Thu, 28 Sep 2006
Apply Directly to the Forehead
I listen to CNN News in the morning before going to work. Every morning there's an annoying comercial for a product called HeadOn. A woman's voice says three times "HeadOn, Apply directly to the forehead." Very Delphic, because they don't claim it's effective for anything. But also very effective advertising, because they're selling a bunch. A Washington Post article explains that HeadOn is actually a homeopathic combination remedy.
Dan Charron, vice president of sales and marketing for Miralus, said the company used data from the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States -- a standard reference for homeopathic practitioners -- to create the product, which was introduced last year. HeadOn, he said, contains highly dilute amounts of white bryony (a type of vine) and potassium dichromate -- said by the Pharmacopoeia to cause headaches.
This article gives a bit more information about the formulation.
There are five different forms of HeadOn, including HeadOn Migraine, Extra Strength, P.M., Children's and Tension Headache, Charron said. Each HeadOn product has different active ingredients. The active ingredients in HeadOn P.M., according to the HeadOn drug facts, are potassium dichromate, for pain relief; sublimed sulfur, a sleeping aid; and White Bryony, another ingredient for pain relief.
Translation for budding homeopaths: it's a topically applied combination remedy containing Byonia, Kali Bich, and Sulphur. Neither article gives any information about potency, no doubt because the concept was over the reporter's head. In my opinion, will it work? For some people, more likely if they have sinus headaches, which Kali Bich often matches. But combination remedies are always a coin toss.
Leftover Mouth
Once again, there's no time for a dharma post, so you'll have to settle for this comment of mine on Flapping Mouths. It's a response to part of someone else's comment:
The whole point of it--i thought--was to learn a technique or set of techniques that we would then apply in our own lives and determine for ourselves whether they hold value.
Meditation can be taught and used as a technique, but when used in this way has limited value. Let me give you an analogy. Using meditation as a technique is like holding a test tube over a bunsen burner. Zazen--if it's genuine--is like sitting in the test tube getting cooked, Somebody else has to hold the test tube--it can't be you. And you've got to trust them. Otherwise you'll jump out of the test tube before you're cooked enough.
I'm not saying you should trust the first guy in flowing robes with a gleam in his eyes. That would be crazy. But you've got to put your trust in somebody.
