Potion

A collection of vials labelled as potions

A potion is a liquid "that contains medicine, poison, or something that is supposed to have magic powers."^[1] It derives from the Latin word potio which refers to a drink or the act of drinking.^[2] The term philtre is also used, often specifically for a love potion, a potion that is supposed to create feelings of love or attraction in the one who drinks it.^[3] Throughout history there have been several types of potions for a range of purposes.^[4] Reasons for taking potions ranged from curing an illness, to securing immortality to trying to induce love. These potions, while often ineffective or poisonous, occasionally had some degree of medicinal success depending on what they sought to fix and the type and amount of ingredients used.^[5] Some popular ingredients used in potions across history include Spanish fly,^[6] nightshade plants, cannabis, and opium.^[7]

During the 17th to 19th century, it was common in Europe to see peddlers offering potions for ailments ranging from heartbreak to the plague. These were eventually dismissed as quackery.^[8] Prostitutes, courtesans, enchanters and midwives were also known to distribute potions.^[9]

^ "Potion definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary". www.collinsdictionary.com. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
^ Cite error: The named reference :14 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "Philtre / philter, n". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
^ Müller, Jurgen Leo (1998). "Love Potions and the Ointment of Witches: Historical Aspects of the Nightshade Alkaloids". Journal of Toxicology: Clinical Toxicology. 36 (6): 617–627. doi:10.3109/15563659809028060. ISSN 0731-3810. PMID 9776969.
^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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^ Sturgress, Ray (2005). "Quackery: a barely believable history" (PDF). Pharmaceutical Journal. 275: 796. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-01-17. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
^ Cite error: The named reference :16 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1] "Potion definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary". www.collinsdictionary.com. Retrieved 2020-11-08.

[:14-2] Cite error: The named reference :14 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[3] "Philtre / philter, n". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)

[:11-4] Müller, Jurgen Leo (1998). "Love Potions and the Ointment of Witches: Historical Aspects of the Nightshade Alkaloids". Journal of Toxicology: Clinical Toxicology. 36 (6): 617–627. doi:10.3109/15563659809028060. ISSN 0731-3810. PMID 9776969.

[:0-5] Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:15-6] Cite error: The named reference :15 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:13-7] Cite error: The named reference :13 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:8-8] Sturgress, Ray (2005). "Quackery: a barely believable history" (PDF). Pharmaceutical Journal. 275: 796. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-01-17. Retrieved 2020-11-08.

[:16-9] Cite error: The named reference :16 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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