'The body can heal itself': Naturopath Barbara O'Neill wants people off pills

NaturopathBarbara O'Neill spoke on India Today's show Healthy 360 about natural healing, supplements, depression, mammograms and children's screen use. The interview renewed debate over lifestyle medicine.

In Short

• She said sleep, hydration, movement and whole foods support recovery
• O’Neill argued supplements help temporarily but cannot replace daily habits
• She linked depression and postpartum distress to possible hormonal imbalance

In a world flooded with wellness trends, supplements, quick fixes and social media health advice, world renowned naturopath Barbara O’Neill believes the answer to better health is actually much simpler.

Speaking to India Today on the show Health 360, O’Neill spoke at length about natural healing, lifestyle diseases, depression, supplements, children’s screen addiction and why she believes modern medicine often focusses more on managing symptoms than addressing root causes.

Barbara O’Neill, who is known globally for promoting natural remedies and lifestyle-based healing, also praised ancient systems like Ayurveda and encouraged people to reconnect with nature, food and movement.

“The body, and the body only, has the power to heal,” she said during the conversation.

‘PEOPLE ARE GOING BACK TO ANCIENT HEALING’

Asked about India’s long history of Ayurveda and traditional medicine, O’Neill said she believes modern healthcare systems across the world, including India’s, have become too dependent on drugs and procedures.

“Unfortunately, I think today the Indian way of treating medicine is very much the same as the Western,” she said. “The drugs may mask the symptoms, but they do not heal.”

She argued that many people are now returning to older methods of healing because they feel modern systems are not solving long-term health problems.

“For the people today who laugh at it, I laugh at them because the fact is, it’s been working for thousands of years and it will work again,” she added.

‘NATURE WORKS WITH THE BODY’

During the interview, O’Neill repeatedly stressed the importance of natural remedies, proper sleep, movement, hydration and whole foods.

She pushed back against criticism from doctors who dismiss herbs and natural medicine as “unscientific.”

Speaking about turmeric, she said its anti-inflammatory properties are already recognised widely.

“It’s been well proven,” she said. “Many naturopaths can testify to it, and many of their patients can testify to it.”

O’Neill also claimed that pharmaceutical companies have too much influence over healthcare and medical education.

“They’re a very wealthy company,” she said while referring to the pharmaceutical industry. “Unfortunately, they’re not interested in our health, they’re more interested in our money.”

She encouraged doctors and patients to look more closely at lifestyle-based healing approaches.

“The beautiful natural remedies that come from the ground work together with the human body,” she said.

She also said that anecdotal evidence is science. “I don’t agree when people say natural healing has no evidence. Many call it anecdotal, but if something has been tried, tested and worked for thousands of years, that matters too. I’ve spoken to people involved in scientific research who say studies do not always get published if the results are not what companies want. For me, real science is also about what consistently works in real life and what people continue to benefit from over generations,” Barbara said.

SUPPLEMENTS ARE NOT THE ANSWER

One of the strongest points O’Neill made was against the overuse of supplements.

“I believe the biggest wellness myth is that we need supplements to get better,” she said.

According to her, many people ignore basic lifestyle habits while expecting pills or powders to improve their health.

“We’re going to start going to bed earlier, drinking more water, eating food in its natural state and moving the body,” she said. “When we do that, supplements become much more powerful.”

However, she also acknowledged that supplements can sometimes help temporarily.

Speaking about vitamin D deficiency, she said people with very low levels may initially need supplements before correcting the root problem through sunlight exposure.

ON DEPRESSION AND HORMONAL IMBALANCE

The health expert also touched on mental health and postpartum depression.

Barbara said depression should not only be viewed as a mental illness but also as a possible hormonal imbalance.

“Antidepressants don’t heal depression,” she said. “They may mask the symptoms for a while, but you’re not getting to the cause.”

She suggested that hormonal changes after pregnancy may play a major role in postpartum depression. She particularly spoke about progesterone, which she described as a “happy hormone.”

She also discussed the use of wild yam cream, which she believes helps restore hormonal balance naturally over time, though such claims remain debated within mainstream medicine.

At the same time, she stressed that lifestyle changes such as exercise, sleep and nutrition are essential for recovery.

“There isn’t a quick fix,” she said.

‘I’M NOT COMPLETELY AGAINST MODERN MEDICINE’

Despite her criticism of mainstream healthcare systems, Barbara clarified that she is not entirely against modern medicine.

She recalled breaking her arm and needing surgery and pain medication.

“I was very happy with the orthopaedic surgeon,” she said.

However, she believes many everyday health complaints are treated with medications that suppress symptoms instead of addressing underlying causes.

DO MAMMOGRAMS CAUSE CANCER?

One of the most controversial parts of the interview came when Barbara spoke about mammograms and cancer screening.

She claimed that mammograms can contribute to breast cancer because the compression of breast tissue during the test can damage cells before exposure to radiation.

“I will never have a mammogram, and I don’t advise women to have one,” she said.

Instead, she suggested alternatives such as ultrasounds and thermography.

However, it is important to note that mainstream medical experts and cancer organisations worldwide strongly recommend mammograms as one of the most effective tools for early breast cancer detection.

Many oncologists say the benefits of screening far outweigh the risks.

CONCERN OVER CHILDREN AND SCREEN ADDICTION

Barbara also expressed concern about children spending excessive time on phones and digital devices.

She warned that too much screen exposure affects brain development and reduce children’s ability to think independently.

“If you don’t challenge your brain, it will not develop properly,” she said.

She encouraged parents to limit technology use at home and lead by example.

“The best way to do that is example,” she added.

A GROWING CONVERSATION AROUND LIFESTYLE MEDICINE

Barbara's views continue to attract both support and criticism around the world.

While many people resonate with her emphasis on food, movement, sleep and natural living, doctors and public health experts have also criticised several of her claims for lacking strong scientific evidence or conflicting with established medical guidelines.

Still, her popularity reflects a growing global frustration with modern lifestyles, rising chronic disease rates and increasing interest in preventive and lifestyle-based healthcare.

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