Prior to the introduction of classic antipsychotic medications in the 1950s, treatment for psychotic disorders primarily consisted of humane containment and supportive care. A variety of remedies without empirical support were popular in different cultures for brief periods of time but went out of vogue because they were ineffective. One approach to the treatment of psychosis that survived through the ages was the use of reserpine as a folk medicine in India. In the Ayurveda (the traditional Indian medical system originating 5,000 years ago), Sarpagundha (Rauwolfia serpentina, or Indian snakeroot, from which reserpine is derived) was recommended as the treatment for "unmada" (psychosis). In the early 1950s, reserpine was found to improve psychosis and reduce violent behavior in clinical trials among aggressive mentally ill patients in state hospitals in New York and California, and this led to its introduction as an antipsychotic in 1954 (2 years after chlorpromazine). However, reserpine's popularity declined after 1957 because of its high level of side effects and low safety index. Although the use of reserpine has been completely discontinued in some countries (e.g., the United Kingdom) because of its significant drug interactions and adverse effects, it is available in the United States, where it is still used, albeit very infrequently, as an alternative or augmentation treatment in patients with schizophrenia refractory to other antipsychotic treatment.