Naturopath’s cancer ‘healing’ claims under the microscope
A naturopath who charges as much as $3100 a week for health retreats is under investigation by the health watchdog for allegedly making false claims about cancer and vaccinations.
NSW
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A naturopath who charges as much as $3100 a week for health retreats is under investigation by the health watchdog for allegedly making false claims about cancer and vaccinations.
Barbara O’Neill, who is described on her Misty Mountain Health Retreat website as a “world famous health lecturer”, may be in breach of the Health Care Complaints Commission’s code of conduct for unregistered health practitioners.
Unlike doctors, naturopaths are unregistered and only covered by a code of conduct.
Under the code “a health practitioner must not make claims, either directly or in advertising or promotional material, about the efficacy of treatment or services provided if those claims cannot be substantiated”.
The Sunday Telegraph understands the HCCC launched an investigation after receiving numerous complaints from concerned citizens and registered health practitioners.
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Complaints allege that Ms O’Neill treats cancer patients with bicarbonate of soda wraps to alkalise the body, and recommends a diet to “kill” cancer.
“So for cancer, it’s no fruit for six weeks. No wheat for six weeks. Very little carbohydrate. So what do they eat? Lots of legumes, lots of vegetables, nuts, and seeds,” she said in one of her online videos.
Ms O’Neill claims in her numerous video presentations that antibiotics cause cancer and “the human body was designed to heal itself and does not need to be vaccinated”.
She also claims “neurotoxins in vaccines have caused an epidemic of ADHD, autism, epilepsy and cot death”.
There is no scientific evidence for any of these claims.
Ms O’Neill runs the Misty Mountain Health Retreat at Bellbrook near Kempsey with husband Michael O’Neill, who set up the Involuntary Medication Objectors party in 2015 and the Health Australia Party in 2016 to run in the federal election on a platform against vaccination programs and water fluoridation.
Mr O’Neill has campaigned against The Sunday Telegraph’s No Jab No Play and No Jab No Pay campaigns.
On her website, Ms O’Neill advises mothers who cannot breastfeed to avoid infant formula in favour of almond milk blended with dates or banana. She advises not to feed solids or grains until a child’s molars are in.
Professor Jane Scott, who co-authored the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Australian infant feeding guidelines, said such substitutes for breast milk or infant formula were “definitely not safe”.
“There is a real danger here for infants as these will not support healthy growth and development,” Prof Scott said.
Ms O’Neill was approached for comment.
Originally published as Naturopath’s cancer ‘healing’ claims under the microscope
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