Snake Oil “Cures”
In 19th-century America, “snake oil” became synonymous with fraud—and for good reason. Traveling salesmen sold it as a panacea, promising it would cure arthritis, fevers, fatigue, baldness, and more. Many elixirs didn’t contain snake oil at all. Instead, they were packed with alcohol, cocaine, morphine, or dangerous herbs.
These tonics gave temporary relief thanks to their intoxicating ingredients, but the long-term effects included addiction, poisoning, and even death. The sheer number of victims eventually prompted the creation of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While real snake oil (from Chinese water snakes) does have anti-inflammatory properties, the snake oil Americans got was more poison than potion.
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