nostrum

n.

1. A medicine whose effectiveness is unproved and whose ingredients are usually secret; a quack remedy.
2. A favorite but usually ineffective remedy for problems or evils.

[From Latin nostrum (remedium), our (remedy), neuter of noster.]

A nostrum wouldn't ever be prescribed by a real doctor — it may cure you but it may kill you as well, and no one really knows what's in it. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez disparagingly referred to the policies of US President George Bush as nostrums:

"Chavez accused Bush of having spoken 'as if he owned the world' when the U.S. president addressed the world body on Tuesday. 'As the spokesman of imperialism, he came to share his nostrums to try to preserve the current pattern of domination, exploitation and pillage of the peoples of the world. An Alfred Hitchcock movie could use it as a scenario. I would even propose a title: "The Devil's Recipe."'"

Link: CNN.com - Democrats warn Chavez: Don't bash Bush - Sep 21, 2006

Posted September 25, 2006.

See our Word Overheard blog to see interesting uses of strange words.

noun

An agent used to restore health: cure, elixir, medicament, medication, medicine, physic, remedy. See health/sickness.

n

A remedy not substantiated by scientific evidence or broadly accepted by the scientific community. Some herbal supplements may fall under this category.

A quack, patent or secret remedy.

a panacea

IN BRIEF: A quack remedy.

The man touted his miracle nostrum could cure a cold in ten minutes.

Dansk (Danish)
n. - vidundermedicin, patentmedicin

Nederlands (Dutch)
wondermiddel, kwakzalversmiddel, ouderwetse/ ineffectieve oplossing

Français (French)
n. - (fig) panacée, remède de bonne femme

Deutsch (German)
n. - Patentrezept, Quacksalbermedizin

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - γιατροσόφι, τέχνασμα

Italiano (Italian)
panacea

Português (Portuguese)
n. - panacéia (f)

Русский (Russian)
(пренебр.) панацея

Español (Spanish)
n. - panacea

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - patentmedicin, patentlösning

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
秘方

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 秘方

한국어 (Korean)
n. - (가짜)특효약, (문제 해결의)묘책

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 売薬, 妙薬, 万能薬, 妙案

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) علاج شافي من جميع الامراض‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮תרופה מפוקפקת, תרופה שהוכנה בבית, תכנית לרפורמה חברתית או פוליטית‬

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