Experts’ verdict on Gwyneth Paltrow’s ‘cures’ — from vagina steaming to vampire facials
NETFLIX viewers have chuckled at Gwyneth Paltrow’s oddball “cures” — but doctors insist they are simply nonsense.
Hit show The Goop Lab hails the benefits of vaginal steaming, vampire facials, coffee enemas and other wacky remedies.
But we told how NHS boss Sir Simon Stevens blasted wellness firms such as A-lister Paltrow’s Goop for pushing products that carry “considerable risks to health”.
He warned: “Myths and misinformation have been put on steroids by the availability of misleading claims online.”
So are Goop’s bizarre treatments harmless nonsense — or a real danger to your well-being?
Sun Doctor Carol Cooper and This Morning’s Dr Sara Kayat look at some of the luxury brand’s health claims and offer their expert opinion . . .
‘Get stung by bees to help inflammation and scarring’
GOOP has said being stung with bee venom can help with inflammation and scarring.
Gwyneth claimed: “I’ve been stung by bees. It’s a thousands-of years-old treatment called apitherapy.
“People use it to get rid of inflammation and scarring.
“It’s actually pretty incredible if you research it. But, man, it’s painful.”
An incredulous Dr Cooper said: “This is a ridiculous suggestion that can result in serious allergic reactions which could prove fatal.
“I don’t under-stand how any- one can get away with recommending it.”
‘Vagina steaming to clean your womb’
GWYNETH has praised the virtues of steam cleaning her vagina and uterus with the Mugwort V-Steam.
Goop says: “You sit on what is essentially a mini-throne and a combination of infra-red and mugwort steam cleanses your uterus.”
Gwyneth added: “It’s been in Korean medicine for thousands of years and there are real healing properties.”
Dr Cooper said: “The vagina and uterus do not need cleaning and a steam method is only likely to lead to scald in a very sensitive part of the body. I’d advise anyone to steer well away from this.”
‘Use jade eggs for hormone balance and bladder control’
GWYNNIE has said jade eggs can balance hormones and help bladder control . . . if you insert one into your vagina.
Goop stopped making health claims about them after get- ting sued and now offers customers a refund on them.
The website said the eggs, “increase vaginal muscle tone, hormonal balance and feminine energy in general”.
Dr Cooper said: “There’s no evidence for the claims.
“Using jade eggs this way could lead to risks of pelvic pain and infection, leading to toxic shock syndrome.”
‘Avoid underwired bras or you’ll get breast cancer’
AVOID underwire bras or you could get breast cancer, claimed Goop.
It quoted Dr Michael Schachter as saying: “Wearing a bra might contribute to the development of breast cancer as a result of cutting off lymphatic drainage.”
Dr Kayat said: “There is no evidence to suggest that. There has only been one study, which compared the bra-wearing habits of 1,000 post menopausal women with breast cancer with 469 women who did not have breast cancer.
“There was no significant difference between the two, which offers some reassurance.”
‘Drink raw milk to clean out parasites’
GOOP recommends drinking unpasteurised “raw” milk to clean out any parasites.
It says: “Think of the goat milk as bait.
“Parasites come out of the gut lining to drink the milk, which they love, but they also consume the vermifuge, which will eventually eradicate them.”
But Dr Kayat said: “There is no scientific research that suggests that parasites love milk or that the vermifuge will eradicate them.
“There are actually health risks associated with drinking unpasteurised milk – including that of actually getting a parasitic infection.”
‘Use vampire spray to protect your aura’
THE wellness site sells a £20 “vampire repellent” scented spray which promises to protect the user’s aura.
Goop says: “If there’s a more pleasurable way to banish psychic vampires, we don’t know it.
“This essential oil blend of lavender, rosemary, and juniper is an energy-refreshing scent with a tendency to conjure up positivity.”
Dr Cooper said: “This is absolute quackery in a costly spray.
“It may be pleasant to use, but that’s not the same as making these outrageous claims that it has any sort of ‘benefits’.”
‘Have a coffee enema to clean out your colon’
GOOP included a coffee Implant O’Rama enema implement on a wellness gift guide.
The product’s website has a disclaimer in the pump’s description saying “no claims are made about this product or anything we sell on this website”.
Dr Cooper said: “Again, the colon does not need to be cleaned out. It is filled naturally by colonies of helpful bacteria that do that.
“Colonic irrigation and other such techniques can lead to infections and even bowel perforation.
“Anyone who knows what they are doing will certainly not be considering a coffee enema.”
‘Use a sea sponge instead of a tampon’
POPPING in a sea sponge every month is meant to be an eco-friendly alternative to disposable feminine hygiene products.
Goop says the marine organisms are “free of additives and reusable”.
But Dr Kayat said: “Menstrual sponges are unsafe due to the bacteria, dirt and sand in them. They are not easy to clean and their re-use may promote infection.
“Retrieving them can result in vaginal abrasions. Particles left in the vagina can cause infection.
“In a worst-case scenario it could lead to toxic shock syndrome and, possibly, even death.”
‘Take MDMA to cure depression and PTSD’
TAKING psychedelic drugs and MDMA can help to ease mental health issues, Goop controversially claims.
A post on its website states: “For people who are alexithymic – that is, they cannot express feelings verbally – MDMA is thought to be a very, very valuable adjunct to psychotherapy.”
Dr Cooper said: “MDMA can cause depression and memory problems.
“It is being researched for possible benefits in some mental health conditions, but that is very different from taking street MDMA, which can be laced with a cocktail of other drugs.”
‘Reverse ageing by using your own blood’
KNOWN as a “vampire facial”, it is claimed this technique helps reduce the ageing process.
Goop says: “After a blood sample is obtained from a patient, the blood is put into a centrifuge.
“The serum is microneedled into the skin.
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“This stimulates the natural healing process and the creation of collagen. We also see the colour and texture of the skin improve.”
Dr Cooper said: “Some studies back injecting plasma obtained from blood to treat acne scarring.
“But that’s a long way from showing these injections can reverse ageing.”
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