Breathe Easy

Taken from Men's Health

08/18/08
COLD CURE BUSTED
Makers of a popular immunity booster have to pay up for false advertising

Swear by Airborne? It may be all in your head—a recent court ruling decided Airborne isn't the cold cure it claims.

"There is no credible evidence that Airborne products ... will reduce the severity or duration of colds, or provide any tangible benefit for people who are exposed to germs in crowded places," said Lydia Parnes, director of the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection, which filed a complaint against Airborne's makers.

The FTC has ruled that Airborne must pay back consumers for up to six purchases—which could cost the company up to $30 million. People who bought Airborne products between 2001 and 2008 have until Sept. 15 to apply for a refund. Claims will be paid by Oct. 15, the company said in a statement.

But here's the catch: People still swear by the fizzy vitamin tablet—as one person told the Washington Post, "It may be mental, but it works for me"

Our relentless belief in the cold cure shows the placebo effect is more than just stuff of scientific experiments—it's an everyday occurrence that's a testament to the power your mind holds over your body and health.

Yes, this means we dupe ourselves into buying brand-name medicines that contain the same active ingredients as the ones that cost $2 less—but it also means you can think your way to better health for zero cost.

If you want more than a mental fix to stay healthy, wash your hands, stock up on natural cures, and take a daily multivitamin. Oh, and for good measure, take our word that doing these things will actually work.