From a very young age, I was fascinated by advertisements that claimed to fix everything, “Grow your hair in 7 days!”, “Gain 3 inches in height in a month!”, or “Lose 10 kg without exercise!” I remember sitting wide-eyed in front of the TV, thinking these products were nothing short of miracles. The shiny packaging, the dramatic voiceovers, the glamorous models, how could anyone not believe them?
That childlike curiosity didn’t end there.
As a teenager, I experienced my first hands-on “miracle remedy.” My grandma, with the best intentions, gifted me a natural cream she swore by. The seller had promised it would “strip away my dark skin and make me fair in just a week.” Being a teenager dealing with the usual self-esteem rollercoaster, I was tempted. I tried it. Two days later, I had nothing to show for it except slightly oilier skin and a strong suspicion that this miracle might just be a myth.
Little did I know back then that these aren’t just odd personal experiences, they’re part of a much larger, more dangerous trend that continues to thrive in India, even with a law in place to stop it.
What Is a Magic Remedy, Really?
In legal terms, a magic remedy isn’t a bubbling potion from a wizard’s den. It refers to any pills, powders, potions, or treatments often marketed as herbal or natural that claim to provide instant or miraculous cures for serious medical conditions without scientific backing.
Typical examples? Claims to: Cure baldness, Increase height after puberty, Treat infertility, Boost sexual performance overnight, Heal diabetes, epilepsy, or any other chronic illnesses, and to fight these very promises, India introduced a law, The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.
The Magic Remedies Act: What It Actually Says
This Act was introduced to regulate advertisements of drugs and prevent the promotion of false, misleading, or magical claims related to health.
Here are the key facts:
- It prohibits ads for products that claim to cure specific serious diseases.
- It defines “magic remedies” as any unverified substances that promise a miraculous effect.
- It particularly restricts claims around sexual health, fertility, mental health, and chronic diseases.
- Those violating the law can face penalties, including fines and imprisonment.
The goal was clear: protect consumers from being misled, especially when health is on the line.
70 Years Later… Still Falling for the Same Old Tricks
But here’s the catch: this law is over 70 years old. And yet, we’re still falling for the same promises. Worse, the problem has evolved with technology. Now, instead of a shady shop in the corner of the market, the magic powders and miracle pills come packaged through your Instagram feed, recommended by influencers and even celebrities.
Last year, a close family friend who had struggled with body image issues spent thousands on a “natural” weight-loss powder promoted by a local influencer. It promised quick results and a flat tummy in four weeks. Not only did it not work, but it led to serious digestive issues. When did she try to contact the seller? Disconnected number. Classic scam.
The most disturbing part? She is well-educated, professionally accomplished, and completely aware of internet scams. And yet, she fell for it because when you’re vulnerable, even the sharpest minds can blur the line between hope and hype.
This made me wonder if this is happening to educated, aware citizens; what about the naïve and innocent people who don’t have the resources or exposure to fact-check claims?
What about the young boy ashamed of his acne, the woman desperate for fairer skin, or the man struggling silently with infertility, or the elderly person trying to cure diabetes without expensive treatment…
These ads prey on insecurities. They don’t just sell a product—they sell hope, self-worth, and validation, wrapped up in a “natural” label and a celebrity smile. It’s manipulation disguised as wellness.
The Law Needs to Catch Up
The Magic Remedies Act, while a good initiative in its time, is outdated for today’s digital world. Now we have tons of viral influencer ads, tremendous WhatsApp forwards, unregulated online markets, and hundreds of anonymous sellers vanishing overnight
The law needs:
- Stricter digital enforcement
- Updated lists of prohibited claims
- Monitoring of influencers and online platforms
- Awareness campaigns on digital and medical literacy
- The solution isn’t just policing, it’s also educating people to spot red flags and not fall for every glittery claim they see on a screen.
Keep the Hope, Skip the Hype
At the end of the day, hope is a powerful thing, but it shouldn’t be sold in a bottle with a fake promise.
There’s nothing wrong with believing in wellness, tradition, or natural remedies. But when something claims to do the impossible, and fast, it’s probably not going to work unless scientifically proven.
The next time you see an ad promising a “miracle cure,” ask yourself: Is this really magic, or is it just another trap? Trust me, a little extra caution will save you from a lot of heartache and wallet-ache down the line.
The true “magic” lies in being informed, skeptical, and conscious of what we put in our bodies and believe in our minds.
Shweta Khiratkar