Be careful of the medicines you take: they could be considered illegal tomorrow. History teaches us, in fact, that some substances that were considered miraculous in the past were then banned from society. Do you want to know what they are? Read on and you will find out what medicines were in the past today highly prohibited substances, here is the story about drugs that you would never expect.
The syrup for the throat
In 1897 the discoverer of aspirin created a marvelous cough medicine. Marketed by the Bayern company, the “heroish” quickly assumed a prominent role in the medical community, being used to treat the most diverse ailments.
The medical community repeatedly praised the product as being revolutionary. And only a few pharmacists, a few in truth, going against the tide, emphasized the disturbances generated by the substance.
The drug began to spread rapidly around the world, reaching two tons per year in the United States alone. But it was in the US that the side effects of medicine began to be highlighted. The same, at very low concentrations, produced strong states of dependence in patients and, in cases of overdose, could lead to overdose.
If you are starting to link the German name of the substance to its contradictions, you are not on the wrong track. The famous “heroish”, in fact, was none other than the dreaded heroine we sadly continue to hear about even today. In 1925 the substance was banned in the USA and is currently banned in major countries around the world.
The energizing tonic
When the Spaniards invaded South America they came into contact with a particular plant. Some inhabitants of those lands used to chew its leaves to resist hunger and fatigue. The substance was imported by the Spaniards to Europe but remained in oblivion until 1800.
In 1879 the active ingredient of this plant was isolated by the German chemist Albert Niemann and used as an anesthetic. Employed for pharmaceutical and psychotherapeutic purposes, the substance began to spread and gain fame in the medical community.
Prestigious personalities, including Sigmund Freud, began to use and prescribe it. And it was also advertised in the very famous Sherlock Holmes novels. It even began to be used in drinks. Well, very few know, but this substance was the basis of the first version of the Coke, the beloved drink of our days.
It was not until 1920 that the first studies on the negative effects of this drug began. The latter, in fact, caused in patients a very strong addiction and also hallucinogenic problems. Surely you have already understood. We are talking about cocaine, one of the most feared drugs in the world and now prohibited in much of the world.
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