Japanese Ringtones Claim to Solve Allergies, Unless You're Allergic to Crap

Allergy sufferers in Japan are turning to a rather unique cure: ringtones. The Japan Ringing Tone Laboratory is currently selling ringtones it bills as therapeutic, claiming that they can sooth a diverse set of maladies or provide a general boost, depending on a person's star sign.

Matsumi Suzuki, a voice-print identification expert and creator of BowLingual (a dog bark translator), is the man behind the Japan Ringing Tone Laboratory. He claims that you can clear your sinuses and relieve congestion by simply holding the phone up to your nose and letting sound and vibrations dislodge irritating pollen.

Index, the company selling the supposedly therapeutic tones, has admitted to the BBC that the actual effect of the sounds is unproven. But the company also noted that the ringtones are selling well, indicating that they are having some effect (or, at least, that customers believe they are). Well, never doubt the power of the placebo. [From: BBC]