Tag Archives: pseudoscience

Berberine patches for weight loss? No evidence to support so-called “Australian startup”

Posted in General, Health, Scam, Alternative "medicine" scams, Education, Skeptic, Social Media, So Called Alternative Medicine by

When it comes to finding a substance that has a history in the East and is available over the counter being touted as a weight loss agent in the West, berberine – a chemical found in a number of plants – is likely to have its supporters. Yet that’s not the same as arguing it is an agent backed by peer reviewed evidence.

Yes, it’s popping up as “natures Ozempic” on social media. There’s a range of websites listing weight loss, lowering of blood sugar levels, reduced cholesterol whilst some cite varied research papers. Companies such as Swisse will sing its praises and even point to “healthy insulin levels” and papers discussing its role in cancer. Nonetheless, it depends where you land when discerning what praises will be sung and what conclusive advice will be published, regardless of findings. In fact the effects of berberine are not well documented or defined.

The most in depth research will stress the need for further research. Larger samples, wider scope within methodology, a focus on specific components of cardiovascular health and even agreed upon amounts and formulations to be studied upon population samples with rigidly controlled age-health profiles. Berberine has been studied far more in Asia than in Western nations, but regrettably the necessary controls are not applied. Various compounds and amounts of berberine applied to subjects with different illnesses and histories cannot provide the statistical certainty one expects, much less serious criteria for falsification and reproduction.

We would possibly have convoluted issues from an ethical standing also. Consider the range of side effects listed in this WebMD article. Even worse is the fact some consumers have fallen dramatically ill within hours of taking berberine purchased online. This is not the norm but these patients find themselves in hospital with pronounced GI purging, dehydration and other complications.

Frustratingly, most punters browsing online have no idea what an AUST L number is, who demands its presence and where to find it. Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) lists (L) unregistered medicines (vitamins or wellness products) by number, provided they won’t harm you. They don’t have to work, having not been pre-market evaluated by the TGA, but must have low risk ingredients. Nonetheless, it helps to be aware of how certain products are rated by the TGA, especially when they make grandiose claims. I would also urge you to do some research on the type of side effects and seriousness of prolonged use of berberine. This PDF is a succinct TGA berberine document.

In fact there is really no good science regarding berberine and weight loss. One study found that for individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, subjects who took berberine for three months experienced weight loss. It’s important to note that it interacts with a number of drugs and/or supplements and side effects include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. It reminds me somewhat of St. John’s Wort. Berberine can impact the P450 cytochrome in the liver and have quasi-impacts on other liver enzymes involved in breaking down drugs.

In order to escape the nasty side effect impact on the G.I. system that berberine has, individuals hoping to make a buck in the wellness industry came up with a new method of delivery. Users of social media, particularly Facebook in my case, might have noticed seemingly endless promotion of an amazing weight loss “patch” that “stopped belly fat… amazes experts… burns belly fat… [and] has science stunned”. In fact it was a clever marketing ploy, following an initial TV advertising gig I fortunately missed. Social media permitted rampant boasting about the impact of studies into oral berberine intake, to support offering it in transdermal patch form to avoid stomach acid destruction. This claim alone leaves one skeptical.

First came the ladies patch named “Purisaki”. It was red with a blue border. Amongst ample peacock terminology and reference to “an Australian startup” readers were treated to this compelling paragraph:

In the summer of 2025, a presentation at a major nutrition science conference turned heads. Jessica Taylor and Kate Morrison, the founders of the startup behind Purisaki, presented their revolutionary method for natural weight loss and detoxification.

Weightloss Mag Australia wanted to know all about Jess and Kate’s breakthrough that “is turning heads”. It all started with their own experience. For Jess and Kate is was all about the 8 part formula in their transdermal patch that encouraged detoxification and the burning of fat. They told the Mag:

So together with leading nutrition scientists, we developed a product that combines fat burning and detoxification – completely natural and with no side effects.

Not much later came the men’s patch called LifeGuage which mentioned that “science is stunned by berberine” thanks to Australian startup. This patch was less obvious, being a colour I might call “Anglo-Saxon pink”. We got to read this familiar-sounding paragraph:

In summer 2025, a presentation at a major sports nutrition conference caused a stir. Matt Berger and Tom Hartman, the founders of the start-up behind LifeGauge, presented their method for targeted fat reduction and metabolism activation – specifically designed for men whose bodies stop cooperating after 40.

Weightloss Mag Australia wanted to know all about Matt and Tom’s science-stunning breakthrough. Ironically, it all started with their own experience. For Matt and Tom it was all about the 8 part formula delivered via their transdermal patch. They told the Mag:

Together with nutritional scientists, we developed a method that delivers berberine and other natural active ingredients directly through the skin – bypassing the stomach, straight into the bloodstream.

Now for a product that’s “stunning science” one has a right to expect to see said product being subject to proper scientific studies. And yes, LifeGuage has kindly offered some research into related compounds used in their product. Remember, their transdermal patch is claimed to be extra-effective because delivery bypasses the gut, where other pills or supplements and indeed berberine, are “destroyed in the stomach before they can even work”.

So, one has the right to be disappointed to discover the LifeGuage scientific research page provides no research into transdermal patch application of the Australian startup-driven-science-stunning-weight-zapping-sticker. That’s because there is absolutely no evidence that application of these compounds via this method will improve health, energy, make you feel younger or have a positive impact on weight loss. Indeed, the research presented by LifeGuage all relates to human oral trials, animal studies or in vitro research. So, to repeat, there’s no evidence to support the claims made regarding this transdermal patch technology.

Berberine research looks into berberine itself and how it impacts type 2 diabetes, heart disease, atherosclerosis, cholesterol and the extent of its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. A great deal more research is needed into all of these and other suggested areas, and we must keep in mind that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the TGA and other medicine regulators do not promote its use for management of disease.

The LifeGuage and Purisaki transdermal patch ingredients are identical. Yet the impact is described slightly different for men and women. Remember, men over 40 get a fat gut and feel lethargic. Women just get more unsightly fat and tend to need antioxidant effects. The patches contain berberine, Green Tea extract, African Mango Seed extract, Fucoxanthin extract, punicic acid and vitamins. Promotors claim without linking to any evidence:

  • Berberine Extract – Kickstarts fat metabolism, keeps blood sugar stable and stops cravings – so the body burns fat instead of storing it. In women: Naturally promotes metabolic function and supports healthy blood sugar levels to curb appetite, stop cravings and reduce fat storage.
  • Fucoxanthin Extract – Boosts fat burning and specifically targets the stubborn belly fat typical in men over 40. In women: Promotes fat oxidation and energy metabolism and can reduce the accumulation of visceral fat.
  • Pomegranate Oil (Punicic Acid Extract) – Protects cells, reduces inflammation and improves circulation – for more vitality and a better sense of wellbeing, in men. In women: Eases inflammation through antioxidant protection and improves fat metabolism so more fat is burned.
  • African Mango Extract – Delivers a genuine feeling of fullness, curbs appetite and prevents the body from building new fat reserves, in men. In women: Regulates leptin levels for a better sense of fullness, curbs appetite and helps reduce the formation of new fat cells.
  • Vitamin C, B1, B3 – Drive fat metabolism and support L-carnitine production – the substance that converts fat in the muscles into energy. The result: more fat burning, more energy, more performance in everyday life and during exercise, for men. In women: Support fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism and the production of L-carnitine, which is essential for transporting fatty acids into muscle cells for energy, thereby boosting fat burning.
  • This isn’t a fad – it’s targeted support for men who want to get their body back in shape. If you want to lose the belly fat and feel fitter again, LifeGauge is the way to go (for men).
  • This isn’t a fad – this is science for effective fat burning. Those who want real results choose Purisaki. The rest can keep hoping for miracles (for women).

A little further down each promotional page we read:

This website is an advertisement and not a news article.

Results may vary. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or health condition. Weight loss occurs as part of a healthy, calorie-reduced diet and exercise programme.

MARKETING DISCLOSURE: This website is a marketplace. As such, you should know that the owner has a financial connection to the products and services advertised on the website. The owner receives payment when a qualified lead is referred, but that is all.

ADVERTISING DISCLOSURE: This website and the products and services referred to on the website are advertising marketplaces. This website is an advertisement and not a news publication. All photos of persons used on this website are models. The owner of this website and of the products and services referred to on this website only provides a service through which consumers can obtain and compare information.

It’s enough to make one wonder exactly what side effects may eventuate if the product was misused.

Bigfoot on Purisaki and LifeGuage

Belinda Gae Harris convicted, sentenced over Black Salve sale and supply

Posted in Alternative "medicine" scams, Education, Health, Legal, Media, Skeptic, Skeptical Activism, So Called Alternative Medicine, Social Media by

Just over a year ago I posted that 12 charges had been brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions against Belinda Gae Harris over the supply and advertising of black salve products. This followed an investigation by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which confirmed alleged criminal offences under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (the Act), against Harris.

Harris insisted on her blog she was “helping people” and had written on Facebook about using the dangerous corrosive to “suck out” snake bite poison and COVID-19 vaccines from the injection site. The TGA reported at the time she faced up to “a maximum penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $222,000 for each charge”. Harris, who traded under ‘Tickety Boo Herbal’, was manifestly spared the maximum sentence. Found guilty of 10 charges on 30 October 2025 in Deniliquin Local Court, the TGA reported on 16 January 2026, that Harris had been:

[S]entenced today to 7 months imprisonment, a community corrections order, and fines of $20,000 for unlawfully advertising and supplying black salve and bloodroot capsules, and for advertising other unapproved therapeutic goods to treat serious conditions such as anxiety.

And that:

Ms Harris was released on recognizance of $2,000 and on condition of good behaviour for a period of 3 years with 6 months supervision. Ms Harris is prohibited from making restricted and prohibited representations about therapeutic goods by any means, including on social media. The term of imprisonment can be imposed if the conditions of the good behaviour bond are breached.

Ms Harris is also subject to a community corrections order with a supervision period of 3 years.

The prohibitions regarding publication about therapeutic goods, particularly on social media, and the threat of prison linked to the good behaviour bond, are certainly welcome. Let’s revisit some of Harris’ response to the charges last January:

belinda_gae_harris

I’m just going to keep doing it, because I’m helping people and I’m saving lives. My angels managed to keep this at bay until 2025… This matrix is bullshit. Bullshit lies. They’re allowed to administer carcinogenic chemotherapy to people and fry the fuck out of them with their radiation.

But I’m not allowed to do a simple herbal remedy that I have tested over and over again… I’ll see you in court government… You can’t shut me up. If you put me in jail I’ll just be educating everybody around me. Okay. Namaste. Loving you. Ben Abou.

Okay. Namaste it is.

Her Honour, Magistrate Humphreys, said “the offending was deliberate and planned”. She added:

The Court has an obligation to deter similar offending as it is of a kind that could cause great harm…

…The existence of a community of persons interested in the use of potentially dangerous alternative treatments for serious illnesses such as cancer adds weight to the need for general deterrence. Others involved in such communities must be dissuaded from engaging in similar conduct

In a welcome addition the magistrate also noted the indirect harm Harris’ actions had caused, in that there was, “a real potential for users of the product to delay seeking or obtaining conventional treatment”. This is an important point and often overlooked. Regardless of potential harm, any treatment that interferes with evidence-based medicine or leads to patients withholding information from specialists, can prove disastrous.

Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and head of the TGA, Professor Anthony Lawler said he was pleased with the outcome. He continued:

This significant penalty sends a clear message to anyone seeking to profit from the unlawful supply and advertising of therapeutic goods. The TGA’s highest priority is protecting the health and safety of the Australian public, and products like black salve have the potential to cause serious harm to people.

We will continue to take strong and decisive action against those who disregard their legal obligations under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 by advertising and supplying unapproved therapeutic goods.

Sanguinarine, a primary corrosive agent in black salve, is listed as a Schedule 10 substance in the Poisons Standard. These are described as substances “so dangerous to health that they are prohibited from sale, supply and use in Australia”.

Black Salve is a substance that helps nobody. Don’t be fooled by high-risk, untested so-called “alternatives”.

TGA links:

“Demolishing anti-vaccine frauds in live debate”

Posted in Anti-Vaccination Lobby, COVID-19, Education, Health, Immunisation, Science, Social Media by

Those of you lucky enough to attend Skepticon in Melbourne early last month will remember Dave Farina presenting his talk The Birth of the Science Communicator, from the USA.

He recently joined up with Dr. Dan Wilson of Debunk The Funk to take on two full time anti-vaccine grifters, Steve Kirsch and Pierre Kory. You can check out Dave’s take on how things went by dropping in on his video explanation here. Regrettably the debate turned out a predictable mess as the audience was loaded with anti-vax trolls and the conduct of the notably loathsome Kory and Kirby, meant the full schedule of discussion points wasn’t even met.

This would be because Kory, who in August last year, lost his medical licence for promoting, and wildly profiting from pushing ivermectin during COVID, spat the dummy and walked out. Aw Gosh. Anyway, there’s Gish-galloping from the anti-vax chaps and heckling from their supporters. Dave and Dan do an excellent job handling the horrific misinformation that we’re now seeing in our post COVID-19 pandemic world. I’m not surprised things went astray, as I learnt in Australia that anti-vaxxers deserve not a molecule of oxygen.

Still, perhaps given the state of anti-science rhetoric and the steady rumble of runaway grift trains, then documenting their demonstrably deceptive tactics is a pursuit with rewards we’re yet to fully appreciate. This is an almost two hour gig which is perfect for either bingeing or letting play whilst you do the housework or head out for a walk.

You can watch the same event without Dave’s commentary, at The greatest vaccine debate in history here at Pangburn. Apologies that neither video appears to permit embedding.

Paracetamol use in pregnancy | Therapeutic Goods Administration

Posted in Anti-Vaccination Lobby, Education, Health, Human Rights, Immunisation, Media, Politics, Science by

Warnings from Donald Trump that acetaminophen (popular brand name Tylenol), also known as paracetamol (popular brand name Panadol) has a causative link to autism when taken by pregnant women are unsupported and rejected by health authorities world wide.

Absurdly, his ramblings were a unilateral seizure of what was apparently a planned nuanced announcement, prepared by his own so-called health administration. They intended a caution on Tylenol, a supposed treatment for autism and to reveal $50 million for autism research.

Using his feelings and purported anecdotes, Trump urged pregnant women to “fight like hell” against paracetamol. He reasoned with a bizarre risk-benefit myth that not taking the drug meant only good things would happen, opposed to the risk of bad things, if women took the drug. Yet the reality is that paracetamol/acetaminophen is necessary to combat fevers women may experience during pregnancy and that failure to treat fever can cause neurodevelopmental disorders for the unborn child. These include autism, ADHD or developmental delay. Another identified risk is miscarriage.

Trump also used vague anecdotes to link the vaccine schedule to childhood death and harm. There is no evidence for either Trump’s tale of vaccines killing the child of an employee, and no scientific evidence to justify the changing of vaccination schedules. Trump argued the Hepatitis B vaccine should be held off until 12 years. Yet the primary source of exposure for infants and children is maternal, not sexual activity as claimed by Trump. He further suggested spacing out Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccines as well as other combined vaccines. The apparent logic is that children are given too many antigens at once.

In fact, children receive fewer antigens today to combat a greater range of disease. Thirty years ago 30,000 antigens were required to encourage immunity against 8 diseases. Today’s US vaccine schedule uses 305 antigens to tackle 14 diseases. And active children take on 2,000 – 6,000 antigens daily through eating, playing and even breathing.

Pregnant women should fight like hell to ignore Donald Trump’s monumental woo.

Therapeutic Goods Administration Statement – 23 September 2025

  • Australia’s Chief Medical Officer and the TGA join with other global medicines regulators, leading clinicians and scientists worldwide in rejecting claims regarding the use of paracetamol in pregnancy, and the subsequent risk of development of ADHD or autism in children.
  • Robust scientific evidence shows no causal link between the use of paracetamol in pregnancy and autism or ADHD, with several large and reliable studies directly contradicting these claims.
  • Paracetamol remains the recommended treatment option for pain or fever in pregnant women when used as directed. Importantly, untreated fever and pain can pose risks to the unborn baby, highlighting the importance of managing these symptoms with recommended treatment. Pregnant women should speak to their healthcare professionals if they have questions about any medication during pregnancy.
  • Paracetamol remains pregnancy category A in Australia, meaning that it is considered safe for use in pregnancy when used according to directions in TGA-approved Product Information (PI) and Consumer Medicines Information (CMI) documents.
  • This means that a medicine has been taken by a large number of pregnant women and women of childbearing age without any proven increase in the frequency of malformations or other harmful effects on the fetus having been observed. As with the use of any medicine during pregnancy, people who are pregnant should seek medical advice tailored to their specific circumstances before taking paracetamol.
  • The TGA is responsible for ensuring the safety, quality and efficacy of medicines on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), with safety in pregnancy a key consideration for all products on the ARTG.
    The TGA undertakes evaluation of clinical, scientific and toxicological data prior to registration of a medicine, and this information is summarised in TGA-approved PI and CMI documents, targeted at healthcare professionals and consumers respectively, to help support safe use of a medicine in the community. These documents include information relating to use of a medicine in pregnancy.
  • The TGA is aware of announcements by the US Administration that use of paracetamol in pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of autism and ADHD in children, though a causal association has not been established.
  • TGA advice on medicines in pregnancy is based on rigorous assessment of the best available scientific evidence. Any new evidence that could affect our recommendations would be carefully evaluated by our independent scientific experts.
  • Whilst there are published articles suggesting an association between maternal paracetamol use and childhood autism, they had methodological limitations. More recent and robust studies have refuted these claims, supporting the weight of other scientific evidence that does not support a causal link between paracetamol and autism or ADHD.
  • The TGA maintains robust post-market safety surveillance and pharmacovigilance processes for all medicines registered in Australia, including paracetamol. This includes detailed analysis of adverse event reports made by medicine consumers, clinicians and pharmaceutical companies, review of published medical literature, and close liaison with international medicines regulators. If a safety issue is confirmed prompt regulatory action is taken to mitigate risks.
  • International peer regulators including the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the United Kingdom have reiterated that paracetamol should continue to be used in line with product information documents. Following evaluation in 2019 the European Medicines Agency (EMA) found that scientific evidence regarding effects of paracetamol on childhood neurodevelopment was inconclusive.
  • People who have concerns and are pregnant, or considering pregnancy, are advised to consult their healthcare professionals in the first instance to discuss this issue. [Source ©️ TGA]

GLOBAL NEWS COVERAGE

Skepticon 2025 Early Bird Tickets On Sale

Posted in Education, General, Health, Science, Skeptic, Skeptical Activism by

Skepticon Australia 2025 is to be held at the Forum Theatre in Melbourne over the weekend of 4-5 October. There’s also a Friday night meet and greet on the evening of the 3rd. Tickets are now available.

The speakers list is steadily growing. The Skepticon page tells us:

This is the twelfth Australian Skeptics convention to be held in Melbourne.

Renew old friendships, make new ones, and hear from the best speakers at Skepticon XL.

The 2025 convention will be held on the weekend of October 4-5 at the Forum Theatre, University of Melbourne, a great venue a few steps from the newly constructed Parkville Underground train station.

You can expect another line up of high quality speakers giving skeptical perspectives on medicine, science, education, belief and consumer issues. Guaranteed to be informative, incisive, challenging, and lots of fun.

Stay tuned for information about the Friday night meet and greet and the Saturday night dinner.

It will be a festival exploring science, reason, critical thinking and skeptical conviviality.

I can recommend the event, and advise keeping an eye on the Skepticon site as finer details about speakers, topics and the Saturday night dinner take shape.

TICKETS

  • Drop in to Humanitix to purchase tickets
  • Access the full price list here
  • Contact the host of Skepticon 2025 if necessary
  • Tickets will be in your Order Confirmation Email from order@humanitix.com

DIRECTIONS

Get directions to the Forum Theatre in the Arts West Building (Building 148) Uni of Melbourne