Summary: This article deconstructs the myth of "snake oil," tracing its history from a legitimate traditional remedy hijacked by fraudsters to its modern-day reclamation as a potent anti-inflammatory source. It draws a direct parallel between the snake oil salesmen of the 1800s and the practices of the modern pharmaceutical industry, which it labels "Snake Oil 2.0."
Key Points & Notes:
The Origin of the "Snake Oil" Myth:
The term comes from 1800s salesmen who sold fraudulent concoctions for arthritis, pain, and digestive issues.
A key figure was Clark Stanley, who was fined $20 (≈$600 today) for selling "snake oil" that contained no actual snake oil.
This incident branded all natural remedies as fraudulent, coinciding with the rise of the new pharmaceutical industry.
The Truth About Historical Snake Oil:
Real snake oil was originally imported from China by railroad workers for its potent effects on pain and arthritis.
It was made from the Chinese water snake, which is very high in Omega-3s, not the less potent American rattlesnake.
The 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act was created to fight food and drug adulteration.
The Modern "Snake Oil Salesman": Big Pharma 2.0
The definition: entities committing health fraud with dangerous, counterfeit, falsely marketed products based on pseudoscience.
Tactics used then and now:
Shills: Then: plants in the crowd. Now: paid scientists and experts.
Fraud & Corruption: Big Pharma has paid hundreds of billions in criminal fraud settlements.
Dangerous Products: Drugs like Vioxx were marketed as safe but later found to have killed tens of thousands.
Lack of Transparency & Data Manipulation.
Manufacturing Diseases: The number of recognized diseases grew from ~200 in 1900 to 17,000 today, often voted into existence (e.g., psychiatric diagnoses) without objective testing, creating a "cash cow."
The SSRI Example: The chemical imbalance theory for depression was never proven, making these multi-billion dollar drugs based on a "false claim."
Other Issues: Exaggerated benefits, minimized side effects, liability protection (e.g., vaccines), and extreme price manipulation (e.g., insulin).
Conclusion:
"Big Pharma is snake oil 2.0... legalized snake oil salespeople who are FDA approved."
The Real Benefits of Authentic Snake Oil (The Superfood):
It is one of the richest known sources of EPA (a type of Omega-3), even more than fish or salmon oil.
How EPA Works: Unlike drugs that block enzymes, EPA changes the body's internal ecosystem from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory, without the side effects.
Proven Benefits of EPA:
Potent anti-inflammatory for arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, and autoimmune diseases.
Acts as a natural antidepressant.
Decreases heart attack risk by 25%.
Reduces risk of fibrosis (scar tissue) in the liver, heart, and brain.
Increases insulin sensitivity (great for diabetics).
Decreases risk of autoimmunity and can improve existing conditions.
May help decrease tumors by improving immune regulation.
It can be used topically on joints for localized relief.
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