Coffee for Roosevelt: asthma treatment a century ago

Over the years, our understanding of medicines has improved in leaps and bounds. If you ever think that taking your asthma medication is an inconvenience, spare a thought for asthmatics from days gone by.

At the beginning of the 19th Century, treatments for asthma included a daily teaspoon of mustard seeds or quicksilver and cinnabar. It was also believed that liquor, strong coffee, smoking tobacco (an absolute no-no, nowadays!) and garlic were helpful in controlling asthma.

Worst of all, however, was “bleeding” the patient - either by cutting the vein or using leeches.

Did you know that Marcel Proust (a 19th Century philosopher and writer), American president Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, and British author Charles Dickens were all asthmatics?

- (Health24.com)