In modern society, the term "snake oil" is almost synonymous with "health scam." But did you know that real snake oil is actually a superfood with immense potential ? This article will begin with its history, dismantling the origins of misconceptions about snake oil, addressing the problems within the modern medical system, and ultimately helping you rediscover this overlooked natural treasure.
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🧪 The historical connection between snake oil and "health scams"
The term "snake oil salesman" first appeared in the United States in the 1800s, when many people sold "miracle potions" that claimed to cure all diseases, including snake oil. They used snake oil as a treatment for problems such as arthritis, pain, and indigestion, but the problem was thatmany of these products did not contain any real snake oil at all.
For example, Clark Stanley wasonceknown for selling snake oil, which, after government testing, was found to contain no snake oil at all. Although he was only fined $ 20(equivalent to about HK$400-500 today) , thisincident made "snake oil" a synonym for "fraudulent natural remedies."
At the same time, this period coincided with a power struggle between traditional herbal remedies and emerging pharmaceutical companies . The attack on natural products like snake oil conveniently benefited pharmaceutical companies in promoting their new products —pills, chemically synthesized drugs, and patented therapies.
But the fact is, China has long used snake oil as a traditional remedy for joint pain and inflammation. Chinese laborers building railroads in the United States relied on water snake oil from China to relieve pain and inflammation after long hours of labor.
💊 The "snake oil" phenomenon hasn't disappeared; it's just changed its packaging.
While the days of "snake oil salesmen" are long gone, the current pharmaceutical and health supplement market, to some extent, continues the same pattern.This involves exaggerated claims about efficacy and minimized side effects,massive funding for "purchased research" and expert endorsements; or...Creating "new disease names" to develop more drug markets,such as SSRIs(antidepressants), whose "chemical imbalance theory" has never actually been proven.Even worse, some drugs were pulled from the market only after causing tens of thousands of deaths (such as Vioxx).Many government departments even have conflicts of interest with pharmaceutical companies.
However, truly natural and research-proven effective treatments are often labeled as "pseudoscience" or "snake oil," causing people to miss out on truly beneficial options.
🧠 The absurdity of modern medicine: from psychiatric diagnosis to school psychological screening
Certain aspects of psychiatric medicine have also drawn widespread criticism.The definition of mental illness is determined by a "vote," and the number of illnesses has surged fromabout 200in 1900to more than 17,000 today.
The school's mental health screening system seems to have become a "recruitment channel" for psychiatrists.These practices are pushing more and more people into a cycle of drug treatment, rather than improving their mental and physical health through lifestyle, diet, or natural methods.
🐍 Back to "real snake oil": what is it actually?
So, what exactly is real snake oil?
The original snake oil comes from Chinese water snakes and contains extremely high levels of Omega-3fatty acids, especially EPA(eicosapentaenoic acid), with a content even exceeding that of common supplements such as fish oil and salmon oil.
What are the benefits of the EPA ?
Unlike drugs that inhibit specific enzymes to reduce inflammation , EPA modulates the body's overall inflammatory response mechanism, converting pro-inflammatory substances into anti-inflammatory substances. This meansit does not produce the common side effects of drugs andis a natural, potent anti-inflammatory ingredient.
- It is significantly helpful for arthritis, bursitis, and autoimmune diseases;
- It can even improve symptoms of depression and is considered a natural antidepressant;
- It can reduce the risk of heart disease by up to 25%;
- Prevent fibrosis (scar tissue) in the liver, heart, and brain.
- Improves insulin sensitivity and helps control blood sugar;
- It has a significant alleviating effect on patients with autoimmune diseases;
- It helps regulate the immune system and reduce the risk of tumors.
- It can also be applied externally — apply it directly to the painful jointsto relieve inflammation!
✅ Conclusion: Snake oil should not be misunderstood.
Perhaps we should think about it from the other side:
🔹 In the past, the term "snake oil" was used to suppress natural therapies and traditional Chinese medicine.
🔹 Modern pharmaceutical companies are doing something similar, only with more elaborate packaging and on a larger scale.
🔹 However, truly scientifically based natural remedies, such as Chinese water snake oil, have been stigmatized, causing people to miss their true value.
Perhaps the real "snake oil" is never the problem; the problem is the vested interests that try to monopolize health information and treatment options.
Check out the most popular Omega-3 supplements here 👉🏻: https://iherb.prf.hn/l/2Mp2320/
High quality doesn't have to be expensive! Over a hundred iHerb products are up to 25% off compared to other stores, and with lightning-fast 8-hour delivery!
YouTube source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v98SwyH_obg
YouTube Column: Dr. Berg's Chinese Health Knowledge
