Latest news with #alternativeMedicine
Khaleej Times
19-07-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
'Not one medicine for all': UAE doctors say homeopathy personalises treatment
After being told she needed a hysterectomy due to fibroids, a woman found a healing path through homeopathy. As her symptoms improved within two months and her fibroids shrank significantly — leaving just one small fibroid — experts explained that homeopathy activates the body's self-regulation to achieve long-term healing. The 46-year-old mother of two (name requested to be withheld), based in Dubai, was dealing with multiple large fibroids — about five large fibroids in her uterus — and diabetes. These fibroids were impacting her life, causing frequent bleeding. She was left with no choice but to undergo a hysterectomy based on the doctor's recommendation. Usually, many women have no symptoms, but common signs include heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, bleeding between periods, pelvic pressure or pain, lower back pain, frequent urination, painful intercourse, and difficulty conceiving. In severe cases, fibroids can lead to anaemia due to blood loss. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. She decided to try homeopathy at Wellth and started working with homeopathy practitioners. Dr Yasir Shafi, a homeopathy practitioner at Wellth who supervised her treatment, explained: "Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine that uses natural remedies mainly from plants and minerals, in highly diluted doses, to stimulate the body's self-healing response. It follows the principle of 'like cures like' — treating symptoms with remedies that would produce similar symptoms in a healthy person." He added, "Treatment is tailored to the individual's physical, emotional, and mental state." Dr Shafi noted that treatment duration varies from person to person. Acute conditions may improve within days or weeks. At the same time, chronic issues, such as fibroids, often require several months of consistent treatment. Progress depends on the size of the fibroid, overall health, and adherence to the treatment plan. He also mentioned, "Medicines are mainly derived from plants or minerals. These are potentised through a homeopathic process and prescribed in different potencies." "It's important to understand that these medicines are not the same for all fibroid patients," he said. "Homeopathy is a highly individualised approach based on the patient's nature, history, and symptoms. Each patient receives medicine suited to their unique condition — not one medicine for all." Regarding the 46-year-old woman, she committed to a year-long treatment plan focusing on personalised natural remedies and lifestyle changes. Within just a couple of months, she noticed an improvement in her symptoms. A follow-up scan showed her fibroids had shrunk significantly, leaving just one small fibroid. This was remarkable since she had been advised that hysterectomy was her only option. The best part was that she also managed to bring her diabetes under control through holistic methods without conventional medicines. Dr Asher Shaikh further explained: "How long treatment takes depends on the condition and the individual. Acute issues, such as fever, cough, or food poisoning, can improve within hours or a day. Chronic problems like allergies, eczema, psoriasis, autoimmune disorders, hormonal imbalances, PCOS, migraines, gut issues like IBS, inflammatory bowel disease, thyroid issues, or anxiety may take a few weeks to show deeper improvement and a few months for long-term stabilisation." He added, "Many patients report early signs that the remedy is working: better sleep, improved mood, more energy — even if the main complaint hasn't fully resolved yet." Dr Shaikh described the process: "Homeopathy begins with an in-depth consultation. We don't rely solely on test reports; we also discuss emotions, sleep patterns, fears, digestive health, and life history. This helps us choose a remedy that fits the whole person, not just the diagnosis." He noted that this process typically includes thorough case-taking lasting 60 to 120 minutes for chronic cases, along with emotional counseling. Remedies are customised from over 2,000 options based on the patient's profile, with potency and dosage determined by their condition and sensitivity. Lifestyle advice on nutrition, stress management, and habits that may affect healing is also provided. Dr Shaikh recommended considering homeopathy if individuals have recurring or chronic issues like allergies, PCOS, anxiety, IBS, eczema, migraines, or hormonal problems. It's also suitable if you're tired of side effects from conventional medicine or want a natural approach that supports your body's healing abilities. "Homeopathy is a safe treatment option for infants, pregnant women, and the elderly, making it a gentle care choice. It can also complement conventional treatment when full relief is not achieved or help support the immune system during recovery," he added.
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Cambridge graduate's boyfriend says she turned down chemo and died of cancer after anti-vaxx mother bombarded her with 'whirlwind of fake information'
The boyfriend of a brilliant Cambridge graduate who died of cancer after refusing conventional medical treatment has told how he believes her conspiracy theorist mother misled her with a 'whirlwind of fake information'. Paloma Shemirani died after turning down chemotherapy, which would have given her an 80 percent chance of survival, and instead took ineffectual enemas and juices, her boyfriend Ander Harris says. Ander believes his girlfriend, who was also a beauty queen, was inappropriately influenced against conventional medicine by her mother, notorious anti-vaxxer Kate Shemirani. Ander made the comments on the BBC 's Panorama in which Paloma's brothers, Gabriel and Sebastian Shemirani, also claimed their mother's conspiracy theories were heavily linked to their sister's death from blood cancer last year. Paloma's mother, Ms Shemirani, who calls herself a 'nurse' despite being banned from the profession for sharing misinformation online, has since furiously fired back at her sons' claims that she is responsible for her death. In a post on X, she claims her daughter was 'gaslit' by doctors and has even suggested she was experimented on by medics, accusing doctors of breaching the Nuremberg Code drawn up in 1947 to control the safety of medical experiments. It was late 2023, not long after graduating from Cambridge University, when Paloma, 23, started suffering chest pains and breathing difficulties. Ander accompanied her to Maidstone Hospital on December 22 that year and she was later given the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which left untreated can be fatal but with chemotherapy she was likely to survive. Recalling the moment that Paloma revealed the diagnosis to him, he told the BBC: 'I remember when she called me at three in the morning, woke me up in bed, and she was just crying. 'And she said 'There's a mass in my chest that they found on an X-ray'. 'Obviously I was terrified. Cancer was one of Paloma's biggest worries in the whole world.' Though their relationship had previously been strained, Paloma still craved the support of her mother, Ander said - and she soon turned up at the hospital and began to exert control over Paloma. Ander, 23, said that everything was 'up in the air' for Paloma when she was first diagnosed and 'she wanted to assess all her [medical] options'. But he continued: 'Kate came in and started asking for her blood work and everything. She didn't ask Paloma's permission, she said it and insisted on it and the nurses kind of looked over at Paloma (as if to ask) 'are you ok with this? She was like, you know, 'yeah sure'… (she was) defeated.' Panorma's Cancer Conspiracy Theories: Why Did Our Sister Die? - screened on Monday night - claimed Shemirani texted Ander to say: 'TELL PALOMA NOT TO SIGN [OR] VERBALLY CONSENT TO CHEMO OR ANY TREATMENT.' He raised safeguarding concerns with medical staff who he says were also worried about parental influence but thought Paloma had the capacity to make her own decisions. Panorama's Cancer Conspiracy Theories show claimed Paloma's mother, Kate Shemirani, text Ander the above message Asked whether his former girlfriend was able to make informed decisions, Ander replied: 'No not at all, she was in fight or flight and really just wanted to be taken care of and not have to make the hard decisions. 'Her mum kind of swooped in and I could see how much she was torn and it was just this whirlwind of fake information and she didn't know up from down.' Paloma did not agree to chemotherapy and instead reached out to a former partner of Shemirani's, who told her to consider Gerson therapy - a theory that a plant-based diet and routine of coffee enemas could treat cancer - that medical experts say has no evidential basis. Ander said: 'Paloma was having to spend hours and hours a day doing these enemas and juices on this very specific schedule and it took all her time. She had no energy at all. Of course she wasn't eating, had cancer…so it was awful for her.' Shemirani's influence over her daughter isolated her from other members of her family, her friends and boyfriend, the programme alleged. In March 2024, Paloma ended her relationship with Ander who said: 'We were kind of just pushed onto the outside. I could see it happening, I could see her being pulled away from me but I couldn't do anything about it.' Four months after splitting from Ander, Paloma suffered a fatal heart attack caused by her tumour. She had been taken to hospital in Brighton but after several days her life support was switched off. Ander said: 'I just broke. I was just screaming and crying at the top of my lungs. It was horrible. She has fired back furiously on what she labelled 'defamatory reporting' of her daughter's death, including a written statement seemingly signed by Paloma 'She could really, really make me laugh like no one else and that's what I miss most.' Paying tribute, he said: 'We were only 19 when we met. She made me want to be a better person. 'She was fantastic – one of the smartest people I've ever met. Always smiling, always happy she was the love of my life.' Paloma, who was pictured beaming with her two A* and A results after finishing school, had aspired to embark on a career in publishing but her life was cut tragically short due to, her brothers allege, undue influence from their mother, who rose to notoriety during the coronavirus pandemic. Shemirani continues to call herself a 'natural nurse' despite being struck off the UK's nursing register in 2021 for her extreme anti-medicine views. She made headlines during the pandemic when she used social media to claim Covid vaccines had 'a tiny bit of Satan' inside, the jabs caused cancer and contained material harvested from aborted foetuses. She also claimed the Covid virus was linked to the roll-out of 5G technology, and a political tool to gain access to and change people's DNA. She likened lockdown to the Holocaust and insisted dancing NHS nurses would 'stand trial for genocide', while also branding vaccination teams 'death squads'. Speaking to the Panorama her sons said they had been estranged from their mother but Paloma had kept in touch with her. They were not told of their sister's death until a few days afterwards via their lawyer who had been helping them with an assessment of the appropriate medical treatment for Paloma. Sebastian said: 'My sister has passed away as a direct consequence of my mum's actions and beliefs and I don't want anyone else to go through the same pain or loss that I have.' Gabriel - who was Paloma's twin-brother - added: 'I wasn't able to stop my sister from dying. But it would mean the world to me if I could make it that she wasn't just another in a long line of people that die in this way.' The brothers said that when growing up in the East Sussex town of Uckfield, the WIFI was switched off at home because it was deemed harmful and their mother and father, Faramarz Shemirani, would regale them with wild conspiracy theories like the Royal Family were shape-shifting lizards and that the Rothschilds are planning to go live on a space station after a mass genocide on earth. Shemirani- who was banned from Twitter but returned when it was rebranded as X under Elon Musk - is said to have briefly worked for the NHS as a nurse in the 1980s before working as a British Airways air hostess and model and administering Botox, fillers and peels while bringing up her children. She now shares her extremist views on the NHS, immigration and vaccines with her 81,000 followers - and conspiracy theories were a common soundtrack on the school run, including those perpetuated by misinformation spreader Alex Jones, who was declared bankrupt after being told to pay $1.5billion to victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting in the US, which he claimed had been staged to tighten up American gun laws. In 2012, Shemirani was diagnosed with breast cancer - and had the tumour removed through surgery, undergoing a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. But online, she appears to suggest she was healed following 'Gerson therapy' and by taking vitamin and mistletoe injections. 'I'm still here and thriving. You can shove your poison mustard gas where the sun doesn't shine you pimps and assassins,' she wrote on X earlier this year, in reference to chemotherapy. Shemirani's former partner has told the BBC that any 'assertions that I played a role in her death are legally inaccurate'. Shemirani herself declined to comment when approached by the MailOnline but has continued to post about her daughter's death on social media for the last year. She claims that the NHS killed her daughter 'in the name of medicine and cash for corpses', without evidence, and continues fundraising in her daughter's name for legal fees that she says will be used to challenge the NHS in court. Writing on X earlier this week, she said: 'When the time is ready we will put all of the documents in public but what I can say is that my daughter was given 12 times the dose of adrenaline and other drugs that did the same as the adrenaline. 'It destroyed her brain in front of us as it collapsed her circulation and the rest is just a cover-up.' In a document co-authored with her ex-husband, she said that Paloma's 'petite frame (was) subjected to excessive caused irreversible brain damage'. She also writes about Paloma on her website, where she sells branded vitamin supplements and offers one-to-one consultations for around £195, despite being banned from practising nursing in the UK. Calling yourself a nurse without good reason is not currently a criminal offence - but will change in the near future under government plans to make falsely identifying as a nurse a crime. Health secretary Wes Streeting said of the proposals: 'This new legislation will help crack down on bogus beauticians and conspiracy theorists masquerading as nurses, and those attempting to mislead patients.' In its announcement of the proposed legislation last month, the government directly alluded to Shemirani without naming her, referencing an incident in which she appeared to compare NHS bosses to the Nazis in 2021 , labelling her a 'bogus nurse'. Speaking at the anti-lockdown rally in question, she had referenced the Nuremberg Trials, in which seven physicians affiliated with the Nazis were put to death for their roles in the Holocaust and crimes against humanity. She told an anti-lockdown gathering: 'At the Nuremberg trials, the doctors and nurses, they stood trial, and they hung. If you are a doctor or a nurse, now is the time to get off that bus.' Police said at the time they were investigating the comments, with both London mayor Sadiq Khan and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemning her tirade. An inquest into Paloma's death is due to begin next month.
The Sun
21-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Chilling rise of TikTokkers peddling dangerous ‘cures' for cancer & other deadly illnesses in sick bid to gain followers
INFLUENCERS are peddling animal dewormer and other dangerous alternative medicines as "cures" for deadly illnesses like cancer in a sick bid to gain followers. Experts have slammed the tips given out on social media as "scary" and dangerous, warning people not to blindly follow influencers. 10 10 10 Many people have tried out the bizarre "hacks", such as the "migraine meal" of drinking coke and eating McDonald's chips that went viral recently. But some TikTokkers are claiming to fix serious and life-threatening illnesses with a quick and easy "magic potion" you can whip up at home. Videos seen by The Sun have influencers confidentially telling their followers that taking dewormer for dogs or horses - which is harmful to humans - gets rid of cancer. Others posted recipes for homemade herbal teas, such as soursop tea, saying that they drank it every day for two weeks and it cured various diseases. Many influencers promote supplements that contain the ancient Indian herb ashwagandha - also saying it helps cure anxiety and a poor sex drive. Hundreds of social media users flocked to the comments sections, begging for more information, with experts worried many people will take such advice as gospel. Cancer sufferers are even among the commenters asking for recipes and recommendations to fight their deadly disease. When The Sun contacted TikTok about the videos peddling alternative cancer cures, those that we flagged were removed. VIRAL DOESN'T MEAN VALID Michael Baah, who is a cancer rehab coach, said it is "scary" people are relying on TikTok and social media for health advice. He explained: "The health advice I see on TikTok lately is wild. One minute it's 'walk 10k steps,' the next it's 'eat pickles to cure cancer' or 'bite a lemon to stop anxiety.' "And the scary part? People are actually giving it a go. "I coach cancer rehab clients every week, and I always tell them, if you're considering any supplement or remedy, speak to your consultant first. "Your health isn't a trend, and it shouldn't be treated like one. "Some of these so-called cures like dog dewormer, fermented pickles, or herbal teas are dangerous when taken seriously. "Just because something is 'natural' doesn't mean it's harmless, and just because it went viral doesn't make it valid. "If anything, it shows how easy it is to spread false hope to vulnerable people." Often, the TikTok videos point to the online shop in the app where people can buy the supplements mentioned. This advice - mostly from people without any medical knowledge - could lead to patients turning away from vital treatment. 10 10 10 10 Other herbs or supplements could also interfere with any ongoing cancer treatment. Cancer UK warns: "One of the biggest risks of seeking alternative therapy is postponing or declining evidence-based conventional treatment, which might otherwise prolong or even save a patient's life." Gen Z particularly vulnerable New research from City St George's, University of London, recently found that 81 per cent of cancer cures touted by content creators on TikTok are fake. It also found that Gen Z is particularly vulnerable to cancer misinformation, as TikTok is used as a search engine and is a key means of accessing health information for this demographic. TikTok told The Sun that the study had a small sample size and only represented a tiny percentage of the content on the app. It said it takes steps to counter misinformation - which is a problem across all social media, not just the video-based platform. It's not just cancer cures being promoted online, but for a range of both physical and mental illnesses. Anxiety sufferers are told to eat an orange while in the shower. Influencers confidently tell those suffering from the mental illness to bite into a lemon or eat sour skittles or sour patch kids to shock their system out of a panic attack. Others said to eat ice, have a cold drink or an ice bath along a similar vein. Some even claimed that eating fermented pickles also helps. TikTok health advice: What to look out for Check credentials Do they have any relevant qualifications? Are they a certified trainer, registered dietitian, or licensed professional in their field? Real experts will usually highlight their credentials clearly, signposting where they qualified from Do your own research Verify the information they share -don't blindly follow their advice. Look for scientific evidence or expert opinions backing up their claims - there are many health studies online. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Keep and eye out for red flags Be wary if they are promoting extreme products, quick fixes, or other unrealistic hacks. Don't trust overly sensationalised or extreme claims. Are they signposting you to a shop online or a service? They could be benefiting financially from this. Michael added: "Things like eating ice or biting lemons are just sensory distractions. "They might offer a few seconds of relief, but they don't address the root of what someone's feeling. "If anxiety could be cured by Skittles or cold drinks, mental health professionals would be out of business. "As a professional, I think it's important we stick to what's proven: science-backed strategies, structured support, and good old-fashioned common sense. "That's what gets results. Not trending audio and a camera filter. It's spreading misinformation "The bigger issue is how polished and convincing these videos look. "It's easy to get sucked in. But behind the editing and engagement, there's usually no evidence, no credentials, and no real accountability. "So yes, enjoy your orange in the shower if it gives you a lift, but don't confuse that with a treatment plan. "Real health takes consistency, not gimmicks." Dr Kirstie Fleetwood-Meade, who specialises in anxiety, agreed. She told The Sun: "Some people may find regular cold exposure (ice baths or cold showers) are a helpful way to reduce anxiety, alongside input from a qualified health professional, as it can help to regulate the nervous system. "Many TikTok 'anxiety cures' oversimplify a complex mental health problem, misleading people into thinking quick fixes are effective treatments. "This can delay seeking proper care and invalidate real struggles of people who live with anxiety every day. "Because these 'health' influencers often lack professional credentials, they can spread misinformation widely without accountability, and sometimes encourage risky or harmful behaviours." TikTok, Instagram and YouTube are flooded with self-proclaimed "wellness experts" confidently informing their followers of their "credentials". Research published in 2023 discovered that 84 per cent of mental health advice on TikTok is misleading, with 14 per cent of videos containing content that could be harmful. It has been found that "personal narratives are often prioritised over research-backed content". A TikTok spokesperson said: "TikTok is a place where people can share their personal medical treatment experiences and build supportive communities. "We proactively provide trusted health information in-app from the World Health Organisation, partner with independent fact-checkers to verify content, and rigorously enforce policies— to remove any content which breaches this policy." They said that their Community Guidelines ban health misinformation that may cause significant harm and they remove this content from the platform when they find it. Some professionals are beginning to adopt the influencer style of content online - further blurring the lines and making it confusing about who to trust. 10 10 APPLE CIDER VINEGAR One expert pointed to the case of Australian influencer Belle Gibson, who was the subject of Netflix documentary "Apple Cider Vinegar" last year. The wellness warrior pretended to have brain cancer, and falsely told her thousands of followers she had cured herself through alternative therapies and nutrition. She gained a huge following online in 2013 after blogging about her "battle with cancer". Gibson amassed 200,000 followers on Instagram when it was still a new social media platform - a large number back then. CANCER CON I was diagnosed with cancer at 19 and then was scammed by con artist Belle Gibson who said she could cure it By Leanne Hall Belle Gibson is the latest fraudster to have a TV show made on how she swindled people out of money by pretending healthy eating and green juices cured her brain cancer. However, it soon became clear that Belle's natural remedies didn't work and that she never even had cancer to begin with. Starting as a blogger in 2009, Belle claimed she was diagnosed with "malignant brain cancer" and given "six to eight months" to live. However, Belle said she had chosen to withdraw from chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, and instead embarked on "a quest to heal myself naturally… through nutrition, patience, determination and love". With 200,000 followers on Instagram at the time, many of whom were cancer patients, she conned them into thinking she had found a cure. And one of those was fellow Aussie Bella Johnston. At the age of 19, Bella was diagnosed with a paraganglioma, a rare endocrine tumour, in 2009 and was surrounded by older people in the hospital leaving her feeling isolated. So when she found Belle's social media and saw she was roughly the same age and battling cancer too, she was hooked. Bella saw that the influencer had claimed to manage the disease with diet, exercise and alternative medicine and as a result, Bella wanted to follow in her footsteps. But unbeknownst to Bella, the cancer survivor she looked up to was a con artist who had never had the disease. She then released "The Whole Pantry", a health and wellness app. The fraudster claimed doctors told her she only has "six weeks, four months tops" to live - drawing in thousands of sympathetic followers. From there, she also published a cookbook and raked in $400,000 Australian dollars, pledging to donate a share to charity. In 2015, Gibson was exposed by journalists as a fraudster who lied about her medical records and diagnosis. A federal court ordered her to pay a $410,000 fine plus $30,000 in legal costs for misleading and deceptive conduct - a fine she hasn't paid. Her money-grabbing lies went on to inspire many documentaries. What's worse is that she is only one of a growing list of young, attractive and seemingly inspirational women who fake serious illnesses to make money. Sometimes the families themselves are in on the lie - as with the case of British teenager Megan Bhari. Not only were donors conned out of around £400,000, but they duped celebrities including Louis Tomlinson, Taylor Swift, even winning an award from Prime Minister David Cameron. Aged 15, her mother Jean told friends that her daughter - who already suffered from a disease causing a build-up of pressure on the brain - had been diagnosed with a brain tumour. They started a charity, Believe in Magic, a 'Make-a-Wish'-style organisation to bring hope to seriously ill children. Jean herself posted regular updates about her daughter's hospital visits - at one point even raising £120,000 in 48 hours for emergency treatment in the US, saying Megan's tumour had worsened. She even once claimed that Megan had severe sepsis and that doctors had given her only a 10 per cent chance of surviving the next week - but it was all a lie. An inquest later recorded she died of heart failure related to a fatty liver but there was no mention of a tumour on her medical records. The Charity Commission later launched an investigation into Believe in Magic before freezing its accounts following "multiple complaints." Her charity was dissolved after a probe found nearly £400,000 missing from its books. Police did investigate the complaints but said that there was insufficient evidence to take the matter any further. Do you know more? Email 10 WEB OF LIES I was pals with Apple Cider Vinegar's Belle Gibson but exposed her for the liar she was – her 'seizures' were a red flag By Emma Pryer WHEN Chanelle McAuliffe struck up a friendship with Belle Gibson in October 2014, she thought she'd found a kindred spirit. Despite Belle's, 32, supposed terminal cancer diagnosis and the looming dread that she might not reach her next birthday, she was full of ambition - and that inspired Chanelle, 37. Little did Chanelle know, it was all a lie. Belle, who at the time was running Australia's most known wellness account by claiming she'd curated a natural healing lifestyle that cured her of deadly brain cancer, had never been diagnosed with the deadly illness. The incredible story of the world's most devious con-woman and how her fraudulent business was finally uncovered was made into a Netflix series called Apple Cider Vinegar, which hit the platform earlier this month. The Melbourne mum-of-one's Instagram account, Healing Belle, had more than 300,000 followers by the time she was eventually caught out. The influencer honed in on the fear and bewilderment of her followers and friends - including Chanelle. Most of her followers were people genuinely battling terminal cancer, and she was fraudulently telling them to drink green juices and consume organic foods to cure themselves. Her mantra? Western medicine, such as chemotherapy, could not cure you. She kept up the facade of her supposed deadly illness by faking seizures, claiming her 'cancer' was spreading and telling people: "I'm going to die soon anyway." Initially, Chanelle believed it all. But just a few months into their friendship, after she'd watched Belle roll around on the floor having a 'seizure' before miraculously jumping to her feet and wiping saliva from her mouth, alarm bells started to chime.
ABC News
02-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Adelaide fashion entrepreneur dies after using magic mushrooms as alternative treatment
In the lead-up to her death, Carol Foord was desperate to be healthy. The Adelaide fashion industry icon, who founded Toffs and later Wild Child Style Lab, had fought breast cancer and symptoms of motor neurone disease. In June last year, as she had done before, she turned to alternative treatments — seeking out magic mushrooms to help with anxiety. But, in the hours after ingesting the hallucinogens, Ms Foord went into cardiac arrest and needed resuscitation at home. She was taken to hospital, where she died a short time later. Nearly a year on, her devastated family is speaking out to warn others about the risks of undertaking alternative treatments. A post-mortem report supplied to the family could not pinpoint why Ms Foord had gone into cardiac arrest. "There were no acute findings to account for sudden death," it said. Her cause of death was recorded as "cardio respiratory failure on a background of motor neurone disease and substance use (psilocin and diazepam)". Diazepam is used to treat anxiety, while psilocin is a hallucinogen found in magic mushrooms. Samples showed both substances were present in Ms Foord's blood when she died. The report also noted an alternative health practitioner was reportedly with her when she "deteriorated". Following Ms Foord's death, the practitioner was charged with supplying or administering a controlled drug to another person. But the charge was dropped during a hearing in April. Outside court, the practitioner declined to answer questions from the ABC. In an email to Ms Foord's sister Barbara Komazec, a SA Police detective said there was insufficient evidence for anyone to be charged. According to a 2024 National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre study, deaths caused by magic mushrooms are rare and occur mostly due to traumatic accidents or self-injury while under the influence of the drug. It found, over a 23-year period, a very small number of deaths were caused by an apparent acute toxic reaction after psilocin ingestion. But Ms Foord's family said her case highlighted the risks associated with undertaking alternative treatments away from medical settings. Ms Komazec said those who use drugs at home do not have access to immediate assistance if something goes wrong. She said, in this case, medical professionals treating Ms Foord did not know she had ingested magic mushrooms. "The paramedics were not told. At the hospital, when she arrived at the RAH, the hospital was not informed," she said. Since Ms Foord's death, her family has attempted to access records to find out exactly what time paramedics were called — but have so far been unsuccessful. In a statement, SA Ambulance Service said no Freedom of Information request had been received concerning the records of Ms Foord. Ms Komazec said her sister was battling a serious illness when she first embraced alternative treatments. She feared others in a similar situation might be tempted to do the same out of a desperation to be well — but she urged caution. "I would like to see further investigation of this," she said. Mr Foord said, despite perception, magic mushrooms were not risk-free drugs. He said, of particular concern, was the potential for serious side effects to be dismissed as "a bad trip". "Hallucinogens are dangerous, they really are," he said. In a statement, SA Health said it could not respond to questions about Ms Foord's death due to patient confidentiality. "People who are considering engaging with alternative therapies are strongly urged to do so in consultation with their qualified and registered health practitioner," the statement said. "Additionally, the distribution or consumption of illicit substances is strongly discouraged by all health professionals." SA Police referred queries to the coroner, telling the ABC "the investigation is now with the Coroner's Office for review". A spokesperson for the Coroner's Office said, "the coronial investigation into this death is ongoing". "The prosecution of criminal charges is a matter for SAPOL," they said. Ms Foord's family said they live every day with questions about how her final hours played out. Ms Foord's eldest sister, Jenny Howland, said it had been difficult to navigate those questions while grieving. "I miss her all the time, I'll often find something at home that reminds me of her," she said. "But it's the way she died that I can't quite cope with." Their focus has also been on honouring the memory of their sister and daughter, who was 72 when she died. Earlier this year, a memorial plaque was installed in Ms Foord's honour at Heywood Park in Unley. It remembers her as a style icon, an entrepreneur and a beautiful spirit. Mr Foord said his sister's legacy was wide-reaching. She built an extensive property and business portfolio, with Wild Child Style Lab remaining a King William Road institution to this day. She was adored by her family, and built meaningful connections throughout her life. "She brought a lot of joy to a lot of people," he said.
Telegraph
02-06-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Influencers ‘putting cancer patients' lives at risk with fake cures'
Cancer patients are dying after following fake cures peddled online, according to the world's top doctors. AI and online influencers have persuaded cancer patients to reject conventional medicine in favour of intermittent fasting, essential oils, oxygen treatments and the Mediterranean diet, doctors said. In an unprecedented intervention in Chicago at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, the world's largest cancer conference, they said they were 'losing the battle for communication'. Dr Julie Gralow, ASCO chief medical officer, said the global body wanted to counter the ability of AI to 'hallucinate' and spit out false information, and to guide patients towards the facts. In her own practice, she has faced repeated tragedies when patients had gone online to search for alternative medicines for cancer, ending up finding a clinic in Mexico promising vitamin C infusions, and caffeine colonics. She said she tried to 'gently ease' patients into more evidence-based treatments, often after a scan showed their tumour was not shrinking, but in several cases it was too late by the time patients changed their mind. 'It's tragic, we mourn,' she said. 'You think about what could we have done differently? What should we have offered? But we can't force anybody to do anything.' 'Miracle cures' warning England's most senior doctor last night said the same trends were sweeping the UK, warning of 'an alarmingly high level of misinformation' about cancer online. Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said lives were at risk because of 'miracle cures' and 'fairy tales' on the internet. He said social media could help to provide a supportive community for those diagnosed with cancer – but was instead fuelling 'an alarmingly high level of misinformation'. 'I would urge people to be sceptical of any 'miracle cures' you may see on social media around cancer, and use trusted, credible sources like the NHS website or your care team to verify anything you are unsure on – because these fairy tales aren't just misleading, they can be harmful,' he said. Meanwhile, Richard Simcock, chief medical officer at charity Macmillan Cancer Support, warned of an 'exponential' increase in misinformation. The oncologist said: 'I have recently seen two young women who have declined all proven medical treatments for cancer and are instead pursuing unproven and radical diets, promoted on social media. 'As a doctor, I want to be able to use the best available therapies to help people with cancer. 'A person is perfectly entitled to decline that therapy but when they do that on the basis of information which is frankly untrue or badly interpreted it makes me very sad. 'It's clear that we have work to do to build back trust in evidence-based medicine.' One paper presented at the conference found that all of the videos analysed on TikTok about prostate cancer screening presented 'low or moderate quality content' about the topic. Another study found that half the population surveyed 'did not trust' information from scientists about cancer. Doctors Rohit and Rahul Gosain, who gave a presentation on social media to the conference, warned of a rise in social media-fuelled alternative medicines, with some patients delaying treatment until their cancer has metastasised. The pair, who are both oncologists, create content on social media with the aim of bringing the latest scientific research to community doctors, under the handle The Oncology Brothers. They said patients who adopted approaches with no evidence to support them returned to seek help only when cancer was incurable, by which time 'we have missed the boat'. Such patients were 'in a lot of distress', they added. Texas University's Dr Fumiko Chino, co-author with Dr Brandon Godinich on the research about trust in doctors, warned that oncologists were 'losing the battle' against misinformation. Dr Liz O'Riordan, retired breast surgeon and breast cancer survivor, said her own book The Cancer Roadmap; Real science to guide your treatment path, was inspired by a reel on Instagram which claimed that mushrooms cure cancer. She said: 'There is a huge amount of cancer misinformation online – and that includes podcast clips as well as videos and Facebook posts. 'In my book I'm trying to educate the public by calling out the red flags that signal information is misleading and tackle some of the big myths – like sugar causes cancer, the keto diet can cure cancer, deodorants cause cancer etc. 'Every day I get messages from scared women who want to know if they need to stop eating dairy/soy/flaxseeds, do they need to stop wearing underwired bras/using deodorants, is it true that juicing can cure cancer?' Speaking at ASCO, the British medic said many doctors were 'clueless' about the extent of misinformation on the internet, saying her own eyes were opened when she became a cancer patient.
