When Victoria Knight-McDowell taught second grade at Spreckels Elementary School in Carmel, California, she often brought home more than papers to grade. "Back to school meant back to feeling lousy because I was exposed to germs," she recalls. That inspired Victoria to create a natural formula that would give her body a fighting chance against germs and viruses. After consulting with nutrition experts and herbalists, she experimented with different formulations and delivery methods before creating the blend that would eventually become Airborne. "We called it Airborne because it combats the airborne germs and viruses that are all around places like classrooms, offices and airplanes," she says. From its homegrown roots in Carmel, Airborne has become the leading herbal supplement in the cough and cold aisle of retail drugstores, supermarkets and mass merchant retailers nationwide. Her best-selling product remains true to her philosophy and to its humble origins as a natural formula made by a teacher who refused to be grounded by germs and viruses. "When we started producing Airborne commercially, I thought it could become a successful product for people who want a natural way to boost their immune system. But I had no idea it would take off the way it has."