The Bizarre Story of How the Term “Snake Oil” Came to Describe a Quack Remedy

The term "snake oil" is now synonymous with fraudulent or ineffective health products, but its origins are much more surprising.

In the mid-1800s, Chinese immigrants working on the Transcontinental Railroad brought with them a traditional remedy made from the oil of the Chinese water snake.

The oil, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, was believed to have anti-inflammatory properties and was used to treat joint pain, making it an effective remedy for the railroad workers.

But here’s where things get bizarre. As the remedy gained attention, opportunistic snake oil salesmen in America jumped on the bandwagon, claiming their own versions of snake oil could cure everything from joint pain to asthma.

The problem? These snake oil "remedies" often contained little or no actual snake oil, and were typically filled with alcohol, camphor, and mineral oil.

One of the most famous snake oil salesmen was Clark Stanley, the “Rattlesnake King.”

In the late 1800s, Stanley marketed a product called “Snake Oil Liniment,” claiming it could heal a wide variety of ailments.

In reality, it contained little more than mineral oil and camphor.

Eventually, Stanley’s product was investigated, and in 1917, the U.S. government found that it contained no snake oil at all. Stanley was fined for misleading the public, and "snake oil" quickly became a term for any fake remedy.

Today, the term is a reminder of the dangers of deceptive health claims.

While the original snake oil may have had some real medicinal uses, the fraudulent marketing of fake versions cemented its place in history as a symbol of quackery.