Asthmador was a
nonprescription treatment for the relief of bronchial
asthma
Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, co ...
made by the R. Schiffmann Company.
It consisted of a mixture of
belladonna,
stramonium
''Datura stramonium'', known by the common names thorn apple, jimsonweed (jimson weed), devil's snare, or devil's trumpet, is a poisonous flowering plant of the nightshade family Solanaceae. It is a species belonging to the '' Datura'' genus ...
and
potassium perchlorate,
[Beat Portrait: Timothy Leary](_blank)
John Thomas and was a fine powder intended to be burned and the smoke inhaled. The primary
alkaloid
Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Some synthetic compounds of similar ...
present in the mixture was
hyoscyamine, and when the powder was ingested rather than burned, could be used to induce hallucinations. In severe overdose it could hospitalize the patient or cause death.
Prior to the introduction of rescue inhalers in the mid-1950s this was an effective over-the-counter remedy for asthma attacks. Asthmador was sold in packets like cigarettes, in tins like pipe tobacco, or as an incense. Th
paroxysmswould abate within a few minutes of inhaling the mixture.
References
Drugs acting on the cardiovascular system
Herbal and fungal hallucinogens
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