Ben Carson Tests Positive for COVID-19

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, a world-renowned pioneer in the field of neurosurgery, said he took a potentially toxic, FDA-rejected therapeutic extract at the recommendation of the CEO of MyPillow to cure himself of the coronavirus.

According to The Washington Post, Carson said he took oleandrin (an extract of the oleander plant) after hearing about it from Mike Lindell, the pillow tycoon and Trump loyalist. Lindell, who has a financial stake in the company that produces the extract, stated, “Anybody who has ever gotten COVID and taken [oleander extract], they are fine in five hours, and the next day are running around playing floor hockey in the hallway.”

Lindell’s claims are completely unsubstantiated; there are no peer-reviewed studies on oleander extract’s effect on COVID-19 patients. Lindell has no scientific background or medical training. His company has come under criticism for false advertising before, settling a class-action lawsuit in 2017 after making unsubstantiated claims that MyPillow could cure insomnia, among other ailments.

Carson’s statement from Facebook –

“I was extremely sick and initially took Oleander 4X with dramatic improvement. However, I have several co-morbidities and after a brief period, when I only experienced minor discomfort, the symptoms accelerated and I became desperately ill. President Trump was following my condition and cleared me for the monoclonal antibody therapy that he had previously received, which I am convinced saved my life.

“While I am blessed to have the best medical care in the world (and I am convinced it saved my life), we must prioritize getting comparable treatments and care to everyone as soon as possible.”

The raw oleander plant is highly toxic and consuming it can be fatal. There are no peer-reviewed, published studies on the impact of oleandrin on COVID-19, and there’s no public evidence it has been studied in patients with COVID-19.

The best remedy for COVID-19 is prevention.