The Placebo Effect

I was out for a while one crazy hot day this summer (the one that just went by), and returned home all geared up for a heat-stroke. Tried to sleep it off but the headache just kept getting worse. My room-mate suggested that drinking cold water with some khus (poppy-seed) concentrate she had would help. (Poppy seeds are known for their cooling effect on the human body.) So I mixed a little of it in water and gulped it down. A while later, I did it again. And again. After about an hour I felt much better. Wow, Grandma's little home remedies do work!, I thought.

The next time we were at the Indian Market, I memorized the name/brand of the syrup to buy a bottle for myself. I found what I was looking for, and entirely out of curiosity, checked the ingredients. Here's a transcript: water, sugar, corn syrup, artificial coloring and flavoring agents.

Just that. Nothing else. No poppies.

Water Rules!