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Definition of Nostrum
Medically reviewed by Min Clinic Staff | Updated: January 2026
Nostrum: A nostrum is a medicine of secret composition recommended by the person who concocted it but with no scientific proof of its effectiveness.
The word "nostrum" entered the English language in 1602 straight from the Latin "nostrum", a form of "noster," meaning "our." It is thought that specially prepared medicines came to be called "nostrums" because their purveyors marketed them as "our own" remedy.