The transition from a public health system to private medical services implicates increasing the role of drug promotion and advertising. It is estimated that Poles spend 5–6 billion zloty a year on various diet substitutes, pseudo-drugs, and products of alternative medicine, often used to treat rheumatic conditions or rheumatic complaints. The phenomenon of the popularity of such products may be surprising as they are not well studied, usually are not very effective and are quite expensive. This popularity results mainly from a sophisticated marketing strategy utilizing psychological manipulation or simply lies. The lack of control over the pseudo-drug advertising leads to many untoward consequences like propagation of false science, decreasing confidence in physician’s competence or discontinuation of prescribed medication.