Airborne Health Inc. has reached a $23.3 million settlement in a class action lawsuit against the company. The lawsuit claimed the company committed false advertising by suggesting that their product would eliminate the common cold.
According to those heading up the class action lawsuit, there is no credible data to support the notion that Airborne prevents colds. Instead, they assert, the tablets are nothing more than deceptively marketed vitamins.
Airborne was developed by a second grade teacher, Victoria Knight-McDowell, who grew tired of catching ailments from her students. She had no solid medical experience, and unfortunately neither did those conducting the product’s clinical trials.
I was a regular consumer of Airborne, until reports arose attacking its credibility. I would take it regularly before vacations and whenever I developed a cold. At the time, I had convinced myself that it was a miracle drug, but now I am not so certain.
Anytime I felt the symptoms of a cold popping up, I would always grab the tube containing the Airborne tablets. After pouring myself a glass of water, I would drop a tablet in the glass and wait for it to dissolve. Then I would tilt my head back and chug the bitter drink until there was no more.
Airborne never provided an instant cure to my cold, but taking it always seemed to alleviate my symptoms. However, in many clinical trials some people taking placebos also claim to feel better. Wellness could be nothing more than a mental state of being.
I believe that after I took a dose of Airborne, my mind assumed it was working and it diverted my attention from the symptoms. In other words, the very act of taking an Airborne tablet allowed me to relax and go about my normal life. It didn’t really cure anything, but instead it was the idea that it could cure me that made me think I was feeling better.
The truth is, with or without the aid of Airborne, my colds took the typical 2 or 3 days to subside. The supplements only provided me with peace of mind, not a physical cure.
The discovery that Airborne did not provide the efficacy that its commercials implied points to much larger problem that is being faced by the American public. Drug marketing is completely out of control. Companies make claims they cannot back up, and consumers buy the products under the assumption the company is telling the truth. Without fail, evidence arises that the drug does not serve the purpose the company claims it does and even worse it can cause severe damage to anyone that takes it. The company responsible for the marketing and distribution of the drug is then given a slap on the wrist by the government, and they go on about their business.
Consumers need to conduct their own research before taking any drug. Drug companies are spending record amount on advertising in the hopes you will purchase their product. The unfortunate truth is that they are concerned only with profits, not your health.
More information: http://www.airbornehealthsettlement.com/
