Oriental elixirs
• Asian , • Miracle Cures, Health Quackery
For a brief while in the 1980s, the celebrated Beijing baldness remedy was all the rage. People made special trips to China just to cram suitcases full of the stuff and bring it back. Subsequent to the baldness remedy which, like the hairs atop Mr. S's scalp, soon fell from grace, China has been the source of numerous teas, lotions, elixirs and other products boasting miraculous properties. ...
Nonetheless, it would seem that when it comes to wonder drugs, Chinese are as easily defrauded as Japanese. The South China Morning Post of Dec. 29 noted that fifth on the list of confidence tricks during 2003, with 22 cases through November, were "It'll cure anything" scams, in which culprits approached their victims trying to sell some herbs, pills or medicine by exaggerating their clinical effect. ...
Whether these potency tonics really work or not, the ads are a great source of amusement. Last spring I spotted one promoting an elixir composed of extract of ants. Yes, ants. These mighty insects, the maker proclaimed, are capable of lifting 50 times their own body weight. By ingesting this yucky stuff, the ad implied, you too will be able to boast the strength of an ant! ...
Mark Schreiber, The Japan Times: Wacky potions can be crocks of gold