Health

Was Dr. Sebi's book banned in multiple countries? No, that's not true: There are no credible reports that a book about Dr. Sebi's controversial diet has been banned in any country. The book listed in the claim is available on a website that claims it "ships worldwide" and does not mention a ban. The claim appeared in a post on…

Does a picture circulating on social media prove that Pfizer has a patent "for tracking vaccinated humans worldwide via microwave and graphene"? No, that's not true: The pictured document is not a Pfizer patent and it does not mention graphene or microwaves. Pfizer's office of media relations confirmed to Lead Stories that Pfizer has nothing to do with the patent,…

Does cayenne pepper heal stomach ulcers, and is it safe to consume in excess? No, that's not true: An emergency medicine toxicologist at the National Capital Poison Center told Lead Stories that cayenne pepper can cause many life-threatening health complications when consumed in excess. A clinical dietician also told Lead Stories that cayenne pepper irritates stomach ulcers, causing more pain.…

Do vaccines make children allergic to nuts? No, that's not true: There is no known association between childhood vaccines and these sorts of allergic reactions. An assistant professor of pediatrics in allergy and immunology called the notion "anti-vaccine rhetoric." The claim appeared in a post on Instagram published on February 14, 2023, with the description "A little Valentine's Day poetry…

Is antineoplaston therapy developed by Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski an effective cure for cancer? No, that's not true: There is not sufficient evidence that antineoplaston therapy -- an alternative type of cancer treatment using drugs that are composed of chemical compounds found naturally in human blood and urine -- is an effective cure for cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration…

Does the human body contain 2 trillion volts of electricity in it? No, that's not true: A professor in electrophysiology told Lead Stories it "does not make sense" to talk of voltage of the human body. He likened the human body's electrical ability to a table with 1,000 batteries sitting on it, unconnected, with the negative ends of the battery…

Does the United Kingdom forbid COVID boosters for healthy people? No, that's not true: A representative of the U.K. Health Security Agency (HSA) called the notion "nonsense." February 12, 2023, marked the end in the U.K. of the autumn booster campaign, which was the first time boosters were offered to everyone under 50 regardless of their health status. A separate…

Is ALC-0315, an ingredient in Pfizer's COVID vaccine, unsafe? No, that's not true: A claim to the contrary relies on a misunderstanding and misapplication of a safety data sheet, which was created in the context of occupational safety for those handling large amounts or high concentrations -- not the small amounts in a therapeutic product -- according to experts consulted…

Is it true that Romania outlaws excessive weight and, therefore, there are "literally zero" people with a body mass above normal? No, that's not true. The website of the Chamber of Deputies, which typically initiates legislation and in some cases approves bills proposed by the upper house of the national parliament, shows no signs of such law. The chamber's spokesperson…

Did a Minnesota trans activist advocate her right to "genitally mutilate" pre-pubescent children? No, that's not true: The activist, Amber Muhm, spoke in favor of House File (HF) 146, a bill that would prevent Minnesota from enforcing any out-of-state law or court order which removes a child from their parents' custody because those parents have agreed to gender-affirming health care…

Do animals aside from humans have Down syndrome? No, that's not true: Down syndrome is a genetic condition caused by a duplication of human chromosome 21, which is only found in humans, an expert told Lead Stories. Some animals, such as apes, may also have duplications of chromosomes specific to their species that may cause symptoms similar to those characterized…

Did Dr. Tom Shimabukuro, director of the Immunization Safety Office at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), admit COVID-19 vaccines are causing "debilitating illnesses"? No, that's not true: In the context of talking about unverified data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) on COVID vaccine side effects, Shimabukuro acknowledged "reports of people experiencing long-lasting health problems,"…

Does "grounding" heal "any kind of disease that you have"? No, that's not true: There are no cures for multiple diseases, from cancer to HIV, and the simple treatment of putting your feet on the earth is not medically proven to heal "any kind of disease." The claim appeared in a video on Instagram on January 29, 2023. It opened…

Does having sex with men vaccinated for COVID-19 cause menstrual cycle problems in unvaccinated women and do Pfizer documents confirm this? No, that's not true: The vaccine elements can't be spread from person to person, either through intercourse or through general proximity, a process called "shedding," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website says. Also, Pfizer documents make…

Can "quantum healing" work by sensing your body's biofield and harnessing energy for an instant cure? No, that's not true: Physicists and medical doctors say using quantum physics terminology as the basis for medicine-free healing is hucksterism and quackery. The claim appeared in a video (archived here) on Facebook on January 5, 2023. It opens with Sachin Karve, a self-described…

Are there "electric" and "magnetic" foods that people should be eating in balance with each other to give their bodies what they need? No, that's not true: Neither term is used to describe food in the disciplines of food science, nutrition or horticulture. A University of Nebraska professor and food scientist called the notion "nonsense." The claim appeared in a…

Does "DoctorTruth batana oil" reverse hair loss and potentially stimulate hair growth? No, that's not true: A board-certified dermatologist said he does not recommend it, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) told Lead Stories batana oil is not an approved product to treat hair loss or hair growth. Also, this post depicts a "deepfake" video that was created for…

Is Pfizer spelled backward -- Rezifp -- the god of the plague and the underworld? No, that's not true: Rezifp has no meaning. The god of the underworld that social media posts are referring to is spelled Resheph. Pfizer, Inc. is named after Charles Pfizer, who founded the biotech and pharmaceutical company, then named Charles Pfizer & Company, in 1849.…

Is every disease caused by a lack of iron in the body? No, that's not true: There are many different types of disease, including infectious diseases (like hepatitis and COVID-19), non-communicable diseases (such as heart disease and stroke) and genetic diseases (like cystic fibrosis and Huntington's disease), all of which are caused by different factors. The claim appeared in a…

Will a juice made of cucumber, pineapple, ginger and lemon juice make a person lose 15 pounds if they drink it twice a day for two weeks? No, that's not true: A clinical dietician said if a person is eating/drinking other things also, they will "definitely not" lose 15 pounds in two weeks. And if a person is only drinking…