Health care in American society used to be a lot simpler and a lot weirder than it is today. Our ancestors have experimented with many different kinds of foods, drinks, and home remedies to try and stay healthy for centuries. They brewed teas, stirred up homemade tonics, and relied on remedies that sound bizarre to us now. Some of them actually worked. Many just soothed. But all of them show how our ancestors met sickness with ingenuity and old ways. Read on to find out about 12 such practices Americans took seriously.
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Raw eggs in milk
Raw eggs and milk were thought to be an instant pick-me-up long before protein shakes were sold in packets. Weightlifters and athletes gulped them down as a sure fire way to gain strength and muscle. They accepted the chance of getting sick because they wanted the potion’s benefits.
Cigarette health brands
Once upon a time, not long ago, American Tobacco claimed doctors approved cigarettes. Lucky Strike ads included claims from tens of thousands of physicians who said the brand was “less irritating” to the throat. Smokers trusted the endorsements and puffed with a measure of health reassurance. These days, the very notion seems scandalous, but at the time, cigarettes were frequently associated with health.
Coca-Cola as a medicine
If you wanted some Coca-Cola towards the end of the 19th century, you couldn’t just grab a six-pack from the grocery store. You had to go to a pharmacy. Coca-Cola was sold as a medicinal tonic.
Drug-store pharmacists dispensed it at soda fountains. And it was advertised more like a medicine than a beverage. The sweet syrup and sugar weren’t seen as the empty calories they are now, but as ingredients that contributed to its medicinal value. No one was chugging the cola just for the taste.
Radium water
Can you imagine drinking radioactive water? In the early 1900s, people did. They thought it could help with energy and combat fatigue, even treat certain illnesses. Pharmacies bottled it up. Spa-goers sipped it, like a miracle elixir. The problem was, they didn’t know the radiation could hurt them.
Snake oil
Snake oil became popular as a universal cure during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Ads boasted that it could relieve aches and pains, reduce swelling, and cure chronic conditions. Some products contained mineral oil, or herbs from exotic locations. Consumers read glowing reviews and testimonials, and believed. While most snake oils were scams, a few formulas did contain useful oils.
Brown sugar and butter mixtures
Brown sugar and butter weren’t just sweet treats; they were thought to be cures. Many thought that this delicious mixture would soothe throats and reduce coughing. In retrospect it’s kind of humorous, but also indicative of how families took care of themselves with home remedies.
Cod liver oil
Cod liver oil was a staple of American households. It was a sign of good health. You will find that your parents and grandparents believed it built strong bones. They thought it provided clear vision. It was an acquired taste, but a trusted staple for decades. We have progressed to capsules and vitamin pills. But cod liver oil will take you back to the past.
Magnetized water
Russian doctors have for thirty years used magnetized water as a remedy for nervous, urinary and digestive diseases. The patients were given the magnetized water to drink. This is an example of both traditional and experimental medicine, since patients drank the water as a possible cure.
Beef tea
Beef tea was made by boiling beef in water to make a strong brew. It was commonly recommended in hospitals and for people recovering from illness at home, as it was thought to provide easily digestible nutrients.
Peanut oil massages
In some regions of America, people didn’t only cook with peanut oil. It was also applied topically, as part of a skin rub. Many families massaged their bodies with it, in the belief that it enhanced circulation and relieved aches. Some parents massaged children with it, with the aim of stimulating growth and warding off colds. Though not backed by science, the ritual became part of household health traditions.
Coffee enemas
Coffee doesn’t only wake you up in the morning. It was also used as an enema. The idea was that it purified the body and enhanced liver function. It may sound extreme, but it actually had devotees for years. Doctors insist that there’s no scientific evidence supporting it, however.
Apple cider vinegar
One 19th-century American folk remedy that has seen a recent resurgence is apple cider vinegar. Many people drank it as a tonic to stave off illness and aid digestion and energy. It’s an example of how households used basic materials when professional medical care was hard to access.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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