Attention Snake Oil Salesmen

Snake oil has a fascinating—and somewhat infamous—history. Originally, snake oil was a legitimate traditional remedy used by Chinese immigrants in the 19th century. It was derived from the fat of the Chinese water snake, which contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and was believed to have anti-inflammatory properties. These immigrants brought snake oil to the United States, where they used it to treat sore muscles and joint pain.

The term “snake-oil salesman” became synonymous with deception due to fraudulent peddlers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. As railroads expanded, traveling salesmen saw an opportunity to sell so-called medicinal remedies at fairs, roadside stops, and small-town gatherings. Many of these salesmen marketed their concoctions as cure-alls, claiming they could heal anything from chronic pain to disease. However, their products were often ineffective—or worse, completely bogus.

One of the most infamous cases was Clark Stanley’s Snake Oil Liniment, which was tested by the U.S. government in 1917 and found to contain no actual snake oil—just mineral oil, beef fat, red pepper, and turpentine. The exposure of this deception helped cement "snake-oil salesman" as a term for fraudulent marketers and con artists.

Today, the phrase lives on as a warning against deceptive business practices and exaggerated marketing claims. While modern branding relies on authenticity and trust, there are still examples of misleading products and hype-driven sales tactics.