Dragons’ Den health row over ‘treatment’ for ME
Contestant: BBC invited me on
They looked at every part of my business before I went on
GISELLE BOXER ON DRAGONS’ DEN INVITE
A DRAGONS’ Den contestant facing criticism for her health claims was personally invited on the show by the BBC, the Mirror can reveal.
Giselle Boxer went on the programme to ask for £50,000 for a 10% stake in her business, that sells ‘ear seeds’ – needlefree acupuncture kits – which she claimed helped her recovery from ME.
However, last week’s programme has now been bombarded with complaints from viewers and charities, who say there is no evidence behind the claims.
Giselle, 31, claims BBC researchers approached her to take part.
She said: “Funnily enough they [the BBC] contacted me and I received an email from a researcher there and I initially thought it was a spam email.
“We went through the different stages of the application process and there was so much due diligence and they really looked into every part of my business before I went in to pitch to the Dragons.”
Dr Charles Shepherd, medical adviser for the ME Association, has written to the BBC and Advertising Standards
Authority. He said: “The way in which Dragons’ Den has been used to promote an unproven treatment for ME has caused a great deal of upset and concern.
“People with ME are fed up with the way products like this are regularly being promoted when there is no sound evidence from proper placebo-controlled clinical trials to confirm that they are safe and effective.”
Dragon Steven Bartlett agreed to pay £50,000 for a 12.5% stake in Acu Seeds.
Ms Boxer told the panel that ME had left her “unable to walk for more than five minutes”.
She added: “I was told by doctors I would never recover, work again or have children. I went on a personal healing journey involving diet, acupuncture,
Chinese herbs and earseeds. Using this combination, I believe, aided my recovery in 12 months.”
Her website had linked her ME being healed to her product. Seemingly, this has been changed. It states: “Through the use of acupuncture, Chinese herbs and ear seeds, Giselle is now fully recovered.” The BBC said: “Dragons’ Den features products from entrepreneurs and is not an endorsement of them.” Giselle said she “never said the ear seeds are a cure”, adding: “I have always said ME is a complex condition and that a combination of healing approaches is what I believed supported my recovery.”