The latest wellness trend has nicotine making a comeback, and this time it's not just about the temporary high; it's about claiming it can cure various health issues. From self-styled doctors to pundits, everyone is touting nicotine as an overlooked cure-all with remarkable benefits.
Some claim that a nicotine foot soak can cure atrial fibrillation, while others say it can be a treatment for erectile dysfunction. The line between medical advice and misinformation has become increasingly blurred, raising questions about what constitutes false or misleading claims in the medical world.
Tucker Carlson's brand of nicotine pouches, ALP, is the latest product to benefit from this trend. The collaboration between Carlson and Turning Point Brands, the tobacco giant that offers products from Zig Zag rolling papers to Stoker's snuff, has sparked both curiosity and concern.
Carlson explained on his podcast that he jumped into the tobacco business after receiving a letter from Phillip Morris International, one of the world's largest tobacco companies. The company asked him not to make any claims about the alleged medical benefits of Zyns, their smokeless pouch product, but Carlson claims it can be used as an erectile dysfunction remedy.
However, experts warn that making such claims could expose the company and Carlson to legal risk. Daniel Aaron, who served as assistant chief counsel at the Food and Drug Administration during the Biden Administration, says that Carlson's language about nicotine could potentially expose him and the company to legal trouble.
"The problem is, you can't have your CEO go out and say that some drug ingredient or tobacco ingredient is amazing when that's exactly what you're selling," Aaron said. "It just doesn't make sense."
The use of nicotine as a cure-all has become a staple in right-wing spaces, with content about its alleged benefits proliferating over the past few years. Wellness influencers like Bryan Ardis and Urban Kieran are pushing nicotine as a solution to various health issues, from whooping cough to Alzheimer's disease.
While there is some evidence that nicotine can have cognitive benefits, particularly for people with impaired cognitive function, experts warn that it can be detrimental for those with normal cognitive abilities. Paul Newhouse, director of the Center for Cognitive Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, says that "we cannot realistically make any positive health claims for nicotine other than stopping smoking."
The blurred line between medical misinformation and scientific debate has raised concerns about disciplining practitioners who give false or misleading advice online. State medical boards have been wary of taking action due to Republican political interests.
As the trend continues to grow, it's essential to approach claims about nicotine with a critical eye and separate fact from fiction. With its potential benefits and risks, nicotine should be approached with caution, rather than being marketed as a cure-all for various health issues.
Some claim that a nicotine foot soak can cure atrial fibrillation, while others say it can be a treatment for erectile dysfunction. The line between medical advice and misinformation has become increasingly blurred, raising questions about what constitutes false or misleading claims in the medical world.
Tucker Carlson's brand of nicotine pouches, ALP, is the latest product to benefit from this trend. The collaboration between Carlson and Turning Point Brands, the tobacco giant that offers products from Zig Zag rolling papers to Stoker's snuff, has sparked both curiosity and concern.
Carlson explained on his podcast that he jumped into the tobacco business after receiving a letter from Phillip Morris International, one of the world's largest tobacco companies. The company asked him not to make any claims about the alleged medical benefits of Zyns, their smokeless pouch product, but Carlson claims it can be used as an erectile dysfunction remedy.
However, experts warn that making such claims could expose the company and Carlson to legal risk. Daniel Aaron, who served as assistant chief counsel at the Food and Drug Administration during the Biden Administration, says that Carlson's language about nicotine could potentially expose him and the company to legal trouble.
"The problem is, you can't have your CEO go out and say that some drug ingredient or tobacco ingredient is amazing when that's exactly what you're selling," Aaron said. "It just doesn't make sense."
The use of nicotine as a cure-all has become a staple in right-wing spaces, with content about its alleged benefits proliferating over the past few years. Wellness influencers like Bryan Ardis and Urban Kieran are pushing nicotine as a solution to various health issues, from whooping cough to Alzheimer's disease.
While there is some evidence that nicotine can have cognitive benefits, particularly for people with impaired cognitive function, experts warn that it can be detrimental for those with normal cognitive abilities. Paul Newhouse, director of the Center for Cognitive Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, says that "we cannot realistically make any positive health claims for nicotine other than stopping smoking."
The blurred line between medical misinformation and scientific debate has raised concerns about disciplining practitioners who give false or misleading advice online. State medical boards have been wary of taking action due to Republican political interests.
As the trend continues to grow, it's essential to approach claims about nicotine with a critical eye and separate fact from fiction. With its potential benefits and risks, nicotine should be approached with caution, rather than being marketed as a cure-all for various health issues.