| Most people know that Sigmund Freud was the | | | | drank it, Koller wanted to see what would |
| father of modern psychoanalysis, but did you | | | | happen when he put a coke solution into his |
| know that he was also the foster father of | | | | patients' eyes before surgery. He showed that |
| Coca Cola? There is no good evidence that | | | | cocaine could be instilled in the eye to |
| psychoanalysis can cure serious mood or | | | | block pain during eye surgery. But, at that |
| thought disorders such as severe depression | | | | time, Freud was out of town visiting Martha. |
| or schizophrenia. Modern psychiatry depends | | | | When he returned, he became distraught when |
| on the use of medications to change brain | | | | he learned that Koller had published his new |
| levels of neurotransmitters and psychotherapy | | | | discovery, and now Koller was known as the |
| together with medication is more effective | | | | discoverer of the first local anaesthetic for |
| than just medication alone. The only | | | | eye surgery. Freud had had his great |
| scientific paper that Sigmund Freud ever | | | | discovery stolen by another doctor.At that |
| wrote was not about psychotherapy. It was | | | | time in the US, John Styth Pemberton brought |
| about cocaine.In 1881, Sigmund Freud started | | | | out his own version of a drink containing |
| experimenting with cocaine. His first and | | | | cocaine in alcohol. People bought his drink |
| only rigorous scientific paper was on | | | | and loved what it did to them, but in 1885, |
| cocaine, not psychoanalysis. The German army | | | | the city of Atlanta banned the sale of |
| used cocaine to stave off exhaustion, and | | | | alcohol. So Pemberton had to change the |
| Freud thought it might help out a few of his | | | | recipe. He removed alcohol from his drink, |
| patients suffering nervous disorders. He sent | | | | and sold his new drink under the name |
| some cocaine to his fiancee, Martha Bernays, | | | | Coca-Cola. People did not buy this new |
| who lived some miles away, saying "In my last | | | | concoction as much as they had bought his |
| serious depression I took cocaine again and a | | | | drink containing cocaine in alcohol, so he |
| small dose lifted me to the heights in a | | | | thought that his drink had failed and he sold |
| wonderful fashion. I am just now collecting | | | | his patent to Asa Griggs Candler for a paltry |
| the literature for a song of praise to this | | | | $2,300. However, that was a quite lot of |
| magical substance." Freud desperately wanted | | | | money in 1890, and the drink did taste awful. |
| to marry Martha, but her parents were rich | | | | Asa Grigg Candler added carbon dioxide |
| and skeptical of this young upstart who | | | | bubbles to the drink that had had both the |
| presumed to ask for their daughter's hand. So | | | | cocaine and alcohol removed, and it was an |
| when Freud discovered cocaine, he had high | | | | instant success. Now you know that Sigmund |
| hopes of impressing them with his discovery | | | | Freud who is known today as the father of |
| that cocaine could cure hunger, thirst and | | | | psychoanalysis also should be known as the |
| depression and even make people feel great. | | | | foster father of Coca Cola.Dr. Gabe Mirkin |
| He couldn't wait to announce this new wonder | | | | has been a radio talk show host for 25 years |
| drug to the scientific community, publishing | | | | and practicing physician for more than 40 |
| "On Coca" in June 1884.Shortly after | | | | years; he is board certified in four |
| publishing his paper, Freud met an | | | | specialties, including sports medicine. Read |
| ophthalmology intern named Carl Koller. Freud | | | | or listen to hundreds of his fitness and |
| and Koller started taking cocaine themselves. | | | | health reports at weekly newsletter on |
| Noticing that cocaine numbed his lips when he | | | | fitness, health, and nutrition. |