A few months ago, people on the internet were left in stitches after a page from a 1958 magazine advising women on how to get a husband was shared online.
The list, which included 129 entries, offered ridiculous suggestions like "have your car break down at strategic places," "stand in a corner and cry," and "get a sunburn."
While it may be hard to believe that this type of content appeared in a well-respected magazine, it's neither the first nor the last time.
This week, a much more modern magazine is under fire for making a really bizarre, and medically unproven suggestion in a recent article.
In the feature, which has now been deleted, Marie Claire magazine advised readers to use parsley if they need help to "kick-start your period."
They claim that "the herb is a mild emmenagogue," so it can stimulate or increase menstruation by softening the cervix and balancing hormones.
"If you're struggling to find a dish based on parsley, don't panic "“ the most effective forms are said to be parsley tea and parsley vaginal inserts," the article read.
Even though the magazine's claims may sound well-researched, doctors are warning against the practice of putting parsley, or any food for that matter, into the vagina.
There are numerous health issues that are far worse than a delayed period that may arise as a result of inserting foreign matter into the vagina without consulting with a medical professional.
"There is no evidence of any benefit to a woman of doing this, and clear risk of significant harm as deaths have been reported," Dr. Shazia Malik, an obstetrician-gynaecologist told The Independent. "I would urge women not to insert anything unless they have taken proper medical advice."
Dr. Sheila Newman, a New Jersey-based obstetrician-gynaecologist, also sounded the alarm on the dangers of doing something that is not recommended by gynecologists.
"There are only a few things that should go in your vagina and vegetables generally aren't one of them," she said.
Even scarier, there have been claims that parsley can be used to induce at-home abortions. Not only is there no evidence to support this, it could be fatal.
Last year, a woman in Argentina reportedly lost her life after using the herb to terminate her pregnancy.
Marie Claire has since apologized for the "misguided" article, explaining that they have removed it because it does not reflect their standards.
"Marie Claire prides itself on well researched beauty and lifestyle stories, with advice sought from appropriate industry experts "“ sadly this feature does not reflect those standards and we have removed the article. It was misguided and we are sorry our usual care and stringency was not followed," a spokesperson for the publication said.
