiotto di tartine e gin tonic, ho la casa piena di oggetti di design, conosco Paris Hilton, Tom Ford ed Emilio." It was written by Davide Ciliberte of Italy.

9. Fastest Modeling of a Balloon Dog

   
   
   I one reason I find this interesting is because it brings back horrible, horrible memories. This record is amazing, seeing as if most people even attempted to create a balloon dog it would blow up in their face, me included.

10. Fastest Time to Run Across 100 Meters of Ice

    I really don't know where anyone would get the idea to do this, but it is an amazing feat nonetheless. This was beaten in 2006 by, Nico Surings from Netherlands, in 17.35 seconds.

Here are 6 of the strangest canned foods you can find being distributed at your local supermarket. I left out food meant for animals as that is completely different.

1. France - Canned Duck Fat

   
   
   This is a product that doesn't get much attention in the United States food markets. Canned duck fat is actually a rather rare treat for people in France. For 67.5 oz of duck fat you can expect to pay around $60. We usually cut the fat off of our meat which makes this a very weird canned food.

2. Sweden - Canned Cheeseburger

   
   
   This delicious cheeseburger originates from Sweden. It is strange simply because of the pieces used to make the cheeseburger. I would be worried about the quality of the bread, cheese, and meat after getting this shipped across seas. For the price of $6 you can get a cheeseburger in a can, or you can head over to McDonalds and get 6 of them for the same price.

3. New Zealand - Canned Tongue

   
   
   New Zealand lamb tongues are definitely something that is not seen in many American grocery stores. However in New Zealand this is a great delicacy that is a very common item at a dinner table. The prices range depending on the brand, expect to pay around $5 for this can of tongues.

4. Korea - Canned Silkworm Pupae

   
   
   These silkworm pupae are very popular snacks in and around Korea. They are prepared simply by stewing and seasoning them. You can get these at just about any supermarket or gas station in Korea as they are to them as something like peanuts are to us. Silkworm pupae are generally a cheaper food, you can pick up a can like this for around $4.

5. Scandinavia - Canned Reindeer

   
   
   This delicacy is actually very healthy for you compared to other red meats. Since reindeer are raised on a farm on diets of moss and lichen these animals have only a 2 percent fat content. Due to the time and costs in farming these animals you will have to dish out close to $30 for a can of this arctic delicacy.

6. Thailand - Canned Scorpion

   
   
   Scorpions are a delicacy in most of Thailand. These are already cooked and they can be eaten whole without risk of poison from their venom. There are thousands of different species of scorpions and you can eat a good percentage of them. Expect to pay around $6 for a can of scorpions.

Most of these are delicacies from other countries that are available in the United States as well. They are all eaten without disease however they may not look that appetizing to us. Next time you go to the supermarket look at all the different kinds of canned food you see. Did I miss anything?

Mollejas (ARGENTINA)

This food from Argentina is made from the Thymus gland of young calves, and is served especially with lemons!

Reindeer Steak (CANADA)

How about trying out a little bit of reindeer meat from Canada, for a change, eh?

Nopales (MEXICO)

If you are in Mexico and want to eat something local but vegetarian, try out their special cactus salad.

Kim Chee (KOREA)

Want to go veggie in Korea too? Then just try out some of their fermented cabbage. It is very sour and actually tastes a lot like vinegar.

Ika Sashimi (JAPAN)

In Japan, besides eating the food, watch out for its preparation, because the live squid is normally kept in a tank underneath the table at restaurants. Upon the arrival of a customer, there is a special ceremonious “Squid Dance” performance by the waiters where the live squid is cut up in front of you, then taken for cooking.

PATATJE OORLOG (HOLLAND)

The English translation of this dish from Holland means “war chips”. They are fried potato chips served with mayonnaise, tomato ketchup, garlic sauce and peanut-butter. It apparently gets its name because a war breaks out in your stomach when you eat it!

FUFU (GHANA)

People in Ghana simply relish this local dish made up of beaten yam fried in groundnut oil, and eaten especially with peanut butter

INDIA

In India, there are no Big Macs because the Hindu people don't eat beef.

However, they have the Maharaja Mac, which is a Big Mac made of lamb or chicken meat. There is also a vegetarian burger, the McAloo Tikki.

GERMANY

It's bottoms up in Germany, where McDonald's serves - Beer!

CANADA

In parts of Canada, have a lobster dinner with the McLobster lobster roll. Pardon me - "McHomard" (in French).

JAPAN

Japan totally reinvents McDonald's with its Ebi Filet-O (shrimp burgers), Koroke Burger (mashed potato, cabbage and katsu sauce, all in a sandwich), Ebi-Chiki (shrimp nuggets) and Green Tea-flavored milkshake!

NORWAY

In fish-loving Norway, they have the McLaks, a sandwich made of grilled salmon and dill sauce.

CHILE

In Chile, you can dress your burgers with - not ketchup - avocado paste!

COSTA RICA

In Costa Rica, unsurprisingly, you can order Gallo Pinto, meaning rice and beans.

GREECE

It's not Greek without pita, so when in Greece, have a Greek Mac, a burger made of patties wrapped in pita.

HONG KONG

Rice-loving Hong Kong, has - of course - Rice Burgers, where the burgers are in between, not burger buns, but two patties of glutinous rice.

ISRAEL

Despite Jewish religious dietary laws, most McDonald's are not Kosher (there are a few exceptions), and they serve "McPitzutz" ice creams and cheeseburgers... and Israel is one of the only countries that cooks the meat over charcoal versus frying. They also have the McKebab, two patties with Middle Eastern seasonings, stuffed into a pita bread.

URUGUAY

In Uruguay, they have the McHuevo, which is like a regular hamburger, but it is topped with a poached egg.

Created to attract people to side shows at circuses, I had heard about them in places like Ripley's. The gag was you sawed the back end off a fish and the front end off a monkey. A stitch here and there combined the two into something that gullible people would think was a new species. But what the hell was a merman doing in a museum so steeped in history?

The Zwanendael Museum was built in 1931 to commemorate the 300-year anniversary of the founding of Swanendael, a Dutch settlement located at Cape Henlopen. As a whaling operation, Swanendael (later changed to Zwanendael) did not last beyond the year of 1631; the Siconese Indians destroyed it the same year. The head of the operation, Captain David DeVries, discovered the settlement annihilated the next year and sailed back to the Netherlands, giving up hope of a whaling operation at the sight. I can understand why the Zwanendael Museum would have a display about Swanendael. It was, after all, its namesake. But why a merman?

In 1765, the area had a lighthouse built, creatively named the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse. That is important. It is in the museum. In 1798, the HM Brig DeBraak sinks off the coast of Lewes. That is also important. It is also in the museum. Even the bombardment of Lewes during the War of 1812 is there. It should be. It was important. But a merman?

I had to see it for myself. I could not imagine this bizarreness among such sanity. As it turns out, the merman was about the sanest display there was. The guides spoke of the normal displays with reverence, making mundane slices of a tiny town's history sound like milestones in the history of a nation. The exhibits are interesting, even when presented in a soft hush of someone narrating the birth of Christ. On the first floor the guides flock to you, eager to explain what each exhibit is and why it is important. They will you, almost beg you, to accept the importance of their history. Then you ascend the stairs to level two, see the merman, and there are no guides in sight.

They keep it in a corner in its own little display case with a small plaque. They give no explanation as to why it is there. With the complete and total display of neglect given to the little beast, I wondered myself if it even was there. I still would if I had not snapped a picture as proof. I meant to ask someone about it upon returning to the main floor. The guides spoke in depth about everything I had seen in the upstairs. Everything, that is, except the damn merman.

In the end, I left without asking. I could not bring myself to it. I was, honestly, afraid. Even the suggestion that something so vile, so disgraceful, so “un-Lewes” could ever be found in those hallowed halls seemed on the verge of sacrilege. Many days have passed, and often I have though of calling them to ask, but I do not dare.

To me, the merman is twisted sanity in a well-organized lunatic world. To question its existence would be akin to asking why the grass is green. It is just the way it is.

You, too, can get the bejesus creeped out of you. For information about the museum, call them at 302-645-1148 or visit them online at history.delaware.gov . Admission to the museum is free, but donations are accepted. Just don't ask about the merman.

Some sources place the origin of The Bedford Coffee Pot in the year 1925. Others have the date as two years later. However, all agree that it was constructed by a man named Bert Koontz. Koontz located it on the west end of Bedford, right next door to his gas station. He intended the wood and stucco structure to attract those passing by to stop and spend some money at the gas station or at the lunch stand inside the king-sized kettle. Besides coffee, it also served hamburgers, soda, and ice cream to travelers.

Time drove on, and eventually so did the cars. By the time the 30's were changing to the 40's, a new highway was built, bypassing Bedford and Route 30. The Coffee Pot hung on for quite a while, but changed hands and professions often. In 1937, someone spiked the coffee, and the larger than life pot became home to a bar. It was a regular stop for travelers due to the hotel built behind it and the Greyhound station beside it. Later in its life, it became part of a drive through liquor store and then had another go at being a lunch stand. In the early 1980's it closed its lid and sank further into a state of disrepair.

That's how it sat until the turn of the 21st century, when the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor took note of the building. The LHHC is a group dedicated to saving historic structures like the Coffee Pot. In early 2003, they hired Pittsburgh architect Mike Eversmeyer to estimate the cost of moving the colossal coffee maker across Route 30 and restoring it. Eversmeyer guessed between $80 and $140 grand. Shocked by the cost, the Lashley Family, then owners of the prodigious pot, started to make plans for its demolition. After several months, the LHHC finally convinced the Lashley's to donate the structure to them. By the end of the year, the LHHC moved it across the street to the Bedford County Fairgrounds and prepared it for winter. By June of 2004, restoration was complete and it was ready for its dedication ceremony on August 16, 2004. The Coffee Pot, back to its original color and splendor, is ready for 80 more years of delighting travelers. Now all we need is five hundred pounds of ground coffee and several thousand gallons of hot water.

For more information about The Bedford Coffee Pot, visit the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor at lhhc.org or call them at 724-238-9030. Located on the Bedford County Fairgrounds, it is outdoors and always accessible, but it is highly recommended you visit it during the day. The Fairgrounds are located on US 30, also know as the Lincoln Highway, just west of downtown Bedford, PA. Traveling west, it is located on the left and is pretty hard to miss. It is, after all, an eighteen-foot tall coffee pot.