Barbara O’Neill, a 73-year-old Australian proponent of natural remedies with 3.6 million Instagram followers and 1.7 million Facebook followers, is conducting wellness conferences across the UK and Ireland. The five-day residential retreat held at a Cheshire hotel charges attendees up to £1,300 to participate in sessions where O’Neill provides medical advice on various health conditions.
O’Neill was banned from providing health services in Australia in 2019 after authorities determined she was “misleading vulnerable people” and “made dangerous claims not supported by evidence” that “posed a risk to public safety.” Despite this regulatory action in her home country, she has expanded her operations overseas, conducting question-and-answer sessions and lectures that mix religious references with wellness teachings.
During the conference sessions observed, O’Neill recommended castor oil compresses as treatment for stomach tumors, nasal polyps, endometriosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and bile duct stones. Medical experts told the Guardian there was no evidence castor oil compresses were effective for any of these conditions. She also advised a glaucoma patient to use castor oil with cayenne pepper in the eye, which a leading glaucoma specialist said had no supporting evidence and could potentially cause harm.
O’Neill has discouraged attendees from following conventional medical guidance, including advising a pregnant woman against taking folic acid, suggesting antibiotics are harmful for infections, and recommending a thyroid patient stop taking thyroxine to “see what the body does.” She also advised a diabetic patient to stop blood glucose monitoring, claiming it would “balance right out with the change in diet.” Medical professionals consulted by the Guardian characterized such recommendations as potentially life-threatening, particularly regarding untreated diabetes and thyroid dysfunction.
Prominent doctors and scientists have expressed concern about O’Neill’s teachings, with some warning that her advice could be fatal. Her public appearances have prompted attention from health experts in both the UK and Ireland.
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