Weird ‘cures’ including addictive drugs for weightloss and cigarettes for asthma

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Thanks goodness for modern medicine! Vintage posters reveal the VERY bizarre cures of days gone by – including the tapeworm diet and asthma cigarettes

  • Bored Panda has shared adverts for bizarre ‘cures’ for ailments including asthma
  • The medical practices were popular at various points throughout history
  • Victorian tapeworm diet promised that you could eat without putting on weight 

By Emer Scully For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Before the invention of modern medicine, doctors used all kinds of questionable methods to treat various ailments and diseases. 

These included cigarettes for asthma, mosquitoes for syphilis and a dangerous tapeworm diet. 

US-based website BoredPanda has collected adverts for strange medical practices that were popular in the past.

Elsewhere it was revealed that H. Kellogg, who created the famous cereal Corn Flakes, actually created the flakes of corn because he thought it would inhibit sexual urges, in a list of hilarious theories.

19th century cure: Before nicotine was fully understood people thought smoking could actually help with asthma. Smoking was recreational, but so little was known about the harmful effects of cigarettes that doctors believed it could help with bad breath and colds

The tapeworm diet was devised during Victorian times, and boasted that it would allow people to eat what they want without gaining weight. It was thought that if someone ate a tapeworm egg, the parasite would hatch and grow inside their intestines. Tapeworms can be lethal in certain cases

The tapeworm diet was devised during Victorian times, and boasted that it would allow people to eat what they want without gaining weight. It was thought that if someone ate a tapeworm egg, the parasite would hatch and grow inside their intestines. Tapeworms can be lethal in certain cases

19th century: J.H. Kellogg, who created the famous cereal Corn Flakes, was a medical doctor and health activist. He actually created the flakes of corn because he thought it would inhibit sexual urges, something that was a sin in that era. He believed a healthy diet was the answer to stopping masturbation but there is no evidence to suggest his ideas were correct

19th century: J.H. Kellogg, who created the famous cereal Corn Flakes, was a medical doctor and health activist. He actually created the flakes of corn because he thought it would inhibit sexual urges, something that was a sin in that era. He believed a healthy diet was the answer to stopping masturbation but there is no evidence to suggest his ideas were correct

Vin Mariani, which went on sale in 18632, was advertised as both a wine and an all-round cure for any kind of ailment you might have

Vin Mariani, which went on sale in 18632, was advertised as both a wine and an all-round cure for any kind of ailment you might have 

Methamphetamine was discovered in 1893 and is a potent central nervous system stimulant now mainly used as an illegal recreational drug. At one point it was prescribed as a drug to 'alleviate food aversion' for those trying not put on weight in the 1900s

Methamphetamine was discovered in 1893 and is a potent central nervous system stimulant now mainly used as an illegal recreational drug. At one point it was prescribed as a drug to ‘alleviate food aversion’ for those trying not put on weight in the 1900s

Patients suffering from syphilis were prescribed malaria treatment malariotherapy at the beginning of the 20th century because it deliberately induced a high fever. Around 15 per cent of patients died of the disease

Patients suffering from syphilis were prescribed malaria treatment malariotherapy at the beginning of the 20th century because it deliberately induced a high fever. Around 15 per cent of patients died of the disease

Despite the deadly effects of arsenic, 'chocolate' covered tablets of the drug were prescribed up until the 20th century to treat diseases such as trypanosomiasis and syphilis

Despite the deadly effects of arsenic, ‘chocolate’ covered tablets of the drug were prescribed up until the 20th century to treat diseases such as trypanosomiasis and syphilis

Today  we know enough to avoid exposure to mercury, which can damage internal organs and be fatal. But for many centuries it was used for melancholy, syphilis, and influenza

Today  we know enough to avoid exposure to mercury, which can damage internal organs and be fatal. But for many centuries it was used for melancholy, syphilis, and influenza

From the 16/17th centuries to the 1890, it was common to use human parts, known as corpse medicine, to treat a variety of ailments including epilepsy, bruising and hemorrhaging. The most common parts used were blood, fat, bone and flesh. One of the most popular remedies was powdered smuggles Egyptian mummies

From the 16/17th centuries to the 1890, it was common to use human parts, known as corpse medicine, to treat a variety of ailments including epilepsy, bruising and hemorrhaging. The most common parts used were blood, fat, bone and flesh. One of the most popular remedies was powdered smuggles Egyptian mummies