Barbara O’Neill tells lupus patient to avoid doctors
An undercover reporter for The Guardian attended a five-day residential wellness retreat in Cheshire where Australian natural remedies proponent Barbara O’Neill advised attendees to dismiss conventional medical treatments, including antibiotics, vaccines, and scientifically proven cancer therapies.
- Tickets for the residential retreat at the De Vere Cranage Estate hotel cost up to £1,300, featuring sessions covering the immune system and anti-scientific claims.
- O’Neill told an audience member inquiring about lupus that she should “keep away from the doctor.”
- Medical experts from institutions including UCL, the University of Surrey, and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine warned that the advice given at the event could lead to serious harm or death.
The event took place at the De Vere Cranage Estate hotel in Cheshire, where tickets reached up to £1,300, according to reporting by The Guardian. During a question-and-answer session, a woman asked O’Neill if anything could help her lupus, stating it had not responded well to standard medical treatments. O’Neill replied, “Yes, keep away from the doctor,” prompting laughter from the audience. O’Neill, who holds 3.6 million Instagram followers and 1.7 million on Facebook, was banned from providing health services in Australia in 2019 after authorities found she misled vulnerable people and made dangerous claims.
At the Cheshire conference, O’Neill wore a long skirt with a woollen wrap before switching to a soft cardigan, displaying a Highlands-inspired attire. Her husband, Michael, co-runs her company and leads her tours, running a session titled “Barbara Under Attack” where he described her persecution by authorities, the scientific community, and the media.
Medical Experts Warn Against Pseudoscientific Claims
Throughout the retreat, O’Neill recommended unproven alternative treatments for various serious medical conditions. When a woman mentioned she had been advised by two specialists to surgically remove a stomach tumour, O’Neill replied, “Sometimes scans are not right,” and advised treating the tumour with a castor oil compress on the outside of the body. Similar remedies involving castor oil were suggested for nasal polyps, endometriosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and bile duct stones. For an audience member with glaucoma and high blood pressure, O’Neill suggested using castor oil with a pinch of cayenne pepper in the eye.
Prof Gus Gazzard, a leading glaucoma expert, stated that there is no evidence to support claims regarding castor oil and warned of potential harm. O’Neill also advised a pregnant woman against taking folic acid, despite randomised controlled trials showing its effectiveness in protecting against neural tube defects. To a woman without a functioning thyroid, O’Neill recommended slowly stopping her prescribed thyroxine dose to see what the body does. Martin Whyte, a professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Surrey, stated that stopping thyroxine in such cases makes no sense and risks serious, potentially life-threatening illness.
Another attendee with diabetes was advised by O’Neill to stop testing her blood sugar and to come off metformin. Gill Livingston, a professor of psychiatry of older people at UCL, called this advice very dangerous, noting that untreated diabetes bathes the body in high blood sugar and increases the risk of loss of eyesight, peripheral sensation loss, dementia, and death. Prof Liam Smeeth, director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, called O’Neill’s claims extraordinary, adding that following them would cause substantial harm, including death.
Disputes Over Modern Technology and Medicine
Attendees at the conference also purchased amulets and devices from a stall that claimed to protect against 5G signals and electromagnetic fields. O’Neill advised those working at computers to invest in such devices.
Prior to the tour, senior doctors and medical experts wrote to venues hosting O’Neill’s conferences urging them to reconsider holding events that spread dangerous health fictions. Following an approach by The Guardian for comment, O’Neill and her husband published a video on social media warning followers of reporting they termed disgusting. Michael read out a statement calling the complaints purely speculative and alleging a modern-day witch-hunt supported by the pharmaceutical industry. The couple vowed to continue holding events.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.