So the Only Snake Oil That Works Is, Um, Snake Oil
November 1, 2007 by Sara Ost
Filed under Medical History, Medicine, Oddities, Treatment
Snakes have been getting a bad rap since that whole Eve debacle. While woman hath borne the brunt of oppression and scrunchies, the snake has become synonymous with all that is deceitful, fake, and worthless. As it turns out, snake oil offers real medicinal value, and you don’t even have to eat an apple. I like underdogs and I like underbellies even better. Let’s explore the ins and outs of snake oil, shall we? (You’re so lucky I didn’t work serpentine into that sentence, because I totally could have.)
Snake Oil: A History
Back when Chinese immigrants were building our railroads faster, better, and stronger than all the drunk white guys – for great perquisites like less pay, death, and abuse – they would often share snake oil with each other to relieve the aches and pains of hard labor. (Or so the story goes.) The advent of the “snake oil” industry soon developed legs: as with any money-maker with few barriers to entry, the 1800s health care market was flooded with faux products shilled by unscrupulous traveling salesmen. The huckster connotation of the term “snake oil” continues to this day.
Enter modern research on actual snake oil. Snake oil is rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), one of the best forms of Omega-3 fatty acids. All cold-blooded animals, such as fish and reptiles, carry Omega-3s in their bodies because saturated fat would harden in cold conditions. Also, God ran out of olive oil that day.
For humans, the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids are well-documented in scientific literature and include mood enhancement, alleviation of depression and some mental disorders, lowered blood pressure, reduced LDL (evil) cholesterol, reduced inflammation, and improved joint health. Here’s the newest finding: Chinese water snakes contain more Omega-3s than the very best wild salmon and top-grade fish oil supplements. You know what this means, don’t you?
Snake oil is going to come full…circle.
HT: Melissa
Graphic: The Key Lime
Bonus (duh): and then there’s this guy. Prepare your peepers…
WTF?
- via T.M.I.
Poor snakes… I hope they bit him a few times…
The Snake On picture made me laugh out loud.