Revolting Remedies
Homebrew Medicines
With doctors few and far between, many people relied on homemade remedies to treat illnesses. These concoctions often included ingredients like turpentine, kerosene, and whiskey. While some home remedies might have provided temporary relief, most were ineffective or downright dangerous. The line between medicine and poison was often blurred.
Patent Medicines
Patent medicines were all the rage in the Wild West, marketed with grandiose claims and colorful labels. These over-the-counter remedies were usually mixtures of alcohol, opium, and various herbs. While they might have provided a temporary high, they did little to actually cure diseases. Addiction to these “medicines” was a common problem, adding to the woes of frontier life.
