a coined variation of
snake(root) oil which refers to any of various preparations sold by peddlers
posing as scientists, doctors, or the like, as an all-
purpose cure-all, but with little, if any, medical
value.
Snakeroot is the common name for several
different flowering plants whose roots supposedly looked like snakes or were used to treat snakebites.
Swamp root is an archaic
word for whisky.
made-up name for a
particular brand of "
snake oil," a liquid concoction of questionable medical
value sold as an all-
purpose curative.