27 Comments

Great read! It seems genuine snake oil is helpful, and then there’s the fakers trying to get rich off this valuable discovery. Interesting how supplements which have proven efficacy like say kratom an herb from Malaysia but the fda figured it out and there’s bans in various states here in USA 🇺🇸 and around the world. It really is a wonder herb for pain, lack of motivation helps with alcoholism, increases focus and attention span. A real cure all so let’s ban it.

Typical if they can’t control profits they ban it rather than allowing people to get real help.

Thanks

Sorry for rambling on.

Peace

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It's really tough for regulators to balance the forces of safety and efficacy even without the profit motive creeping in, but I agree: that messes everything up.

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Don't fret about regulations, good sir.

With any luck, RFK will soon bring the good old snake oil back, baby!

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Yeah, but none of that sissy snake oil that only makes you see god for like 5 minutes.

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Where did the Chinese in America get the snakes they made their snake oil from?

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It seems like they brought the oil over, so the extraction was already done.

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"The job that first comes to your mind is probably building railroads, a grinding gig where you traded in years of good health in exchange for a dollar per day (white people were typically paid more than double). This work was physically risky—hundreds of Chinese workers died simply because they were considered expendable."

Canada's own Gordon Lightfoot documented this in song in his "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" from the 1960s. He was specific on saying that the navvies (as they were called) were working for "a dollar a day/and a place for my head..."

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David, I always appreciate these additional anecdotes! That's a good one.

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I'm down! I love being able to discover the darker side of our history. It's nice that there are folks who want to remember things as they truly happened. Growing up in the 80s was very much not this.

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For a grisly double feature check the Donner Memorial museum just down the mountain. Yum, I wonder if eating people has health benefits. There is also really good ice cream for sale in a little shack between the two. My fam rule is eat ice cream after historical trauma.

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I feel like that's a very good rule. You've earned that ice cream.

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We did Auschwitz and Birkenau and more on a roots trip through Eastern Europe. Ice cream every frikkin day. Not enough ice cream tbh.

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Oh man. I think Auchwitz would be a lot for me. We saw the DC Holocaust Museum, and even that was a lot. It was very meaningful and good to do, though, and I think I'll go one day.

Might need some Junior Mints too.

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It is a lot and you still have to do it. My mom is a holocaust survivor. You have to see it.

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Very interesting that original snake oil had omega 3. And important to know about the lack of oversight on supplements. Particularly about safety.

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Yes! It's not like it's classified or top secret, but I would also say that it's not common knowledge (the lack of regulation, I mean).

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And there’s an assumption that they’re safe because they’re natural!

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Just like arsenic, cyanide, and fusion! Nothing but nature, baby.

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A lot of the early concoctions included Laudanum (a mixture of opium and high-proof alcohol), even for 'medicines' meant for children. Of course it did not cure you, but you did not mind the pain so much!

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"Mommy, I can't feel my face."

"Does your tummy hurt any more, though?"

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🤣

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