decongestant

Sniffing Benzedrine Inhalers

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 14:00:00 +0000

In 1943, the Smith, Kline and French pharmaceutical company added hot pepper extract to Benzedrine, its popular decongestant inhaler. The fiery taste of capsaicin, the compound responsible for the “hot” in hot peppers, was expected to prevent people from cracking open the casing of the inhaler and consuming the contents. Why would anyone want to do that? Simple: the active ingredient in the Benzedrine inhaler was amphetamine, a compound that could deliver a whamo of a high!

Is there a legitimate medical use for camphor?

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 18:16:19 +0000

It wasn't so long ago that mothers would treat their children's colds by hanging little bags of camphor around their necks. The strong medicinal smell probably had some effect in opening up congested nasal passages, but the real value of the treatment undoubtedly was in stopping the spread of the cold by keeping friends at a distance. Camphor can be isolated from the camphor tree which grows in the Orient by a process known as steam distillation.

The Time I Thought I Would Meet My Maker

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 23:00:57 +0000

Being of Hungarian origin, I have had some experience with hot paprika. That’s why I was not averse to trying some of the hot sauces offered up for tasting at one of the many spice shops in New Orleans. I was cruising along, dipping crackers into various samples until I came to one called “Meet Your Maker.” I should have been deterred by the name and the fact that it came in a coffin-shaped box. What a memorable experience that turned out to be. And not in a good way! Never had I experienced such pain in the mouth.