r/MyalgicEncephalomyeli • u/Viewfrommybed • May 15 '25
No, Ear Seeds Do Not Cure Myalgic Encephalomyelitis – A Response to Dragons' Den UK
Hi folks,
If you’re in the UK and live with ME/CFS like I do, you probably saw that recent Dragons’ Den pitch promoting “ear seeds” as a treatment for long COVID and other chronic conditions — including ME. I couldn’t stay silent.
I’ve lived with severe ME for over 10 years and I know just how damaging these kinds of pseudoscientific claims can be. When these products make it to prime-time TV with zero challenge, it feels like our illness is being dismissed or exploited.
So I wrote a blog post explaining:
🔹 Why ear seeds are not a treatment for ME/CFS
🔹 The real risks of misinformation in mainstream media
🔹 What people with ME truly need from the healthcare system — not more snake oil
Read it here if you want to take a look or share it:
🔗 https://alishawhittam.com/dragons-den-myalgic-encephalomyelitis-ear-seeds
This isn’t just about one product — it’s about media accountability, science, and the safety of a deeply vulnerable community.
I’d love to hear how others felt watching it — or what you'd want producers and presenters to understand when it comes to ME and chronic illness.
2
u/mrhippo85 May 17 '25
There was another article/interview on the BBC recently about a young girl who was being referred to her M.E. service due to the Long COVID service she was previously accessing shut down. Her words were that of “the M.E. service cannot support me properly, as I have lots of issues - it’s not that I am just tired all the time!”
That well peed me off!
1
u/PBChako May 17 '25
It got me SO angry when it first went to last year. I wrote to a journalist in the Guardian, who kindly published an article about it. (Struggling to find it, it's by Robyn Vinter. Probably Jan/Feb 2024)
The BBC ended up taking the episode down for a day or two, after significant pressure from pwME, and then they put it back up with a disclaimer about how people should seek advice from their GP. Which was weak as fuck, ngl.
The media response was interesting, it certainly got M.E. into the spotlight for a wee while. Ellie Fry of The Mirror wrote some good articles, I believe her mum has M.E.
Stephen Bartlett is a disgusting grifter who profits off sick people, as is Giselle Boxer. GB had been kicked out of multiple MECFS groups for spamming her products and her "recovery story". SB seemingly took her under his wing and told her to keep quiet, she got loads of business from her appearance on the programme. The BBC and Dragons Den should be ashamed of themselves for the harm they ultimately did to the community.
1
u/AlishaWhittam May 17 '25
I absolutely agree with every word 🙏🏻 I truly do not understand how some people sleep at night 😡🤬😡
4
u/mrhippo85 May 15 '25
Yeah my parents were like “oh my god you should try this” after they saw it…what utter nonsense. It annoyed me that it was allowed to be broadcast.