Listen to Story Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu and Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, known as the Liver Doc on X, clashed over the practice of walking barefoot, also called "grounding." Dr Philips, who has been targeting prominent figures for spreading what he deems as healthcare misinformation, in his latest post criticised Sridhar Vembu for promoting the benefits of walking barefoot, referred to as "grounding." Vembu, 56, shared his personal experience of walking barefoot on his farm for nearly a year, praising it as a simple and cost-free practice with purported health benefits.
He encouraged others to try it, suggesting that connecting with the Earth's energy by walking on natural surfaces like grass is beneficial. I have been walking bare foot in the farm for close to a year now. This thread talks about the health benefits of "grounding" - walking barefoot.
It is easy to do, doesn't cost anything and isn't harmful - our rural people have been doing it for ages. So I reasoned why not tryâæ https://t.co/RPwGnvWbTg — Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) August 25, 2024 Dr Philips, however, dismissed grounding as a "pseudoscientific practice" with no credible benefits.
He criticised the practice, calling it a "pseudoscientific" notion with no clinical validation and accused it of contaminating scientific literature. According to the Kerala-based hepatologist, grounding involves a supposed connection between human electrical frequencies and the Earth's, a concept he argues is unfounded and potentially risky, as it could increase the risk of foot infections. Grounding or Earthing (via bare-foot walking) is a pseudoscientific practice.
It has no clinically relevant benefits. There are a lot of absolutely nonsense wasteful studies on this topic that has contaminated the published literature. “The act of grounding refers to a physicalâæ pic.
twitter.com/CsR0gA0Bzt — TheLiverDoc (@theliverdr) August 25, 2024 The doctor's critique included a jab at Vembu, stating that a major challenge in Indian healthcare is not just teaching critical thinking but "educating and training the common person how to avoid health-illiterate boomer uncles like Mr. Vembu.
" In response, Vembu took to social media to counter the Liver Doc's comments. He objected to the term "health-illiterate boomer uncle" used by the doctor, calling it a sign of arrogance. Vembu emphasised that the best doctors are humble and open-minded, acknowledging the evolving nature of medical science.
He asserted that ancient practices should not be hastily dismissed, citing historical wisdom on coconut oil and alcohol as examples. "I am a 'science illiterate' who has a PhD in Electrical Engineering and know how to read a research paper and also know that most published papers are bogus. The body is a bio electrical system.
This idea of grounding is at least scientifically plausible. That is why I said "I do It, try it for yourself" - I stand by it," wrote Vembu. He ended by saying, "Health is way too important for us to leave to arrogant doctors.
" "Health illiterate boomer uncle" Stay away from arrogant doctors - that is the best health tip I can give anyone. The best doctors I know are all uniformly humble because they know just how extremely complex the human body is and how much the body and mind are intertwined.âæ https://t.
co/kZttQ9CQOs — Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) August 25, 2024 The Liver Doc shared his last response to Vembu before signing off. He wrote, "That grounding is a pseudoscientific practice without any evidence of clinically relevant benefits was shown by me through various scientific sources. Instead of correcting himself or showing me the contrary, Mr.
Vembu, the 55th richest Indian and a billionaire providing employment to 100s of 1000s of people, called me an arrogant doctor, trying to dehumanise me in front of his circle jerking echo chamber members." My last post on this topic, because I get a lot of material to teach people how to be critical in thinking and how not to debate in a scientific argument. Mr.
Sridhar Vembu, a science-illiterate with a PhD in electrical engineering from Princeton University is proof thatâæ pic.twitter.com/e65NpBc5LJ — TheLiverDoc (@theliverdr) August 26, 2024 He then directed his post to his followers advising them not to be like Vembu.
"Don't be agnorant. Arrogant and ignorant. Be open to correcting mistakes.
I do it and have done it many times. I am a doctor. I live to defend public health unlike some Princeton billionaires who look forward to misinforming many," wrote Dr Philips.
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