Even though the term “snake oil” evokes images of charlatan salesmen making outlandish claims about the benefits of their elixirs, therapeutic snake oil had actual health benefits.
Originally snake oil was made from the oil of the Chinese water snake, which contains omega-3 acids, which works as an anti-inflammatory agent. In the 1800s, thousands of Chinese immigrants arrived in the United States to work on the Transcontinental Railroad. With them they brought snake oil, which they rubbed into their joints to treat swelling, arthritis and bursitis after long workdays. The word of snake oil’s effectiveness spread, and people began to wonder how they could produce their own snake oil. Enter the rattlesnake.
Clark Stanley, a former Texas cowboy, became The Rattlesnake King. He claimed that he studied with a Hopi medicine man in Arizona for two years and learned the secret of snake oil. He attended the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, where he would take a live snake, slice it open, drop it in boiling water and then skim the fat off the top to create Stanley’s Snake Oil, a topical liniment. People snapped up the product after the demonstrations.
The problem with rattlesnake oil is that is doesn’t have high levels of
omega-3 acids, so it does not help with inflammation, so it would never have been effective against joint pain. But that wasn’t the biggest problem with Clark Stanley’s snake oil. When Pure Food and Drug Act was passed in 1906, Stanley’s Snake Oil was tested and found to have no snake oil at all. It was mainly mineral oil which has zero effect on joint inflammation, combined with chili peppers and turpentine. Clark Stanley was a fraud and the term “snake oil” has become synonymous with fake cures and medicines.
Clark Stanley was fined $20 for misleading the public and violating the Pure Food and Drug Act.
Jeannie Watt raises cattle in Montana and loves all things western. When she's not writing, Jeannie enjoys sewing, making mosaic mirrors, riding her horses and buying hay. Lots and lots of hay.
That is so interesting!
Thank you, Rhonda. I thought so, too.
Too bad he didn’t have more peppers in it, since capsaicin is known to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Interesting to learn the history of snake oil’s etymology, the good and the bad.
Excellent point, Denise!
I always wondered where snake oil came from and now I know.
It’s sending me down a rabbit hole. Now I’m looking up other obscure things to find out origins.
Only fined $20? I’m sure that was quite a bit back then, though!
Yes–apparently it was about $250 then. Still pretty minor.
Super interesting post, Jeannie. I never knew the history behind snake oil chicanery. Now I do!
Thanks, Karen!
Lol!! Oh, my!! Interesting stuff, though!!
I agree, Trudy!
this is interesting. today $20 would not seem like very much
I looked it up and $20 would be about $250 today. Pretty much a slap on the wrist.
Very interesting, Jeannie! The weasel. Most of those cures back then were either fake or had heroin or opium in them. And then to only fine him $20!! How funny. Have a good day.
Thank you, Linda. Medicine back then could be a little scary.
Jeannie, Thank you for sharing this fascinating post!
You are welcome.
Wow, I guess there will always be scammers out there. I have heard of snake oil, but I would not try it for anything, unfortunately you never know what desperate people will try for feeling better. This is so very interesting, thank you so much for sharing it with us I am glad that guy was found to be a faker. Have a great rest of the week and stay safe.
Thank you, Alicia. I’m personally put off by the thought of rattlesnake anything.
Very interesting post. Now I know where the term snake oil came from.
I enjoyed researching it. 🙂
That’s a cool fact to know! I’m a snake-lover (I grew up in WV & caught snakes all the time… my dad taught me how to catch them without getting bit & how to tell a venomous from a non-venomous one), so most things snake-related are fascinating to me. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Yay to being a snake lover! During my Nevada years I encountered a lot of snakes, some good, some bad. I wouldn’t use any of them for oil, though.
Your post was very interesting, I enjoyed it!
Thank you, Connie!
Very interesting. That is where we must get snake oil salesperson when they talk about people who are selling products that are frauds. Thank you for sharing.
An interesting piece of information. It would be interesting to know why the Chinese water snake has the omega 3 oil and the American snakes do not. Of course what he was selling had nothing to do with snakes other than the name.
Times have changed, but there are still the gullible among us.