dr. r. schiffmann's asthmador trade mark cigarettes 1950s-1960s

active ingredients: stramonium, belladonna ("contains no tobacco")

total alkaloids: 0.203%

April 290.JPG

claim: "to relieve the distress of bronchial asthmatic paroxysms"

contents: 24 cigarettes

price: 60 cents

manufactured: r. schiffmann co. los angeles, ca

How it Works

The leaves of dature stramonium (aka Jimson Weed or Devils' Snare), a member of the nightshade family, contain the chemical atropine. When a person has an asthma attack, muscle fibers in the pulmonary tract begin to spasm and constrict, restricting air flow into the lungs. Atropine is an anticholinergic compound, which relaxes smooth muscles, especially in the bronchi.

datura stramonium

datura stramonium

The leaves and berried of the belladonna plant (aka Deadly Nightshade) also contain atropine as well as hyoscyamine (both anticholinergics).

atropa belladonna

atropa belladonna

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