Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu & 'The Liver Doc' clash online as doctor warns against 'health-illiterate boomer uncles' like Vembu

Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu and the popular social media doctor Cyriac Abby Philips, known as "The Liver Doc," got into a heated spat on social media, clashing between medical science and pseudoscience. What started as a disagreement quickly escalated into an exchange of insults, with terms like "boomer uncles," "health illiterate," and "credentialed arrogance" being thrown around, turning the debate into a rather public feud.

What is the issue between Sridhar Vembu and "The Liver Doc"?

On August 25, Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu reposted a thread by @Architect_333, on the benefits of "grounding" or walking barefoot.?

Vembu shared his personal experience, stating, "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."?

He added, "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 try it and I got so used to it by now I don't even think about it. Try it!"

But what exactly is grounding? According to WebMD, grounding, also called earthing, is when you make physical contact with the earth, allowing the natural electric charge of the planet to transfer into your body. Some research suggests this can reduce inflammation, relieve stress, and improve sleep, among other benefits.

However, Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, better known as "The Liver Doc," strongly disagreed, calling grounding a "pseudoscientific practice" with "no clinically relevant benefits."?

He responded to Vembu on X, "There are no 'electrical frequencies' involved, the Sun does none of the things that are claimed, nor does the ground."

Dr. Philips further warned of potential risks of grounding such as foot infections and injuries that could lead to severe complications, especially for people with conditions like diabetes or peripheral nerve disease.?

He didn't stop there, taking a jab at Vembu, stating, "Indian healthcare's biggest challenge lies not in teaching people critical-thinking skills, but in educating and training the common person how to avoid health-illiterate boomer uncles like Mr. Vembu."

This set Vembu off, who fired back at Dr. Philips' comments, accusing him of "arrogance."

Responding with sarcasm, Vembu saying that he may be a “science illiterate” but he has a “PhD in Electrical Engineering" and knows "how to read a research paper."?

He argued that the human body is a "bio-electrical system" and that the concept of grounding is at least "scientifically plausible." Defending his stance, he reiterated, "That is why I said 'I do It, try it for yourself' - I stand by it."

Vembu further backed up his claims by pointing to past examples where medical consensus had later been proven wrong. He cited the COVID-19 pandemic, where he claimed "good doctors" disagreed with the U.S. medical establishment on treatments like ivermectin, which he says his own doctor prescribed.?

He also referenced the shift in dietary advice, particularly regarding coconut oil. "A generation ago the 'correct information' was that we must minimize dietary fat and coconut oil was bad for us. Courageous doctors and scientists disagreed with the establishment, peddled what would now be called 'misinformation,' and we know today coconut oil is good for us. We had known that in India all along."

While The Liver Doc could have been more tactful in his response and used nicer words, the spread of medical misinformation is a serious issue, especially with the rise of reels and shorts, where individuals without medical qualifications often share advice that lacks scientific backing.

What's your opinion on the issue?

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.