Two medicine makers are battling it out in an Amsterdam court as to whether thyme and marshmallow root really do cure a cough, the Telegraaf says on Tuesday.

German company Boehringer, which makes Bisolvon, has accused Belgian firm Omega Pharma of misleading consumers by claiming the herbs in Bronchostop have been proved to help different types of cough.

‘Bronchostop’s sales have soared within a couple of months while Bisolvon’s have collapsed at the same speed,’ the paper quotes Beohringer’s lawyer as saying.

Marketing

Bronchostop was introduced on the Dutch market in September with an aggressive marketing campaign. But Beohringer says there is not enough evidence that a ‘bit’ of thyme and marshmallow root help treat all sorts of coughs. In addition, the claim is deliberately misleading to consumers, the German firm says.

Bronchostop says its advertising campaign complies with Dutch laws and the ads were shown to advertising watchdogs before being launched.

Consumers are clever enough to realise the syrup is to treat a simple cough, not serious airway ailments, Omega director Joost Hunfeld is quoted as saying.

The court is due to rule on the case within two weeks.