There may be other possibilities

Posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on August 01, 1999 at 23:23:24:

In Reply to: Camel Urine posted by Aryanna on August 01, 1999 at 19:50:48:

I agree absolutely that the ammonia-black henna is gorgeous! Does
your camel-pee trick work well in areas beyond palms and soles?

I asked a field biologist about camel, bat, and other urines that
could be used to make henna go black. He said that when animals are
heat stressed, particularly desert animals, their urine will change to
nearly pure ammonia. He said bats, though, have a very high ammonia
urine naturally, because carrying excess water (to thin out the urine)
is excess weight when they're flapping about. Though he did not claim
to be an expert in urine, he did say that any animal (or human) urines
will have more ammonia content in desert conditions. Last I lived
thereabouts, Palmdale qualified as desert conditions!

It seems possible that any urine, concentrated and set out to get
stale, would be a good candidate for blackening henna. I did read one
old account that Moroccan tribal women blackened their henna with
baby pee ( which is nearly always at hand if you're holding the little
darling) .... but their babies may be more heat stressed than those
hereabouts.

If anyone's still reluctant to creep up behind a camel with a bucket,
and just can't get that personal with the catbox... I can email you
the ammonia-black henna trick. (Nice, tidy, household ammonia). Just
email and ask. I don't think the US postal service people would like
carrying camel pee on their faithful rounds.

Follow-ups:

• Re: There may be other possibilities Kara 01:12:59 8/02/99 (1)
  • Honestly.... Catherine Cartwright Jones 02:33:32 8/02/99 (0)