Believe it or not, bird poo is one of Japan's ancient and time-honored remedies for reversing the hands of time.

Of course, we're not just talking about any old bird poo, but rather the dried droppings of the Japanese bush warbler (鶯; uguisu) or Cettia diphone, a common bird with a distinctive breeding call that is viewed by the Japanese as a herald of the spring.

Drab in color and somewhat secretive by nature, these birds are very difficult to see amongst the foliage in the trees - or amongst the concrete and steel in the cities - though their pleasant chirping sounds are unmistakable.

And so is their poo!

The droppings of the Japanese bush warbler contain an enzyme that has been used for centuries as both a skin-whitening agent, and as a remedy for fine wrinkles. This special bird poo can even remove stains from kimonos without damaging the silk fabric!

While Japan might have lost a fair measure of its history and culture through rapid modernization, an increasing minority is trying to reintroduce the secrets of old. As a result, uguisu powder is making a big comeback, especially at a time when fashion and body image are at the forefront of most Japanese people's consciousness.

So what's the catch? Good question.

Bird poo, at least from the Japanese bush warbler, breaks down the melanin in your skin through enzymatic processes, which obviously leads to whiter skin.

Indeed, melanin is something that you want, especially if you're not keen on increasing your exposure to UV rays. And, it's worth emphasizing that skin bleaching - along with Michael Jackson - went out of style a few decades ago.

So, while bird poo might not be the latest and greatest beauty secret to come out of the Land of the Rising Sun, it still makes for an interesting story!

** All images courtesy of the WikiCommons Media project **