The Washington Post Claims Parasite Cleanses are "Modern Snake Oil"
Obama denounced Dr Oz a "Snake Oil Peddler" last month
Have you ever wondered WHY "Snake Oil"
is used as an insult?
What have SNAKES done in their lives to be associated with Charlatans & Fraudsters?
Obama denounced Dr Oz a "Snake Oil Peddler" last month
Have you ever wondered WHY "Snake Oil"
is used as an insult?
What have SNAKES done in their lives to be associated with Charlatans & Fraudsters?
See, the answers to these questions lie in 1800s America, when the Chinese helped build the very first railroads
After a long day of work, it was common to see them using snake oil to help with their aches & pains
It wasn't just any snake oil though...
It wasn't just any snake oil though...
It was harvested from Erabu sea snake — lauded for it's high omega 3 content and antioxidant properties, said to cure arthritis
They were topically applying Omega 3s BEFORE the scientific studies proving its benefits
They were topically applying Omega 3s BEFORE the scientific studies proving its benefits
It was effective.
Word spread quickly and very soon it was widely known as a powerful natural remedy
While snake oil products started to surface, many were still skeptical of Eastern medicine
Word spread quickly and very soon it was widely known as a powerful natural remedy
While snake oil products started to surface, many were still skeptical of Eastern medicine
One man saw this as an opportunity to make some money
He created a snake oil product based off a Native American Tribe instead, revolving around the American Rattlesnake
And so, THE RATTLESNAKE KING was born.
He created a snake oil product based off a Native American Tribe instead, revolving around the American Rattlesnake
And so, THE RATTLESNAKE KING was born.
Clark Stanley's Snake Oil Liniment became THE Snake Oil product primarily because of this ONE unorthodox sales strategy
A cowboy turned businessman, Stanley would travel across the country performing medicine shows to promote his oil
A cowboy turned businessman, Stanley would travel across the country performing medicine shows to promote his oil
A cowboy by trade, Clark Stanley was the original "Greatest Showman"
He would BEHEAD these snakes live and utilize a secret technique to extract the oil
He would speak about the tremendous benefits of snake oil like it was gospel
He would BEHEAD these snakes live and utilize a secret technique to extract the oil
He would speak about the tremendous benefits of snake oil like it was gospel
The people loved him. Snake oil sales went through the roof.
This unorthodox showmanship strategy expanded the business rapidly, and he became of the most prominent figures in 19th century American commerce.
This unorthodox showmanship strategy expanded the business rapidly, and he became of the most prominent figures in 19th century American commerce.
Alternative medicinal treatments like his were gaining popularity in the late 1800s / early 1900s
While some had tangible benefits, others were nothing but placebo and their creators were profiting off the lack of proper medical care
While some had tangible benefits, others were nothing but placebo and their creators were profiting off the lack of proper medical care
So much so there was an exposé published in the Collier’s — a popular lifestyle magazine of the time
The growing skepticism and persistent fraud led to the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906 that clamped on the sales of these "Patent Medicines", especially ones that contained drugs & alcohol
This bill was one of the first dominoes that led to the formation of the FDA itself
This bill was one of the first dominoes that led to the formation of the FDA itself
While Stanley's snake oil was not directly implicated by the act itself, routine checks on patent medicines only increased in the coming years
In 1917, they tested Stanley's snake oil and what they found was horrific
In 1917, they tested Stanley's snake oil and what they found was horrific
It contained ZERO snake oil. It was merely a mixture of animal fat, turpentine, capsicum and a myriad of spices.
Stanley was fined and his reputation destroyed. This is the main reason WHY the term "snake oil" has a bad connotation today.
Did the snake oil actually work though?
Stanley was fined and his reputation destroyed. This is the main reason WHY the term "snake oil" has a bad connotation today.
Did the snake oil actually work though?
Studies done in the 80s proved that snake oil (the Chinese one in particular) was a concentrated source of EPA (type of omega 3)
"Chinese snake oil contains 20% EPA, Rattlesnakes contains 8.5% EPA & Salmon, a popular source of omega 3s, contains 18% EPA"
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
"Chinese snake oil contains 20% EPA, Rattlesnakes contains 8.5% EPA & Salmon, a popular source of omega 3s, contains 18% EPA"
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Japanese studies were also done to show that the oil rendered from the erabu was indeed a rich source of omega 3s
It improved mice’s swimming endurance and maze learning abilities
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
It improved mice’s swimming endurance and maze learning abilities
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
This proves that there was TANGIBLE health benefits to snake oil, even before science proved it to be the case
It’s name was just tarnished by bad actors (Stanley in particular) who wanted to make a quick buck and sold garbage disguised as snake oil
It’s name was just tarnished by bad actors (Stanley in particular) who wanted to make a quick buck and sold garbage disguised as snake oil
While the term may never lose its association with fraud, this is a prime example why we should never label anything alternative as merely “snake oil”
There is real merit to “alternative medicine”and we cannot blindly follow the mainstream narrative — which can change on a dime
There is real merit to “alternative medicine”and we cannot blindly follow the mainstream narrative — which can change on a dime
Even in ripe 2022, we have a dysfunctional food pyramid. Cholesterol is demonized. Vegetable oils are recommended by health professionals.
It’s “alternative” to suggest a diet filled with eggs & red meat; what we’ve been eating for eons.
It’s “alternative” to suggest a diet filled with eggs & red meat; what we’ve been eating for eons.
However, we have to understand that there will always be a risk with bad actors and to scrutinize ANY product we see fairly, and without bias (DYOR)
Even today, there's always some new concoction of some product that's lauded as the next best thing
Even today, there's always some new concoction of some product that's lauded as the next best thing
Maybe this fascination stems from man's wish for a "limitless pill" — for there to be one magical substance that once taken eliminates all ailments and boosts vitality. The Fountain of Youth. Eternal Health.
Will there ever be such a substance?
Will there ever be such a substance?
Maybe. But as far as I know, it does not exist. It is also a disservice and an insult to think of your body in that lens — that such a complex & profound organism could be "fixed" with one tablespoon.
The reality of the situation is that the body is made up of more moving parts that you can possibly imagine
For optimal function, there needs to be a lifestyle curated for peak performance — there is no other shortcut
For optimal function, there needs to be a lifestyle curated for peak performance — there is no other shortcut
No matter what you do for work, there needs to be conscious effort applied in two key areas:
(1) The things you put in your mouth
(2) Your daily human activity
i.e. the capability of your body in moving through time & space
(1) The things you put in your mouth
(2) Your daily human activity
i.e. the capability of your body in moving through time & space
"Snake oil" and other potent medicinal aids like black seed oil are simply pieces of the puzzle that are on the perimeter
The main bulk and key levers to pull come from fixing your nutrition and overhauling your lifestyle. Always look at the ROOT CAUSE.
The main bulk and key levers to pull come from fixing your nutrition and overhauling your lifestyle. Always look at the ROOT CAUSE.
If you’ve enjoyed the read, RT first tweet to undo the harms of The Rattlesnake King and give much-needed props to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) 🐉 🥂
Follow @optimal_LD ⛽
Follow @optimal_LD ⛽
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