Guardian investigation profiles Barbara O’Neill wellness event

scienceOct 18, 2026883

The Guardian sent an undercover reporter to a five-day wellness conference at the De Vere Cranage Estate hotel in Cheshire where Australian influencer Barbara O’Neill promoted anti-medical advice, telling one audience member with lupus “keep away from the doctor” and dismissing antibiotics, vaccines and scientifically proven cancer treatment. O’Neill advised treating a tumour with a castor oil compress applied externally, and delivered long, scientific-sounding explanations about the glycocalyx while also mixing Bible verse into sessions on the immune system. Tickets for the residential retreat cost up to £1,300 and the reporter observed four sessions in one day, including a session titled Barbara Under Attack. O’Neill has 3.6 million Instagram followers and 1.7 million on Facebook and was banned from providing health services in Australia in 2019 after authorities found she made misleading, dangerous claims that posed a risk to public safety. Prominent doctors and scientists told the Guardian her advice is dangerous and could kill, and experts in the UK and Ireland have warned venues against hosting her appearances. The Guardian’s account shows how O’Neill has shifted from Australia to unregulated events overseas where her teachings reach large audiences despite the Australian ban.

Timothy Caulfield

@caulfieldtim.bsky.social

🚨 Ummm... don't do this! Alternative Health Influencer Boasts That He’s Been Drinking From a Radioactive Jug for 250 Days Straight futurism.com/future-socie... Radioactive water an OG scienceploitation ("look at the cool Madame Curie research, let's exploit!") wellness products.

53Yesterday

Marica Cassis7

Jesus wept. What is wrong with these people?

News and Coffee4

let me know when his jaw falls off

Britt S. Baker (She / Her) 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🇨🇦2

I have 20 years on this idiot and COPD, and I'm pretty sure I'll still outlive him. The good thing about people like this is that it's self solving problem!

Ferric Fang, MD2

He doesn’t seem very bright but at least he is going to be hot. For thousands of years.

Christopher McCabe2

Don’t mess with Dr. Darwin….

ABear-Ridge2

I work in a nuclear facility, he can come sit in one of the shielded cells holding nuclear sources if he really wants a full-body dose (if he can convince the RSO to allow him)

Quoting this

Patrick Fournier 🇨🇦7

C'est mon choix pour le Darwin Award de cette année ! 😁 Tabarnak, comment on s'est rendus là ?? 🫠

The Guardian

@theguardian.com

‘Keep away from the doctor’: a visit to an influencer’s wellness event, where the advice could kill

262h ago

Christiane 🇨🇦2

Such people who dismiss science, antibiotics, vaccines are a threat. Their advice fatal.

รℓσαɳε ℓყรɓεƭɦ2

i will keep away from doctors. the nhs is trying to kill me as a matter of public policy.

Ildfluer1

If you listen to influencers instead of medical doctors, maybe it's best to let nature take its course.

BernieQuinn 🇮🇪 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️🇸🇩

@scarpetta.bsky.social

I wonder were there any miracle cures in Ballybofey last night with Barbara O'Neill and Paddy's Powerful Bottle? #spéirgorm

319h ago

Australia

@australia.svpn.com

Barbara O’Neill, identified as a risk to public safety in Australia, dismisses antibiotics, vaccines and scientifically proven cancer treatment at UK conference #Australia

12h ago

Emma Wilkinson

@emmajourno.bsky.social

“Sometimes scans are not right,” replies O’Neill, who advises the woman to treat the tumour with a castor oil compress – kitchen roll soaked with high viscosity oil from the castor plant – on the outside of the body. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

2h ago

Susan McCallum Smith

@susanmccallum.bsky.social

How can this not be illegal? People must be dying because of this dangerous bullshit? www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

2h ago

Luca

@chillluca.bsky.social

"...O’Neill says she is driven by God, who she believes spoke directly to her..." Another 'supposedly reliably apparently religious based evil/deranged person' literally putting a spell on gullible and desperate people.

2h ago

australianskeptics.bsky.social

@australianskeptics.bsky.social

Venues warned about Barbara O’Neill Experts have warned UK venues against hosting Barbara O’Neill, the self-described naturopath who is banned in Australia for promoting dangerous medical misinformation. streamlinefeed.co.ke/news/venues-...

9h ago

1 source

theguardian.com‘Keep away from the doctor’: a visit to an influencer’s wellness event, where the advice could kill

Guardian investigation profiles Barbara O’Neill wellness eventscience

Guardian investigation profiles Barbara O’Neill wellness event

Related