— YouTuber and physician Dr. Mike details vaginal eggs, rectal ozone therapy, and more
In this video, Mikhail Varshavski, DO -- who goes by "Dr. Mike" on social media -- breaks down the science (or lack thereof) behind Goop's products and their claims.
Following is a partial transcript of the video (note that errors are possible):
Varshavski: Since the launch of Goop in 2008, Gwyneth Paltrow has continued to make headlines with her controversial and sometimes ridiculous takes on wellness and health. Granted, most people when they see a headline about vaginal eggs or steaming groins tend to chuckle and just move on. While you might, unfortunately, not everyone does. Let's talk about why this $100 billion wellness industry continues to thrive and the actual danger it poses to their customers. Let's start with the art of persuasion.
Varshavski: Celebrities will pose their advice as simply what they do or what works for them, while simultaneously building enormous businesses that profit off their innocent storytelling.
Paltrow: It's not meant to be advice for anybody else. It's really just what has worked for me.
Varshavski: But still buy your products using "link in bio," right? "But Dr. Mike, what's the harm if they're just sharing what works for them and making a profit?" There is nothing wrong with making a profit, except if it's profiting off of misinformation under the guise of questionable anecdote at best. At worst, it delays people from getting actual medical treatment.
Think about it. It's not unreasonable to have a person with stomach problems seek help from unproven supplements while cancer spreads throughout their body. This isn't an exaggeration either. In 2017, a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Instituteopens in a new tab or window showed that people with cancer who had used alternative medicine instead of conventional treatment had a greater risk of dying.
It's not just the delay in getting real medical care. These unregulated treatments potentially create harm like medication interactions, liver inflammation, heart arrhythmias, or even an increased risk of getting cancer. Yes, cancer. Yet somehow this industry is expected to grow to $400+ billion by 2030.
Honestly, I think it's my fault. Well, not my fault, but modern medicine's fault. Truly, our healthcare system has provided us with nothing short of a garbage experience. We have shrinking appointment times, burnt-out physicians, and corrupt insurance plans that leave people wanting an alternative to regular medicine.
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