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Willard's Water" is back again, this time offered by the Aesthetics Unique salon division of Reviva Labs (Haddonfield, NJ) at its 8th International Congress of Esthetics booth in Miami last October. Reviva still refers to it as Catalyst-Altered Water (CAW), altered by the addition of Dr. Willard's "patented complex of minerals ...(which) make the water super-charged with unique features among which are soothing and anti-irritant benefits." Now compounded with aloe, this "miracle water" is offered for use after shaving, after leg waxing, after applying alpha hydroxy products ("to calm any stinging") and finally, we are told that it is "gentle enough for children--even combats diaper rash!"
Reviva's rediscovery of Willard's Water is but the latest manifestation of a product which has been around for several decades under various designations.
In the 1960s Dr. John Wesley Willard, professor of chemistry at the South Dakota School of Mines, invented and patented a natural industrial cleaner which he called Carbonaceous Activated Water or Catalyst Altered Water (CAW). In 1971 he wrote to FDA applying for an IND (New Drug Exemption) to conduct clinical studies with this Water. FDA informed Dr. Willard that his application did not contain the basic required information regarding his product, requesting more. Dr. Willard did not respond to this request not, apparently, pursue his efforts to conduct the required clinical studies.
In 1973 Dr. Willard formed CAW Industries to manufacture what was then called Dr. Willard's Water XXX (with lignite), advertised as an aid to growing plants. Things went along fairly quietly until November, 1981 when the tv program 60 Minutes featured Harry Reasoner interviewing a doctor who was treating second and third degree burns with the product. This program also referred to hearings...