nostrum

English Thesaurus

1. patent medicine whose efficacy is questionable (noun.artifact)

hypernym	:	patent medicine,
definition	:	medicine that is protected by a patent and available without a doctor's prescription (noun.artifact)

2. hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; once sought by the alchemists (noun.artifact)

hypernym	:	curative, cure, remedy, therapeutic,
definition	:	a medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieve pain (noun.artifact)

hyponym	:	elixir,
definition	:	a substance believed to cure all ills (noun.food)