Tag: History of pharmacology

As far back as 3400 B.C.E., ancient Sumerians were cultivating the opium poppy, which they called the 'joy plant,' for its pain-relieving benefits [1.4.8]. This marks the beginning of a long history answering the question: what was the old medicine used for pain?

First synthesized by chemists at Bayer AG in 1916, suramin originated from early medicinal chemistry research into antiparasitic dyes. This discovery set off a fascinating story of scientific innovation, political intrigue, and a secret formula, answering the question of where did suramin come from.

Between 1968 and 1982, Valium was America's most prescribed medication, with sales peaking in 1978 when over 2 billion tablets were sold [1.2.6, 1.2.3]. The question of *What is Mother's Little Helper drug?* is deeply tied to this era of widespread tranquilizer use.

The earliest evidence of a human-made alcoholic beverage dates back 13,000 years, found in a prehistoric burial site in Israel [1.3.1, 1.3.3]. This discovery raises the question: what is the oldest drug known to mankind? The answer is complex, involving alcohol, opium, and other psychoactive plants.