1. Early life

2. Career

3. Claims and practice
    Psychic connection and angels  Cancer and Epstein-Barr virus  Food and diet  Celery juice  Other 

4. Controversy and Criticism
    Soliciting Amazon reviews  Practicing medicine without a license  Other 

5. Selected Works

6. See also

7. References

Anthony William Coviello, known professionally as Anthony William or the Medical Medium, is a self-proclaimed medium who offers medical and health advice based on alleged communication with a spirit from the future. He authors books as well as offers advice online on such forums as Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP column and his own website.

He is vocal about his claims that the Epstein-Barr virus is responsible for multiple ailments, including cancer. He is the self-proclaimed originator of the celery juice fad, which he claims can offer many health benefits that are currently not scientifically proven. Critics allege that he is practising medicine without a license and that he has, at times, improperly solicited positive Amazon reviews for his books.

Early life

The Medical Medium's full name is Anthony William Coviello{{R|"CS"}}. William claims that he first received his expertise through a connection to "Spirit" when he was four years old.{{R|"Gavura"}} He claims that he correctly diagnosed his grandmother with lung cancer, and often "healed" family and friends throughout his childhood.{{R|"Paoletta"}}{{R|"Mull"}}{{R|"Gavura"}}

Career

Anthony William is best known as the "Medical Medium".{{R|"Dennett"}} He is a New York Times bestselling author{{R|"Austen"}}{{R|"Clark"}} who has published 4 books. Anthony William's company is based in Sarasota, Florida. He is a writer for Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP{{R|"Dennett"}}{{R|"CS"}}, for which he is considered a "trusted expert".{{R|"Paoletta"}} He had over 1.6 million followers on Instagram as of 2019{{R|"Fitzmaurice"}}{{R|"Clark"}} and had 3.3 million followers on Facebook as of 2019.{{R|"CS"}}

William has his own website which offers paid phone consultations. His website also contains at least 177 revenue-generating affiliate links to Amazon products, such as nutritional supplements.{{R|"Mull"}} According to the legal disclaimers on his site as well as on his Goop articles, William has no certifications of scientific or medical training.{{R|"Mull"}}{{R|"Austen"}}{{R|"Clark"}} His disclaimers also advise that his suggestions should not be a substitute for medical advice, and that you should seek advice from a medical doctor before following his advice.{{R|"Gavura"}} He has frequently been solicited by the traditional press for comments, but appears to infrequently engage with journalists.{{R|"Mull"}}

Claims and practice

Psychic connection and angels

William claims that his abilities come from a psychic connection with "Spirit", which allows him to diagnose other people of various illnesses as well as offer some treatment.{{R|"Paoletta"}}{{R|"Dennett"}}{{R|"Clark"}} William claims that "Spirit" gives him the ability to "scan" bodies in a way that can diagnose “all blockages, infections, trouble areas, past problems, and even soul fractures" with knowledge that comes from the future.{{R|"Hall"}} He claims this information will be recognized by the scientific community, although it is not currently.{{R|"Paoletta"}}

The final chapter of his book, "Life-Changing Foods", is called "Life-Changing Angels".{{R|"Hall"}} In this chapter he explains that he believes in the existence twelve different angels, with names such as the "Angel of Abundance" and the "Angel of Addiction". He encourages his followers to invoke the names of specific angels to ask for help in various circumstances.{{R|"Hall"}}

Cancer and Epstein-Barr virus

One of the health issues that William most frequently diagnoses is chronic Epstein–Barr virus, which he claims can be treated with the special blend of B12 vitamins "Spirit" recommends, along with high doses of celery juice.{{R|"CS"}} He claims that the virus is frequently transmitted in utero, although current scientific evidence suggests that it is almost always transmitted via saliva.{{R|"Paoletta"}}

William says, in his GOOP column, that "ninety-eight percent of the time, cancer is caused by a virus and at least one type of toxin". He attributes most cancer more specifically to the Epstein-Barr virus, claiming that this virus is "responsible for breast cancer, liver cancer, almost all lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, women’s reproductive cancers, leukemia, and many more.” William claims that the cancer we face today is something that has only begun recently, specifically after the Industrial Revolution. He also claims that cancer as whole has no genetic components, despite scientific evidence to the contrary.{{R|"Paoletta"}} William also suggests that the Epstein-Barr virus causes over 95% of thyroid issues, a claim for which there is no supporting scientific evidence.{{R|"Gavura"}}

According to the CDC, there is no peer-reviewed scientific evidence to support the claim that the Epstein-Barr virus causes cancer, as William claims. The American Cancer Society does say the Epstein-Barr virus might possibly be linked to Hodgkin's lymphoma or certain stomach cancers, but this is still undetermined.{{R|"Paoletta"}}

Food and diet

In his book about "Life Changing Food" he considers "fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, and wild foods" to be the "holy four". Of them he claims:

Against these "holy four" he positions the "unforgiving four", which are "radiation, toxic heavy metals, the viral explosion, and DDT". Of these, he claims that they “ravage our bodies, make us question our own sanity, and push us to the breaking point as a society.”{{R|"Hall"}}

William also claims that there are two kinds of "living water". "Hydrobioactive water" is found in all of the "holy four" foods. This, he claims, can hydrate a person more than regular water. He also claims there is a, yet undiscovered cofactor water which "contains information to help restore your soul and spirit and to support your emotions."{{R|"Hall"}}

He also describes six foods which he considers to be "life-challenging". He claims that dairy "bogs down the liver", eggs "feed the viral explosion", corn is no longer nutritious due to genetic modification, wheat "feeds pathogens", canola oil destroys the lining of the stomach, veins, and heart, and finally that food additives described or labeled as "natural flavors" are actually a neurotoxin called MSG which, he claims, destroys brain and nerve cells over time.{{R|"Hall"}}

Celery juice

Anthony William is the self proclaimed originator of the celery juice diet{{R|"Fitzmaurice"}}{{R|"Austen"}}, and journalistic research has led others to conclude that he is the primary source.{{R|"Mull"}} William claims that "the science behind the healing powers of celery juice is just yet to be discovered" because it is from the future. Currently none of his claims can be proven.{{R|"Fitzmaurice"}}{{R|"Clark"}}

William claims that celery juice has medicinal uses.{{R|"Clark"}} He suggests that it can "improve energy levels", reduce bloating, increase "clarity of mind", and even improve such conditions as headaches and anxiety.{{R|"Fitzmaurice"}} The juice is supposed to be extra hydrating, "inflammation-reducing and microbiome-sustaining".{{R|"Zimmerman"}} He also calls it "a miracle juice" and "one of the greatest healing tonics of all time."{{R|"Dennett"}} None of these claims are supported by scientific evidence, thus no dietitians or other members of the medical community are supportive of these claims.{{R|"Fitzmaurice"}}{{R|"Zimmerman"}}{{R|"Clark"}}

In an interview with UK's Standard William describes how to make celery juice. He claims it has "healing powers" and explains that it is difficult to make.

William explains that the juice must be pure, so not even a squeeze of lemon juice or a mixture of other vegetables is permitted. The juice should be consumed on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning. He recommends doing exactly 16 ounces of juice to start, and working up to 32 ounces, twice a day. He says that it should be ingested at least 15-20 minutes before consuming other food.{{R|"Fitzmaurice"}}

Amanda Mull, of The Atlantic interviewed two registered dietitians on the benefits of celery juice. They agreed that celery is a healthy snack, and that there is some evidence that celery may have benefits for managing blood pressure, but these benefits were observed when patients ate full stalks. One dietician remarked, “there is no one food that will cure your cancer, inflammatory disease, or other ailment, so don’t believe the hype you see and hear on Instagram."{{R|"Mull"}}

Dietitian and Nutritionist, Marika Day, says of William's celery juice claims:

Nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert of Harley Street also weighed in to point out that fiber is an important part of diet, and this is lost in the juicing process. She states that there is no current evidence for these more "magical claims" of celery juice, only anecdotal evidence. Australian dietician Stefanie Valakas, interviewed by a reporter with news.com.au, also states that there is no evidence for these health claims and that any fiber benefits of celery are lost in the juicing process.{{R|"Austen"}} Both remark that one is likely to get the same nutritional benefit from drinking a glass of water and eating a balanced diet.{{R|"Fitzmaurice"}}{{R|"Austen"}}

Although most medical professionals agree that the potential harm in adding celery juice to one's diet is likely minimal, there is the possibility of a negative reaction with certain medications. Celery contains Vitamin K, which can potentially affect medications, such as Warfarin, if intake suddenly increases.{{R|"Austen"}}{{R|"Clark"}} There is also a potential risk of bloating and diarrhea for those suffering from IBS.{{R|"Clark"}}

Ginger Hultin, a dietitian and spokesperson Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, commenting on the celery juice phenomena, warns it is dangerous to attempt to fight diseases, such as cancer with food alone, as many proponents of celery juice claim to do.{{R|"Dennett"}}

Other

William also claims that even infertility is treatable with such practices as "creative visualizations, walking meditations, and breathing exercises", which he claims will "draw white light into the reproductive organs."{{R|"Hall"}}

Controversy and Criticism

Soliciting Amazon reviews

Jonathan Jarry, of the McGill Office for Science and Society, argues that some of William's accolades are not naturally achieved. For example, he notes that William offered entry into a contest where participants could win autographed books, private consultations, and live show tickets in exchange for positive book reviews on Amazon.{{R|"CS"}}

Rae Paoletta, of Inverse, found that Anthony William's publisher, Hay House, ran a lottery to give prizes to whoever wrote the "most inspiring" Amazon review for his 2015 book titled "Medical Medium". According to Paoletta, "when Inverse asked Amazon about the accusations of positive book reviews for compensation, a spokesperson confirmed the e-commerce site would be investigating the claims."{{R|"Paoletta"}}

Practicing medicine without a license

Jarry also argues that Anthony William is practicing medicine without a license. In William's operating state of Florida, the definition of practicing medicine is as follows:

On William's radio shows he allows fans to call in and describe their symptoms. He performs "scans" with his angel guide, and then offers advice to the caller, suggesting things like eliminating certain food groups, taking vitamin B12, or doing a celery juice cleanse. Jarry argues that this does constitute "practicing medicine" based on the aforementioned definition.{{R|"CS"}}

Jarry also describes the case of woman who, three days after being "scanned" by Anthony William on a TV program and found to be completely healthy by "Spirit", was diagnosed with a serious blood disease that William and Spirit were not able to detect.{{R|"CS"}}

Other

Jennifer Gunter, an OB/GYN from San Francisco who has criticized GOOP in the past, made the following statement regarding Anthony William:

Harriet Hall argues that "William’s belief system has no grounding in reality or science." She asserts that there is no evidence to back up Anthony William's claimed divine guidance.{{R|"Hall"}}

Selected Works

• (11/10/15) Medical Medium: Secrets Behind Chronic and Mystery Illness and How to Finally Heal {{ISBN|9781401948290}}{{R|"HH1"}}{{R|"Paoletta"}}

• (11/08/16) Medical Medium Life-Changing Foods: Save Yourself and the Ones You Love with the Hidden Healing Powers of Fruits & Vegetables {{ISBN|9781401948320}}{{R|"HH4"}}

• (11/07/17) Medical Medium Thyroid Healing: The Truth behind Hashimoto's, Graves', Insomnia, Hypothyroidism, Thyroid Nodules & Epstein-Barr {{ISBN|9781401948368}}{{R|"HH2"}}

• (10/30/18) Medical Medium Liver Rescue: Answers to Eczema, Psoriasis, Diabetes, Strep, Acne, Gout, Bloating, Gallstones, Adrenal Stress, Fatigue, Fatty Liver, Weight Issues, SIBO & Autoimmune Disease {{ISBN|9781401954406}}{{R|"HH3"}}

See also

• Mediumship
• Goop
• Psychic

References

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• State Route 678 (Bath and Highland Counties, Virginia)
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