Is HeadOn! Just Homeopathic Candle Wax?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the product "HeadOn!" which is marketed as a headache remedy. Participants explore its ingredients, marketing strategies, and implications for the pharmaceutical industry. The conversation touches on themes of homeopathy, advertising effectiveness, and the prioritization of marketing over research and development in pharmaceuticals.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant claims that "HeadOn!" is essentially homeopathic candle wax, highlighting its minimal active ingredients and the presence of potassium dichromate, which is toxic.
  • Another participant questions the future of pharmaceutical companies, suggesting they might prioritize marketing over research and development due to profitability.
  • A humorous remark is made about the product potentially causing acne instead of treating headaches.
  • One participant reiterates the idea that pharmaceutical companies already allocate a significant portion of their revenues to marketing, implying that this trend is detrimental to R&D.
  • There is a mention of the "Head On" commercial being an innovative approach in modern advertising.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the efficacy and ethical implications of "HeadOn!" and the broader pharmaceutical marketing strategies. There is no consensus on the value of the product or the future direction of pharmaceutical companies.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about the product's ingredients and their effects are based on participant assertions and may lack comprehensive verification. The discussion reflects a mix of personal opinions and anecdotal observations rather than established scientific consensus.

Rach3
I'm rather amused to find that the product behind "HeadOn! Apply directly to the forehead!" is actually homeopathic candle wax. For those who've never seen it, this product is a purported headache medicine, the advertisements for which are intentionally aggravating. A phrase is repeated a dozen times (like minimalist music), so as to provoke the targets and ingrain the product's image in their minds. Apparently, the target audience is the scientifically illiterate.

The "active" ingredient is potassium dichromate present only in ppm (part per million) quantities, which is very fortunate since chromium (VI) compounds are carcinogenic as well as exceedingly toxic (msds). There's also about a ppt (part per trillion) of some flower extract, as well as menthol (makes your skin cold.) The rest is inactive ingredients (mostly wax).

The best part? Miralus' scam raked in half a billion in revenue. :eek:

As noticed at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HeadOn,

confirmed by official product information at
http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?id=prod1806169 .
 
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The real question is, how soon will the established pharamceuticals drop their expensive R&D programs and go full-time in marketing. That's where the money is.
 
:-p I thought this was for acne... but now it seems like it would cause acne. :-p
 
Rach3 said:
The real question is, how soon will the established pharamceuticals drop their expensive R&D programs and go full-time in marketing. That's where the money is.

The pharmaceutical companies are already spending 25% of their revenues on marketing. 18% goes for R&D. Intense marketing definitely works for just about anything.



http://www.retrojunk.com/details_commercial/1054/

As for the "Head On" commercial it is considered to be an inovation in modern? advertising.

viagra anyone?
 
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