25 Products Sourced from the Human Body: From Life-Saving Medicine to Bizarre Curiosities
The human body has served as more than just a vessel for consciousness and experience throughout history—it has been a literal source of materials for countless products, both practical and peculiar. From ancient medicinal practices to cutting-edge medical innovations, human biological material has been transformed into everything from life-saving treatments to bizarre collectibles that challenge our understanding of what constitutes acceptable use of our mortal remains.
While the idea of products sourced from the human body might initially evoke discomfort or curiosity, the reality spans a fascinating spectrum. On one end, we find essential medical products that save millions of lives annually—blood transfusions, tissue grafts, and organ donations that represent the pinnacle of human generosity and medical advancement. On the other end lie historical curiosities and cultural practices that reveal humanity’s complex relationship with death, memory, and the physical form.
This comprehensive exploration of 25 products sourced from the human body will take you through centuries of human ingenuity, desperation, reverence, and sometimes questionable judgment. From medieval apothecaries grinding mummified remains into medicine to modern laboratories creating revolutionary stem cell therapies, these products tell the story of our species’ remarkable ability to find purpose in every aspect of our existence.
Historical and Cultural Curiosities
1. Diamonds from Human Remains
Modern memorial technology has transformed the ancient practice of preserving human remains into something truly spectacular. Companies like LifeGem and Eterneva now convert carbon extracted from cremated ashes or hair into genuine diamonds. The process involves extracting carbon from the deceased person’s remains and subjecting it to extreme heat and pressure, mimicking natural diamond formation. These memorial diamonds can be created in various colors and cuts, providing families with a lasting, wearable tribute to their loved ones.
The carbon content in human remains—approximately 18% of body weight—provides sufficient material for multiple diamonds. Prices range from $2,000 to $20,000 depending on size and quality, making this one of the more expensive ways to memorialize someone.
2. Human Skin Bound Books (Anthropodermic Bibliopegy)
The practice of binding books in human skin, known as anthropodermic bibliopegy, was more common than many realize, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries. Harvard University’s Houghton Library confirmed in 2014 through peptide mass fingerprinting that one of its books, “Des destinées de l’âme” by Arsène Houssaye, was indeed bound in human skin.
This practice often involved executed criminals or unclaimed bodies from anatomy schools. French bibliophiles were particularly known for this macabre art form, with some books bearing inscriptions detailing their human origins. Medical students and doctors sometimes bound their textbooks or journals in the skin of cadavers they had studied, viewing it as a form of respect or memorial.
3. Mummia: Medieval Medicine from the Dead
For centuries, European apothecaries sold “mummia”—powdered remains of mummified humans—as medicine. This practice peaked during the medieval period when ground Egyptian mummies were believed to cure everything from headaches to broken bones. The demand became so intense that a thriving trade developed, with merchants often creating fake mummies from recently deceased individuals when authentic Egyptian specimens became scarce.
The belief stemmed from misunderstood Arabic medical texts that referenced “mumiya,” actually referring to a type of bitumen or tar with supposed healing properties. European translators confused this with actual mummified remains, leading to centuries of macabre medical practice.
4. Human Fat Soap and Candles
Throughout history, human fat has been rendered into soap and candles, though most documented cases occur during wartime or extreme circumstances. During World War II, there were reports of Nazi concentration camps producing soap from human remains, though historians debate the extent and verifiability of these claims. More recently, convicted murderer Leonarda Cianciulli infamously turned her victims’ fat into soap and teacakes in 1940s Italy.
The process involves saponification, where fat is combined with an alkali substance to create soap—the same basic chemistry used with animal fats in commercial soap production.
5. Virgin Boy Eggs
In Dongyang, China, a UNESCO-recognized cultural practice involves boiling chicken eggs in the urine of young boys under age 10. Known as “tong zi dan” or virgin boy eggs, this spring delicacy is believed to have health benefits including improved circulation and resistance to heat stroke. The eggs are first boiled in urine, then cracked and simmered again, allowing the urine to penetrate the egg.
Local schools actually collect urine from young boys for this purpose, with vendors paying families for the “raw material.” Despite its unusual nature, the practice is so culturally significant that virgin boy eggs sell for twice the price of regular eggs in the region.
6. Human Hair Wigs and Jewelry
Human hair has been fashioned into wigs for thousands of years, but the Victorian era elevated hair art to new heights. Mourning jewelry incorporated locks of deceased loved ones’ hair into intricate designs—rings, brooches, and watch chains that allowed the bereaved to literally carry part of their departed with them.
Hair was considered almost sacred because it was believed to retain the essence of the person even after death. Elaborate wreaths and pictures were woven from hair, often incorporating multiple family members’ hair into complex genealogical artworks. Today, human hair remains valuable for wig-making, with virgin hair from certain regions commanding premium prices.
7. Human Bone Art and Furniture
Historical examples of human bone craftsmanship range from memorial art to functional furniture. The Sedlec Ossuary in the Czech Republic contains artwork made from over 40,000 human skeletons, including chandeliers and coat of arms created entirely from bones. During the 19th century, some wealthy Europeans commissioned furniture incorporating human bones, viewing it as an ultimate expression of memento mori philosophy.
Tibetan Buddhist practice includes crafting ritual items from human bones, such as skull cups (kapala) and thighbone trumpets (kangling), used in specific ceremonies to remind practitioners of life’s impermanence.
Medical and Therapeutic Products
8. Whole Blood and Blood Components
Blood transfusion represents perhaps the most successful and widespread use of human biological material as a life-saving product. Modern blood banking separates donated blood into distinct components: red blood cells for oxygen transport, platelets for clotting, plasma for volume replacement, and white blood cells for immune function.
The American Red Cross collects approximately 13 million units of blood annually from volunteer donors. Each donation can be separated into multiple products, potentially saving up to three lives. The global blood products market exceeds $50 billion annually, making it one of the most economically significant products sourced from the human body.
9. Plasma Derivatives
Human plasma serves as the source material for numerous life-saving medications. Albumin treats shock and burns, immunoglobulins boost immune systems in immunodeficient patients, and clotting factors treat hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. These plasma derivatives require thousands of donations to produce single treatment courses.
The plasma fractionation industry processes millions of liters of human plasma annually. Companies like CSL Plasma and Grifols operate networks of collection centers where donors can contribute plasma up to twice weekly for compensation, creating a unique economy around human biological material.
10. Human Growth Hormone (Historical)
Before recombinant DNA technology, human growth hormone (HGH) was extracted from the pituitary glands of cadavers. One treatment course required hormones from approximately 50 cadavers, making it extremely expensive and limited. This practice continued from the 1950s through the 1980s, when it was discovered that some batches were contaminated with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease prions.
The tragic cases of iatrogenic CJD led to the deaths of over 200 people worldwide who received contaminated HGH, ultimately driving the development of synthetic alternatives that are now standard.
11. Stem Cell Therapies
Human stem cells, harvested from bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, or fat tissue, have revolutionized regenerative medicine. These cells can differentiate into various tissue types, offering treatment possibilities for conditions ranging from leukemia to spinal cord injuries. Bone marrow transplants using donated stem cells cure various blood cancers and immune system disorders.
The global stem cell therapy market is projected to exceed $15 billion by 2030, with new applications constantly emerging. Cord blood banking has created an industry where parents can store their newborns’ stem cells for potential future medical use.
12. Human Tissue Grafts
Over 2.5 million tissue grafts are performed annually in the United States alone, using donated human bone, skin, corneas, heart valves, and tendons. Bone grafts help rebuild skeletal structures damaged by trauma or disease, while skin grafts save burn victims and facilitate wound healing.
Corneal transplants restore sight to over 80,000 Americans each year, with donated corneas remaining viable for transplant up to 14 days after death. The success rate for corneal transplants exceeds 90%, making it one of the most successful forms of human tissue transplantation.
13. Fecal Microbiota Transplants
Human fecal matter has emerged as a highly effective treatment for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infections through fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). This procedure involves transferring healthy gut bacteria from donor stool to restore the recipient’s intestinal microbiome balance.
FMT success rates exceed 85% for treating recurrent C. diff infections, often curing patients after multiple antibiotic failures. The procedure has sparked research into treating other conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and even autism spectrum disorders through microbiome manipulation.
14. Human Milk Banking
Donated human breast milk saves the lives of premature and critically ill infants who cannot receive their mothers’ milk. The Human Milk Banking Association of North America operates milk banks that screen donors, pasteurize milk, and distribute it to hospitals nationwide.
Donor milk reduces the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis and other life-threatening conditions in vulnerable infants. The processing and distribution of donor milk has created a formal industry with strict safety protocols similar to other human tissue banks.
15. Monoclonal Antibodies
Many therapeutic antibodies used to treat cancer, autoimmune diseases, and other conditions are produced using human cell lines. These biologics represent some of the most expensive and effective medications available, with individual treatments costing thousands of dollars.
Companies cultivate immortalized human cell lines in massive bioreactors to produce these antibodies. The global monoclonal antibody market exceeds $150 billion annually, making it one of the most valuable products derived from human cellular material.
Cosmetic and Personal Care Products
16. Human Placenta Extracts
Human placentas have been used in traditional medicine for centuries and continue to find applications in modern cosmetics and supplements. Rich in hormones, growth factors, and nutrients, placenta extracts are marketed for anti-aging and healing properties in skincare products.
While scientifically questionable, the placenta cosmetics industry thrives in certain markets, particularly in Asia where placental consumption is believed to promote postpartum recovery. Some high-end spas offer placenta facials, though the actual benefits remain largely unproven.
17. Human Breast Milk Products
Beyond infant nutrition, human breast milk has been transformed into various novelty products including soap, cheese, and jewelry. Some artisans create keepsake jewelry by preserving breast milk in resin pendants, allowing mothers to wear a literal piece of their nursing journey.
Breast milk soap is marketed for its supposed moisturizing properties, though the pasteurization required for safety likely eliminates most beneficial components. These products occupy a niche market driven more by sentiment than scientific evidence.
18. Human Sweat and Pheromone Perfumes
Experimental perfumers have created fragrances incorporating human sweat and secretions, believing they contain attractive pheromones. These avant-garde scents challenge conventional perfumery by embracing rather than masking natural human odors.
While the science of human pheromones remains debated, some companies market products containing synthesized human pheromones or actual human secretions as attraction enhancers. The market remains extremely niche and largely unregulated.
Agricultural and Industrial Applications
19. Human Urine Fertilizers
Human urine has been used as fertilizer for millennia and is experiencing renewed interest in sustainable agriculture. Urine contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—key nutrients for plant growth—in readily available forms.
Modern urine-diversion toilets collect and process human waste for agricultural use, particularly in water-scarce regions. The practice requires proper aging or treatment to eliminate pathogens but can significantly reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers.
20. Human Ash Building Materials
Innovative memorial services now incorporate cremated human remains into construction materials. Companies create bricks, concrete blocks, and other building materials mixed with ashes, allowing the deceased to become part of lasting structures.
These memorial building materials cost significantly more than standard construction supplies but offer families a permanent way to honor loved ones. Some communities have built memorial gardens using blocks containing multiple individuals’ ashes.
Art and Memorial Items
21. Teeth Jewelry and Art
Human teeth have been fashioned into jewelry and art pieces throughout history. Viking warriors wore enemy teeth as trophies, while some cultures created necklaces from family members’ teeth as protective amulets.
Modern dental art incorporates extracted teeth into sculptures and installations exploring themes of identity, mortality, and bodily autonomy. Some artists use their own extracted teeth, while others collect discarded teeth from dental offices.
22. Umbilical Cord Keepsakes
Dried umbilical cord segments are preserved as sentimental mementos in many cultures. The umbilical cord, representing the physical connection between mother and child, is saved, dried, and sometimes shaped into letters or symbols.
This practice is particularly common in Hispanic cultures, where the dried cord might be saved in the child’s baby book or jewelry box. Some artisans create shadow boxes or artistic arrangements incorporating the preserved cord.
23. Human Bone Instruments
Musical instruments crafted from human bones appear in various cultural traditions. Tibetan monks create traditional horns from human thighbones, while some historical European instruments incorporated human bone components.
These instruments often carry spiritual significance, with the bone’s human origin believed to enhance the instrument’s power or connection to the spiritual realm. Modern replicas typically use animal bones, though authentic historical examples still exist in museums and private collections.
24. Hair Artwork and Wreaths
Beyond simple jewelry, Victorian-era hair art reached extraordinary sophistication. Artists created detailed pictures, flowers, and geometric patterns entirely from human hair, often combining locks from multiple family members to create genealogical artwork.
These hair wreaths and pictures were displayed in homes as memorials and family histories. The intricate techniques required specialized tools and considerable skill, creating a professional trade in hair artistry that lasted several decades.
25. Nail Clippings and Collections
While perhaps the most unusual entry, human nail clippings have been preserved and collected for various purposes throughout history. Some cultures view nail clippings as containing personal essence, requiring careful disposal to prevent harm through sympathetic magic.
Modern nail art sometimes incorporates actual nail clippings into mixed-media pieces, while certain subcultures collect celebrity nail clippings as ultimate memorabilia. Though scientifically valueless, these collections represent extreme forms of human material preservation.
Ethical Considerations and Regulation
The use of human biological material raises complex ethical questions about consent, dignity, and commercialization. Modern medical use generally requires informed consent and follows strict regulatory oversight, but historical practices often involved no consent whatsoever.
Current regulations vary globally, with some countries allowing payment for plasma and sperm donation while others prohibit any commercial exchange of human material. The World Health Organization provides guidelines for human tissue donation and transplantation, emphasizing voluntary donation and non-commercialization principles.
Religious and cultural perspectives on using human remains differ dramatically. While some traditions view the body as sacred and requiring specific burial practices, others see beneficial use of human material as honoring the deceased through continued service to humanity.
The commercial aspects of human-derived products create uncomfortable ethical territory. While few object to life-saving blood transfusions, the commodification of human material for cosmetics or novelty items challenges concepts of human dignity and appropriate bodily autonomy.
The Future of Human-Derived Products
Advances in biotechnology continue expanding possibilities for products sourced from the human body. Cultured human cells can now produce complex biological products without requiring continuous human donation, potentially addressing supply shortages while maintaining the beneficial properties of human-derived materials.
3D bioprinting using human cells promises to create replacement tissues and organs, potentially eliminating waiting lists for transplant patients. These technologies blur the line between human-derived and artificially created products, offering the benefits of human biological material without the ethical complications of donation and extraction.
Conclusion
The 25 products sourced from the human body presented here represent humanity’s complex relationship with our own mortality and physicality. From essential medical treatments that save millions of lives to bizarre historical curiosities that challenge our sensibilities, these products demonstrate our species’ remarkable capacity for innovation, reverence, exploitation, and creativity.
While many historical uses of human material now seem barbaric or superstitious, they remind us that our current medical miracles built upon centuries of experimentation and gradual understanding. The blood transfusions and tissue transplants that seem routine today would have appeared as magical to previous generations as diamond-making from ashes might seem to us.
As biotechnology advances, the line between human-derived and artificially created products continues blurring, potentially offering the benefits of human biological material without the ethical complexities of using actual human remains or secretions. Whether we’re honoring the dead through memorial diamonds or saving lives through donated organs, products sourced from the human body reflect our deepest values about life, death, dignity, and the meaning of human existence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are products made from human remains legal to buy and sell?
The legality varies significantly by jurisdiction and product type. Medical products like blood components and tissue grafts are heavily regulated but legal with proper oversight. Memorial items like diamonds from ashes are generally legal, while products from human remains without consent are typically prohibited. Always check local laws before purchasing such items.
How do companies ensure the safety of medical products derived from human material?
Medical products undergo extensive screening and testing protocols. Blood donations are tested for infectious diseases, tissue grafts are processed under sterile conditions, and donor screening includes detailed health histories. Regulatory agencies like the FDA in the United States oversee these processes to ensure safety standards are maintained.
What’s the difference between historical and modern uses of human-derived products?
Modern uses generally require informed consent, follow safety protocols, and serve legitimate medical or memorial purposes. Historical uses often occurred without consent, lacked safety measures, and sometimes reflected superstitious beliefs rather than scientific evidence. Today’s products are regulated and ethically overseen in ways that historical practices were not.
Can I donate my body parts for commercial use while alive?
Living donation is possible for renewable materials like blood, plasma, and sometimes bone marrow or part of the liver. However, most tissue donations occur after death. Commercial aspects vary by location—some areas compensate plasma donors while others only allow unpaid donation. Organ donation for transplant is never commercial.
Are there synthetic alternatives to human-derived medical products?
Many synthetic alternatives exist or are in development. Recombinant DNA technology produces synthetic versions of hormones once extracted from human cadavers. Artificial blood substitutes are being researched, and lab-grown tissues may eventually replace donated human tissue for some applications. However, some products like whole blood still require human donors.
How much do memorial products made from human remains typically cost?
Memorial diamonds from ashes cost $2,000-$20,000 depending on size and quality. Human hair jewelry might range from $50-$500 for simple pieces. Custom memorial items incorporating ashes into art or building materials vary widely based on complexity and materials used. These products generally cost more than conventional alternatives due to their specialized nature and emotional significance.