Image generated by AI thanks to Google Gemini.

In case it wasn't clear from the title and AI credit, this is not a real ad, and I'm certainly not advocating the use of rose pills. Nostradamus did actually develop a rose pill though. From what I understand, it was more like a flat lozenge meant to be held under the tongue, and Nostradamus hoped it would act like an edible air freshener to help ward off the plague.

Keep in mind this was in the 16th Century, and by modern standards, these rose pills do not appear to offer much in the way of health benefits. Perhaps a little boost in Vitamin C which doesn't hurt, but otherwise they could not repel the fleas that caused the plague, nor could they treat any bacterial infections.

For all intents and purposes, it looks like these rose pills amounted to quack medicine. Then I was reminded of quack medicine ads from the Victorian era around the turn of the 20th Century, and thought to mash that in with Nostradamus to conjure up this image 🤭

No love lost for Nostradamus though, I know he meant well. Besides his Prophecies, it might surprise you to know he was a medical practitioner who risked his life by treating plague patients on the front line. Despite the questionable benefits of his rose pills, Nostradamus could be credited as being ahead of his time for promoting proper hygiene and providing psychological support to help alleviate suffering.