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It’s easy to get swept up in the promise of the latest wellness trend. Maybe it’s vitamin infusions, red light therapy, or the supposed miracle of hyperbaric oxygen for fatigue. The claims sound compelling—rooted in real science, supported by a few glowing anecdotes. But when we chase what “might” help without asking whether it actually helps us, we risk stepping beyond the evidence and into false hope.

In episode #45, I take you through an honest, evidence-based look at how treatments with legitimate medical uses often get promoted far beyond what science supports. My goal? To help you become an open-minded skeptic—curious and hopeful, but unwilling to waste your time, money, or health on hype.

When a Little Evidence Gets Stretched Too Far

Let’s start with examples. Take vitamin C, for instance. We know it prevents scurvy—sailors in the 1600s proved that by eating citrus on long voyages. But fast-forward to the 1970s, and Nobel laureate Linus Pauling was championing vitamin C as a cold remedy. Despite public enthusiasm, rigorous research has found no clear evidence it reduces cold incidence or severity in healthy people. And, now it is being touted to improve your immune system. Again, no evidence to support this claim.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is another prime case. This treatment is FDA-approved and highly effective for carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness (for scuba divers), and healing radiation-induced tissue damage and diabetic foot ulcers. But those legitimate uses have led to much bolder—and unsupported—claims: that it cures brain fog, boosts athletic recovery, or even slows aging. The data just isn’t there, and worse, the risks include lung damage, injury to sinuses, or changes in vision, not to mention costs ranging from $200 to $1,200 per session and they may suggest that you have 3-12 sessions…

We see the same pattern with vitamin B12. For individuals with a confirmed deficiency, B12 supplementation can reverse anemia and prevent cognitive decline. But IV clinics now offer expensive injections for “immune support,” better sleep, mood, even athletic performance—despite no benefit in healthy, well-nourished individuals for hundreds of dollars. If you can eat and drink, a multivitamin and sports drink will do the trick just fine. Save your money and time!

Detox therapies fall into this category too. If someone suffers from lead or mercury poisoning, chelation therapy may be lifesaving. But promoting detox cleanses as a cure for heart disease, allergies, autism, or fatigue? That’s not only unfounded—it’s misleading.

And stem cell therapy? A legitimate breakthrough in blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, and perhaps modestly helpful for knee pain in osteoarthritis. But clinics now sell stem cell injections for dementia, COPD, spinal cord injuries, and heart disease—all without rigorous human evidence (Cochrane review). Some treatments cost over $4,000 per session and multiple sessions might be recommended.

Why We Fall for Overhyped Treatments

This trend of overselling partly stems from desperation. When conventional care doesn’t offer relief, we turn elsewhere, hoping something—anything—might help. There’s also the need for “agency”- taking action feels good, even if it doesn’t actually help.

Then there’s the rise of Big Wellness—a booming $300 billion industry full of financial incentives, glossy marketing, and social media testimonials. Many podcasters and influencers now promote treatments they profit from, making it hard to distinguish genuine enthusiasm from cleverly disguised advertising.

And we’re vulnerable to “FOMO”. When someone says a therapy “changed their life,” we don’t want to miss out—even if the only evidence is a compelling story.

How to Stay Grounded

Here’s what I encourage: stay curious, but stay grounded. Ask the hard questions. Not just “Does this work?” but

-Has it been proven to work for my condition?

-Who is promoting it—and are they financially invested in it?

-What are the risks?

-What’s the cost—not just in money, but in delaying proven treatments?

Remember: a theory (like inflammation or mitochondrial dysfunction), plus an anecdote, plus an expert voice does not equal evidence. It takes rigorous, peer-reviewed studies in real people to justify bold claims.

It hurts me to see people waste time and money on treatments that don’t help—or worse, distract from what does.

If you’re ever unsure about something, bring it to me. Send questions through drbobbylivelongandwell.com, and I’ll consider covering them in future articles and podcast episodes.

Final Thoughts: Let’s Stay Curious—Together

So let’s be open-minded skeptics. Let’s root our wellness in real human data. And let’s keep learning together—so you can live long and well, based on evidence, not hype.