Health educator lecturing in Cd'A this week
Popular natural health educator and author Barbara O’Neill is presenting a series of live lectures this week at the Hayden Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Doors open at 4 p.m. Sept. 15-18 for autographs, with lectures beginning at 5 p.m. each evening.
Each night includes two lectures. Topics for Sept. 16 are Improving Health Through Digestion and Gut Health and Chronic Fatigue & Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Topics for Sept. 17 are Healing the Brain & Safeguarding Against Depression and Rewiring the Mind. Topics for Sept. 18 are Reversing America’s Top Killers and Heart Disease & Acid/Alkaline Balance & Osteoporosis.
“One of the reasons why my lectures are so popular is because I talk about anatomy and physiognomy,” O’Neill said. “So people know how their bodies work.”
Hailing from Australia, O’Neill estimates her largest audience is in the United States. She said a previous event in Texas drew about 700 people.
This is the third consecutive year O’Neill has spoken in the Coeur d’Alene area, and she said attendance continues to grow. Based on current ticket sales, she expects about 300 people to attend, with another 100 potentially arriving at the last minute.
In her lectures, O’Neill emphasizes simple, natural approaches to improving health, including maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, getting adequate sun exposure, drinking enough water and getting sufficient sleep.
“Trusting God,” O’Neill said, “and moderation in all the good things.”
She said her message resonates with people because of the simplicity of her advice, such as using a lemon-and-honey drink to soothe a sore throat.
“They’re very simple things,” O’Neill said. “Going back to the old ways.”
On Sept. 24, 2019, the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission issued a public statement and decision following an investigation into complaints made against O’Neill. The commission found that O’Neill posed a risk to public health and safety by disseminating misleading health information.
“The complaints under investigation alleged that Mrs O’Neill makes dubious and dangerous health claims regarding infant nutrition, causes and treatment of cancer, antibiotics and vaccinations that are not evidence based or supported by mainstream medicine,” the HCC report said.
O’Neill denied spreading dangerous health misinformation.
“I don’t mind people asking these things because these accusations are false,” O’Neill said. “I’m not against medicine, some of my best friends are doctors.”
Tickets for O’Neill’s lecture series are available online at zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/barbara-oneill-live-lecture-series-and-follow-up-health-retreat. General admission tickets cost $25. An overflow admission option is available for $10 and includes access to a video feed of the lectures and the autograph line.