The Times on 4th April 08 featured an ad for "PainSolv", which is a "therapy based on more than 30 years of worldwide research carried out by renowned scientists." Hmmmm.....See the full ad here.
Apparently it works by "pulsed electromagnetic wave forms into the body, passing through all body tissue including bone without any impairment of wave strength".
Which is amazing because you'd expect that, if this thing has any effect, the wave strength might just be impaired.
But apparently it does work, it's been "clinically proven to have vigorous biological effects, influencing cell behaviour by inducing electrical charges around and within the cell wall membrane, the starting point for a strong immune system." and "The resulting natural reactions within the body helps to activate and regenerate cell function that can be beneficial for a wide range of conditions."
Where is the evidence please?
For the amount of money it costs to place an ad of this size in a national newspaper, they are going to have to rip a hell of a lot of people off before making a profit. Even at £129.95 + £5.95 p&p.
I've submitted a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority this morning:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
05 April 2008
New Complaints
Advertising Standards Authority
Mid
71 High Holborn
WC1V 6QT
To Whom It May Concern:
I have enclosed a misleading advertisement in The Times on April 4th 2008.
My complaints about this advert breaching your standards are as follows:
3.1 Before distributing or submitting a marketing communication for publication, marketers must hold documentary evidence to prove all claims, whether direct or implied, that are capable of objective substantiation.
Relevant evidence should be sent without delay if requested by the ASA or CAP. The adequacy of evidence will be judged on whether it supports both the detailed claims and the overall impression created by the marketing communication. The full name and geographical business address of marketers should be provided without delay if requested by the ASA or CAP.
50.1 Medical and scientific claims made about beauty and health-related products should be backed by evidence, where appropriate consisting of trials conducted on people. Where relevant, the rules will also relate to claims for products for animals. Substantiation will be assessed by the ASA on the basis of the available scientific knowledge.
“PainSolv encourages your body to enhance the efficiency of cell functions which in turn increases oxygen content in your blood as well as many other beneficial processes.”
(a) This claim breeches 3.1 and 50.1 as there is no credible evidence to suggest that the product enhances efficiency of cell functions.
(b) This claim breeches 3.1 and 50.1 as there is no credible evidence to suggest that the product increases oxygen content in the blood.
“PainSolv can help relieve the pain associated with the following conditions and many more – Arthritis, Back Pain, Migraine, Whilash, Joint Pain, Muscle Spasm, Stress, Leg Ulcers, Gout, Tendinitis.”
(c) This claim breeches 3.1 and 50.1 as there is no credible evidence to suggest that the product works better than placebo for any form of pain relief.
“PainSolv works directly on the cause rather than just the symptoms!”
(d) When combined with the claim that the product relieves pain from arthritis, the advertisement is making the claim that the product can repair damage to joints or remove infection of joints. As there is no credible evidence for this, this claim breeches both 3.1 and 50.1.
By charging £129.95 + £5.95 P&P, this company is extorting money from vulnerable people in pain, who are easily fooled. This in itself is a breech of 6.1.
Yours sincerely,
Simon.
Posts
