Summary:
Aly Adair has previously published this content on the Internet. Links OK per requester. I used the original Airborne tablets and powder during the Sundance Film Festival 2007 to see what all the buzz was about. When Airborne settled at $23.3 million on a class action lawsuit for false advertising, I became increasingly curious about what I had consumed. I was alarmed to learn about serious side effects that can occur from some of the herbal extracts used in Airborne.

Details or Sample:
I faithfully consumed free samples of the original Airborne tablets and powder for two weeks in January of 2007. Airborne was a sponsor at the Sundance Film Festival 2007 and had a Main Street venue set up to give away their miracle pill and powder. When we heard that a teacher created Airborne and the special mix of vitamins and herbs would help keep us from getting sick in high germ areas, we just had to try out this stuff. We made daily visits to the Airborne Lounge, sometimes twice a day to get our dose.

At that time, I didn’t view Airborne as anything much different than the loads of energy booster packets and herbal supplement packets found on the counters of most convenient stores. You can find similar products, making similar claims on most health food shelves of grocery stores, natural food stores, and other retail outlets for herbal supplements. The great debate over claims that herbal supplements have special medicinal values has gone on for years. For every study that says they work, there is one that says they don’t. I became increasingly curious, however, when Airborne settled a class action false advertising lawsuit for $23.3 million.

So, I did a little research into what the herbs are in Airborne, how they are used by other cultures, and any studies done on them. I also looked more closely at the packaging since there are new U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules for marketing herbal supplements. The Airborne package clearly states that the product is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any diseases. The Airborne package also states that the FDA has not evaluated any of the statements made by Airborne. So, what is the problem?

Here are some interesting facts and some warnings about four of the herbal extracts used in blends of the original Airborne product: Echinacea, Chinese Vitex Fruit, Maltodextrin, and Forsythia. You be the judge about whether these herbal extracts used in Airborne are SAFE for you in addition to making claims of enhancing your immune system. Therein lies the real problem for me: ARE THEY SAFE FOR YOU TO CONSUME?

Echinacea (Airborne Uses Above Ground Parts)

Most of the studies done on the medicinal effects of Echinacea have been done in Germany where the government regulates herbal products. In Germany, the above ground part of the Echinacea plant can be used for medicinal products that treat colds, upper respiratory infections, urinary infections, and slow-healing wounds. The root of the Echinacea plant can be used in Germany to treat flu-like symptoms. Germany restricts the use of Echinacea for more than eight weeks at a time.

Even though the American Herbal Products Association has given Echinacea a Class 1 Safety Rating, Echinacea could have serious side effects in people with diabetes, tuberculosis, leukemia, connective tissue disorders, multiple sclerosis, HIV, AIDS, autoimmune diseases, or liver disorders. People having organ transplants should not use Echinacea.

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