The Pharmafist

Some people will always try to take advantage of scary situations. It’s easy to laugh at the old ads for miracle cures against the bubonic plague or the Spanish flu… but nothing has really changed! Yes, the allegations use contemporary words, but the marketing strategies remain the same…

(by the way, all tips and remedies proposed in the image are real, and come from articles that have been shared online in the last few days... and are wrong)

NO food or supplement is recommended by the scientific community to prevent or cure COVID-19, or any other pandemic to our knowledge. Even plague doctors knew that ...

Stay at home, wash your hands, follow public health guidelines ... and ignore the opportunists!

A collaboration between Le nutritionniste urbain and Le Pharmachien / The Pharmafist 😏

Got early access to The Goop Lab and watched all 6 episodes, so here's my short review for each of them, from a scientific skepticism standpoint.

http://www.thepharmafist.com/goop-lab/

The Goop Lab : a scientific review - The Pharmafist The Goop Lab is a Netflix show inspired by Gwyneth Paltrow’s 250 million-dollar “wellness” empire Goop. I was lucky enough to get early access and watch all 6 episodes of the show, and the press embargo is lifted today so … Continue reading →

I'm a fan of The Body of Evidence podcast, and it was so cool of Jonathan & Chris to invite me for a chat! We discussed the John Maddox Prize and the vitamin C saga, as well as my upcoming episode on acupuncture.

Available of all podcast platforms, or here:

http://bodyofevidence.ca/056-drinking-water-and-olivier-bernard

The Body of Evidence: 056 - Drinking Water and Olivier Bernard Drinking water: alkaline, thirst, bottled, lead // Interview with Olivier Bernard (thepharmafist.com) on vitamin C, harassment, and winning the John Maddox Prize // Va**ng update: EVALI and popcorn lung   * Vox pop by Sarah Swinwood * Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada * Additional mu...

This article sums up very well the events & controversy surrounding Vitamin C injections in 2018-2019.

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2019/11/12/quebec-pharmacist-known-as-the-pharmafist-wins-international-award-for-defending-science.html

Quebec pharmacist known as ‘The Pharmafist’ wins international award for defending science | The Star Olivier Bernard has been awarded the John Maddox Prize in London for his work in debunking myths around the use of vitamin C to treat cancer.

It is with great surprise, gratitude and emotion that I have just received, in London, the early career John Maddox Prize for my work on the topic of Vitamin C injections in Quebec.

https://senseaboutscience.org/activities/the-john-maddox-prize/

The John Maddox Prize is a joint initiative of the British charity Sense about Science and the scientific journal Nature, and "recognises the work of individuals who promote science and evidence, advancing the public discussion around difficult topics despite challenges or hostility".

Here’s a brief reminder of the events:
http://www.thepharmafist.com/vitamin-c-injections/

I was thinking about what I should say next, then I realized that my acceptance speech for the award says it all. So there it is in full:

******************************

When I learned that I was receiving this award, I was in my car, on my way to a meeting, at a red light. I only managed to read the first sentence of the email, and I instantly burst into tears. I can’t remember the last time I cried like that… I cried like a baby.

Now I was on this big boulevard, where you can’t stop on either side. So I ended up driving all the way to the meeting, crying.

Later, I realized that I had not allowed myself to be vulnerable throughout this ordeal. Because there was just so much to do, and I was stressed out – and scared – pretty much all the time.

So my first reaction about the award was not even joy, or pride. It was, relief. Relief that it was behind me, that there was some kind of happy ending to it.

Today, what I feel is immense honour and gratitude. And to be among all of you today, fellow scientists, fellow science advocates, it’s an invaluable privilege, I feel so lucky.

I want to thank a few people.

First, the jury panel, who thought that I deserved this award. I’m still in shock from your decision, but most of all, I’m deeply, deeply grateful.

Sense about Science and Nature, thank you so much to both of you for creating this award, and meeting all of you today is a prize in itself.

Rémi Quirion, the Chief Scientist of Quebec, was my referee for the nomination. He also created a task force in response to the controversy, and that’s one of the best things that came out of this.

All of my readers and listeners, who DROWNED me with beautiful, supportive messages through all of this.

My wife India, you were at my side all the time, and you had to suffer many of the consequences. I’m sorry that I put you through this…. You’re amazing and I love you.

Last but not least, Marilou. She is one of my readers, and she’s the one who nominated me for the prize. She has an incurable type of cancer, she’s been fighting against it for years. And she decided to use this as an opportunity to become a patient advocate for science-based treatments and critical thinking in healthcare. Marilou, this award is also yours. I hope it creates an opportunity for you to tell your story, and to tell people how science has empowered you in times of illness.

Science communication is incredibly fun. I want to keep doing this my whole life, if I’m given the privilege to do so. But it can also be stressful. It can feel lonely. And it can be scary. Lately, I’ve realized that more and more scientists are going through the same kind of challenges and hostility that I’ve encountered, including within my own country.

We can’t keep going through this alone. We need to provide each other support. Harassment, bullying, threats against good people promoting good science can not be tolerated, and have to be denounced. As defenders of science, we can not afford to be silent anymore. Bad media coverage must be condemned. Anti-science groups must be exposed for what they are. Social media companies must be pressured to put means in place in order to prevent disinformation from being pushed through their algorithms. And government entities must remain under our constant surveillance and scrutiny, as decisions about science and healthcare should not be swayed by popular trends or opinions, but looked at through the lenses of the scientific method.

For these reasons, I pledge to use this award as an opportunity to engage more people and scientists in defending science publicly.

Here's the life cycle of a fad diet.
http://www.thepharmafist.com/fad-diet/

The life cycle of a fad diet - The Pharmafist Here’s the life cycle of a fad diet! Click on the image below for the HD version:   According to my 100% subjective estimates, in 2019 …   FAD DIETS AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE CYCLE Gluten-free diet (without … Continue reading →

Ilya (from the Urals) translated my "Top 10 useless remedies for the common cold" comic into Russian, and it looks awesome!

Check it out here:
https://pikabu.ru/story/top_10_bespoleznyikh_sredstv_ot_prostudyi_chast1_6980725

НО ЭТО РАБОТАЕТ !!!

(original: www.thepharmafist.com/cold/ )

Топ 10 бесполезных средств от простуды (часть1) Мой перевод комикса от канадского фармацевта Оливера Бернарда. Оригинал на английском http://www.thepharmafist.com/cold/ пикабу мне пишет про 30000 пикселей, придется 2 картинки пуб....

I’m thrilled to work in partnership with the Quebec Order of Pharmacists (Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec) for Pharmacy Awareness Week 2019!

For the occasion, I’ve created a comic that will be distributed to pharmacies throughout Quebec and provided to clients who come in for a new prescription.

The objective is to explain what happens while one waits for their medication, which is a total mystery for most people! Ultimately, the goal is to demystify the work of pharmacists, and to show what we do - and can do - for the public.

I like the idea of learning without realizing it, hence the absurd visual metaphors. I hope people will receive the comic in the waiting room and be like "What is that?!". Sounds like a good starting point :)

The comic was created for pharmacists and for the public. In other words, it’s yours. I’m including a PDF version in the link below. And upon request, I could provide ultra-HD versions, to be printed on giant canvas for display on cliffs, skyscrapers, etc.

If you’d like to use it outside of Quebec, please let us know, I’m sure we can figure something out :)

A huge thank you to OPQ, to all pharmacists and pharmacy staff members, and to all of you for your interest in this project!

https://www.opq.org/bd

http://www.thepharmafist.com/comic-pharmacy-awareness-2019/

An investigation by the McGill Office for Science and Society (OSS) reveals that 2/3 of pharmacies in Montreal sell oscillococcinum, a homeopathic product more diluted than the equivalent of an atom in an entire Universe filled with water.

So here's the "Endless cycle of bad excuses for selling homeopathic products in pharmacies" !

More details and HD version here:
http://www.thepharmafist.com/homeopathy-cycle/

P.S. That's for Canada. How about you guys?

Here's how to naturally heal your interstitium.

Because yes, this vital new organ, which you did not know existed a month ago, is already sick.

http://www.thepharmafist.com/naturally-heal-interstitium/

How to naturally heal your interstitium - The Pharmafist (NOTE: This piece was first published on the French version of my website on March 29th, the day after the news about the interstitium came out. It was mostly meant as a joke… but a few days later, my … Continue reading →

Does your smart meter make your nose bleed? Are you terrified of your microwave? Have you installed an anti-brain cancer thingy on your cell phone?

Welcome to the world of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and their alleged harmful effects.

http://www.thepharmafist.com/emf/

Are you afraid of EMFs? - The Pharmafist Does your smart meter makes your nose bleed? Are you terrified of your microwave? Welcome to the world of allegedly unsafe electromagnetic fields (EMFs).

Rubbing Vicks on your feet? Sweating out the virus? Flu busters? Putting stuff in your bum?

Here are the TOP 10 useless remedies for the common cold.

http://www.thepharmafist.com/cold/

TOP 10 useless remedies for the common cold The cold season has begun. But there’s something worse out there: the plethora of esoteric remedies to allegedly prevent and cure the common cold.

I'm really proud that my latest book, "The Bad Arguments Bible", was cited by The Body of Evidence, an excellent Youtube channel & podcast for skeptics which I listen to and highly recommend !

The book is only available in French so far, but any translation proposals are welcome. Here's the book's website almost / very badly "translated" with Google's online tool:
goo.gl/3chLsP

Bad Arguments (CS05) Cracked Science 05 (2017-11-17) Are there really health secrets doctors don’t want you to know? With video after video showcasing a natural herb that can cur...

Do you feel like JUICING? Because I'm launching my own juice cleanse! But with honest health claims, for a change.

Get ready for crazy cool juice names, like MAGIC, P***O and ASHTRAY!

http://www.thepharmafist.com/juice-cleanse/

The HONEST juice cleanse - The Pharmafist My juice cleanse is crazy expensive, like all others, but at least its health claims are scientifically plausible. It's time to start JUICING!

So you want to achieve a better acid-base balance in your body? Just breathe.
But that "alkaline diet" thing makes no sense whatsoever.
http://www.thepharmafist.com/alkaline/

4 Half-Truths about the Acid-Base Balance & Alkaline Diet What a wonderful premise for a comic about Evil Acid and the Mighty Alkaline Diet!

Here's my NO-PANIC Guide to the Birth Control Pill!

Part 1 explains the menstrual cycle and how the Pill works.
http://www.thepharmafist.com/pill-part-1/

Part 2 discusses the potential risks and benefits of hormonal contraception.
http://www.thepharmafist.com/pill-part-2/

Of course, I won’t tell you what to do: what I hope is to offer you a place to start and give you the necessary tools to promote enlightened reflection.

These aren't the funniest or most entertaining comics, but I'm proud of them, because it's really hard to find balanced information online on this topic.

Do you like your juicer? Do you swear by all-natural coconut sugar? Do you think you're eating too much fruit?

Here are 5 bad tips on sugar.

http://www.thepharmafist.com/sugar/

5 Bad Tips About Sugar - The Pharmafist This comic is about sugar. Nope, you won’t have to go sugar-free. But yep, you may have to rethink how you eat quite a bit.

Anxiety is normal and even helpful in life... until it takes too much space and is no longer under control.

This is a comic about generalized anxiety, a really common disorder, but one that very few people easily accept or feel comfortable openly talking about.

http://thepharmafist.com/anxiety

Anxiety... prisoner of the metal collar - The Pharmafist Stress and anxiety can be pretty helpful in life. Let’s say you’re hiking in Alaska, and all of the sudden you find yourself in front of a Kodiak bear, fresh out of hibernation and looking for its first meal. You … Continue reading →

Is getting a flu shot worth it?
Here's the answer, now with more swordfights, weird monsters and people getting thrown off castle walls.
http://www.thepharmafist.com/flu-shot/

Influenza is coming - The Pharmafist Is it worth getting a flu shot?. Here's the answer, but with swordfights, weird monsters and men thrown off castle walls.

Here's how to make any clinical trial say what you want it to say. Use it only for evil and stuff.

http://www.thepharmafist.com/trials/

How to make a clinical trial say whatever you want A visual guide on how to make a clinical trial say whatever you want it to say! How cool is that?

If you’re gonna use sunscreen, you might as well use it properly. And ignore the ridiculous marketing. That's what this comic is about.
thepharmafist.com/sunscreen

5 sticky myths about sunscreen - The Pharmafist If you’re gonna use sunscreen, you might as well use it properly. That's what this comic is about.

No, gluten is not a toxin, a waste product, muck or Satan's stool. This comic shows why going gluten-free is a bad idea (unless you're celiac, obviously).
http://www.thepharmafist.com/gluten/

Let's put an end to the GLUTEN-FREE trend - The Pharmafist After toxins, vaccines, and milk, I’m ready to face another worthy opponent: Gluten. Or rather the absence of gluten, as many people seem to believe that it’s a good idea to remove it from their diet. Truth be told, for … Continue reading →

Here's a weird explanation of cancer, chemo and radiation therapy. Somehow, dandelions and the Bat-Signal are involved.
http://www.thepharmafist.com/cancer/

Cancer, chemo, radiation and ... dandelions - The Pharmafist This comic will give you a better understanding of cancer, surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. And you will never see dandelions the same way.

Vaccines cause autism! They contain toxic chemicals like aluminum! They don't even work!. and other badly informed opinions about vaccines in this new comic.

http://www.thepharmafist.com/vaccines/

5 badly informed opinions about vaccines - The Pharmafist A comic about vaccines and stuff people say about them. Hint : most of it is very badly informed.

You're probably aware that milk is the deadliest, most evil liquid on Earth. But here's how to make it 100% nontoxic.
http://www.thepharmafist.com/milk-poison/

How to make your milk NONTOXIC - The Pharmafist A comic about how to make milk, the deadliest poison ever invented, slightly better for your health. It involves lemon juice.

Are you feeling depressed... or are you suffering from depression? Because that's not the same thing at all.

http://www.thepharmafist.com/depression/

Feeling depressed VS suffering from depression A cartoon about depression, which has nothing to do with needing some vacation or time off.

Worried about toxins? Is your liver tired and congested? Have you done a cleanse lately?

This comic will ruin your day : welcome to the detox scam.

http://www.thepharmafist.com/detox/

5 deceits about detox and toxins - The Pharmafist A comic about toxins, detox , cleanses , liver support programs ... and everything else related to this massive scam.