An online clash has erupted between Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, a liver specialist known as ‘The Liver Doctor,’ and Sridhar Vembu, co-founder and CEO of Zoho, over the health benefits of walking barefoot. The controversy centers around Mr. Vembu’s promotion of “grounding,” which Dr. Philips has vehemently criticized as “pseudoscience.”
The dispute began when Sridhar Vembu shared on social media his enthusiasm for walking barefoot, which he claims has health benefits. He described his experience of walking barefoot on the natural surfaces of his village in Tamil Nadu, arguing that direct contact with the Earth’s energy improves well-being.
Dr. Philips took issue with these claims, calling “grounding” an unproven concept and suggesting it could even be harmful, citing potential risks like foot infections. He labeled Mr. Vembu as “health illiterate” for advocating this practice and criticized the credibility of related studies.
“Grounding or Earthing (walking barefoot) is pseudoscience with no clinically relevant benefits,” Dr. Philips wrote on X (formerly Twitter), attaching a screenshot of Vembu’s post. “The biggest challenge in Indian healthcare is not teaching critical thinking but educating people to avoid health-illiterate figures like Mr. Vembu.”
In response, Mr. Vembu defended his views, advising his followers to “stay away from arrogant doctors.” He argued that truly great doctors are humble, recognize the complexity of the human body, and remain open to evolving medical wisdom. He also criticized name-calling, suggesting that good doctors do not engage in such behavior.
Dr. Philips shot back with a sharp rebuttal, suggesting that Mr. Vembu should leave health matters to professionals who work to counter misinformation. He shared a research paper indicating that minimalist shoes might offer better gait performance compared to walking barefoot, challenging Vembu’s claims.
The exchange continued with Vembu noting that his decision to walk barefoot was influenced by a book on barefoot running, which he found convincing. He reiterated his call to avoid “arrogant doctors,” reinforcing his position.
Dr. Philips responded by calling Vembu “science-illiterate” and a “serial misinformation offender.” He accused Vembu of dehumanizing him and spreading ignorance. “Don’t be like Mr. Vembu. Don’t be arrogant and ignorant. Be open to correcting mistakes,” he concluded, emphasizing his commitment to defending public health against misinformation.
