http://www.bonkersinstitute.org/medshow/5pepsi.html
Have you ever been plagued by a nasty flu? Bed-ridden with a seasonal cold?
The answer is obvious, PEPSI, dude. Is a fantastical effervescent delight that "is light, never too sweet." This was an obviously ridiculous remedy to be so vaguely presented as Rx: Pepsi ad libitum, but I guess I could see the appeal when it does occasionally help with stomach ailments.
I found this to be an interesting concept long ago, when I saw Christopher Walken heating up Dr Pepper in the movie "Blast From The Past." Not a fantastic movie, but I'm a huge Walken fan so I've seen it once or twice. Anyway, after watching the movie I had to try it, turns out it's not that bad at all, but the question is, is there any medicinal value to it?---I'm aware of how obvious it seems Dr Pepper is not a healthy alternative to anything, and just to clear the air, I don't even drink pop, but apparently the incorporation of ginger into so many popular soft-drinks has instilled this little fallacy into more minds than mine...seen here.
After doing a little research, I found out that all purpose "soda" was originally concocted up by small town pharmacists, and was packaged as a medicinal tonic, and Dr Pepper is named after Dr. Charles T. Pepper, an 1855 graduate of the University of Virginia Medical School who lived in Rural Retreat, Virginia in the late 1800s.
---Beyond that, I think the most miraculous thing about the stuff is how firmly imprinted it is in our society. Can you imagine when the aliens come and we serve them our traditional beverage? It reminds me of an episode of Bear Gryllis, where he was offered up a hot pot of corn liquor by the Brunka tribes of Costa Rica.
This ad was one of the few that didn't boast an impossible medical remedy, it simply presented Pepsi as an Rx. So for that ambiguity I can't get too upset, but it is interesting to see what some people truly care about...for instance this guy.
I think the fight against POP will be more and more prevalent with the steady rise in diabetes in America, and plenty of sites like this will pop up..(who knew the healthy alternative to pop could be...just water!?)
That's interesting that a Pepsi ad is on the Bonkers website. I shouldn't be surprised; I know Coke was originally created as a cure for hangovers. But since soft drinks have become such a common part of our culture (a daily part of our diet, for some) that it's weird to hear about their beginnings as tonic. But note that when I get the flu, my parents recommend Sprite or 7 Up to ease my stomach.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if this was when soft drinks still contained cocaine.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.snopes.com/cokelore/cocaine.asp
I love this. This is a classic example of advertising using a product as a correlative. While there is obviously no scientific association with Pepsi-Cola and health benefits when you have a cold, it is still presented in that manner. It can implant the subconscious idea without you thinking about it so you start to make that association on your own. I find this to be quite funny!
ReplyDeleteHaha that little factoid about the origin of the name 'Dr. Pepper' is one of those random tidbits of information that I've inexplicably always known. It was funny to see it pop up here/be reminded of it at all.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how a benefit of ingesting anything is deemed more valuable if it's labeled as a medical effect.
Along a similar track, cake is a medical remedy for unhappiness!