Dec 17, 2008 -- Nasal spray maker settles lawsuit over false advertising
Clark is going to make a lot of people unhappy as he picks on yet another herbal remedy in the dietary supplement arena.
Now, the consumer champ acknowledges that there's no solution for the common cold, so he doesn't want to negate the possibility that herbs can be effective. But as he and his wife were told while recently seeing the doctor at Duke University Medical Center, science knows only relatively little about the mysteries of the human body.
Airborne Health Inc. has paid $7 million to settle multiple lawsuits in 32 states and the District of Columbia over alleged false product claims. Airborne makes a nasal spray used by travelers that is said to prevent viruses and bacteria from entering the body.
Clark's advice? Treat any claims about alternative medicines with a grain of salt. It's common for companies to make unverifiable claims about their products because they're not subject to FDA scrutiny.
Traditional chain drugstores devote a lot of shelf space to herbal remedies. But it's not because they're necessarily known to be effective; it's because they're capitalists and they want to make money on popular products.
So you've got to be your own cop on the beat. Remember, the first rule of medicine is "Do no harm." Be careful out there!