1. Cocaine as a Cure-All
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, cocaine was sold over the counter as a pick-me-up and a remedy for toothaches, fatigue, and even depression, according to Traci Pedersen from Healthline. You could find it in lozenges, tonics, and even Coca-Cola. Doctors praised its energizing effects and recommended it for everything from morphine withdrawal to hay fever. Sigmund Freud famously called it a “magical drug.”
But magical quickly turned to dangerous. Addiction, hallucinations, and violent behavior were common side effects. Still, it took years before regulators clamped down. It wasn’t until the Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914 that cocaine’s casual use began to decline.
2. Bloodletting to Balance the Humors
The idea behind bloodletting was that illnesses came from “imbalanced humors,” and draining blood would set things right. From George Washington’s final illness to everyday headaches, leeches or lances were used to tap a vein. It was messy, painful, and often fatal, especially since infection risk was high. Yet for centuries, Americans saw it as standard practice, according to Rachael Zimlich from Healthline.
Doctors could remove several pints of blood in one sitting—sometimes until the patient fainted. They believed more was better, and too much blood was the root of all sorts of ailments. Unsurprisingly, this often made things worse, not better. Washington reportedly lost over half his blood before dying from a throat infection that might’ve been survivable.
3. Mercury for Just About Everything
Back in the 18th and 19th centuries, mercury was a go-to “cure” for just about everything, according to Lydia Kang and Nate Pedersen from Science Friday. People believed this shimmering liquid metal could purge illness from the body—never mind that it’s a neurotoxin. Patients were given it in pills, ointments, and even vapor form. Some treatments led to tremors, kidney failure, and even death.
It was common for symptoms of mercury poisoning to be mistaken as signs of illness getting worse, so doctors doubled down on the dose. Imagine losing your teeth and hair from the very thing meant to make you better. Even kids weren’t spared—mercury-based teething powders were once popular. It took years before science finally stepped in to say, “Hey, maybe stop feeding people poison.”
4. Heroin for Coughs and Kids
Yes, you read that right—heroin was once marketed as a non-addictive alternative to morphine and even recommended for children with coughs. Bayer, the same company known today for aspirin, sold it in the early 1900s. It was advertised as a way to soothe the throat and promote restful sleep. Parents genuinely believed they were helping their children.
Heroin turned out to be even more addictive than morphine. Instead of calming a cough, it created a new generation of addicts. The fallout was enormous and forced a national rethinking of drug safety. Eventually, heroin was pulled from shelves, but not before the damage was done.
5. Arsenic Pills for a Healthy Glow
In the 19th century, arsenic was used in small doses to supposedly improve complexion and boost vitality, according to Becky Little from National Geographic. It was sold as a beauty aid, especially to women who wanted pale, smooth skin. Users swore it made them look younger and feel stronger. The pills were often sold under innocent-sounding names like “Dr. James P. Campbell’s Safe Arsenic Complexion Wafers.”
The problem? Arsenic builds up in the body and causes vomiting, organ failure, and cancer. People didn’t immediately connect the dots because symptoms appeared gradually. By the time side effects kicked in, it was often too late to stop the damage.
6. Radioactive Water as a Tonic
In the early 20th century, Americans went wild for radium-infused drinks, believing radiation had revitalizing powers. Products like Radithor were marketed to boost energy, libido, and overall health. Wealthy businessmen and athletes were especially drawn to these “miracle” drinks. One famous user, industrialist Eben Byers, reportedly drank multiple bottles a day.
Byers eventually died a gruesome death—his bones literally deteriorated from the inside out. Parts of his jaw fell off, and he had to be buried in a lead-lined coffin. The tragic irony? Radithor was advertised as “harmless in every respect.” After his death in 1932, public perception finally shifted and radium tonics faded away.
7. Smoking as a Respiratory Remedy
It’s hard to believe now, but doctors once recommended smoking to treat asthma and bronchitis. Tobacco smoke was thought to open up the lungs and reduce coughing. Some even promoted herbal cigarettes as a safer, medicinal option. In the 1930s and 1940s, cigarette ads featured physicians in lab coats giving their seal of approval.
Smoking was also said to help with weight loss and nerves. Ironically, people with respiratory problems were handed the very thing that worsened their condition. By the time lung cancer rates skyrocketed in the mid-20th century, the damage had already been done. It took the Surgeon General’s warning in 1964 to officially declare smoking dangerous.
8. Electric Belts for Vitality
In the late 1800s, electric belts were sold as wearable miracle machines, claiming to cure impotence, fatigue, and even back pain. The belts delivered mild shocks to the body under the promise of “recharging” the user’s health. They were heavily marketed to men, tapping into fears about masculinity and aging. Some even claimed to cure infertility.
In reality, they were gimmicks at best and dangerous at worst. Users risked burns and nerve damage, especially from poorly made devices. Still, many swore by them—placebo effect or not. It was only when regulation of medical devices improved that these fell out of favor.
9. Lobotomies for Mental Illness
Introduced in the 1930s, lobotomies were hailed as a breakthrough for treating mental illness, from depression to schizophrenia. The procedure involved severing connections in the brain’s frontal lobe—sometimes with an ice pick through the eye socket. Dr. Walter Freeman, a leading lobotomy advocate, performed thousands across the U.S. Patients often left more docile, but also deeply impaired.
Side effects included personality changes, cognitive decline, and in some cases, death. Still, for years it was considered progressive medicine. The practice only waned when antipsychotic drugs like Thorazine became available in the 1950s. Today, it’s remembered as one of psychiatry’s darkest chapters.
10. Tapeworm Diet Pills
Want to lose weight? In the early 1900s, some Americans were encouraged to swallow tapeworm eggs in pill form. The idea was that the parasite would eat your food for you, keeping you slim without effort. Ads even featured women joyfully showing off their “flat stomachs” thanks to their internal hitchhikers.
Of course, the reality was much grimmer. Tapeworms can grow up to 30 feet and cause malnutrition, intestinal blockages, and even death. Worse, they’re hard to fully eliminate once inside you. This “diet plan” was a literal case of the cure being worse than the disease.
11. Turpentine for Parasites and Pain
Yes, people used to drink turpentine—the same stuff used to thin paint—as a folk remedy. It was believed to kill parasites, clear out mucus, and treat joint pain. Some even rubbed it on their skin or inhaled the fumes. In certain parts of rural America, turpentine was practically a household staple.
Small doses were seen as “safe” by old-timers, but medical science strongly disagrees. Turpentine is toxic and can cause kidney damage, respiratory failure, and chemical burns. Even so, the myth of its healing powers lingered well into the 20th century. Today, any internal use is strictly considered poisoning.
12. Vinegar Soaks for Lead Poisoning
Before modern chelation therapy, some doctors believed that soaking patients in vinegar—or having them drink it—could treat lead poisoning. The acidic properties of vinegar were thought to draw out “toxins.” It was used particularly in children exposed to lead paint or contaminated water. Parents followed this advice, hoping for a miracle.
Unfortunately, vinegar doesn’t neutralize lead, and the damage it causes to the brain and organs often became permanent. Worse, this remedy delayed real treatment in many cases. Lead poisoning symptoms—like developmental delays—were often misdiagnosed or ignored. It’s a sobering reminder of how desperate people were for any kind of solution.
