Conspirituality

289: Big Wellness’s Nicotine Gambit [feat Mallory DeMille]

January 1, 2026

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  • The contrarian wellness space, as discussed in *Conspirituality* episode 289, is aggressively promoting nicotine, often via oral pouches or patches, as a panacea for issues ranging from energy dips to cancer and autism. 
  • Chiropractor Brian Artis is identified as the primary source promoting extreme, unsubstantiated claims about nicotine curing numerous serious medical conditions, including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and glioblastoma. 
  • The promotion of nicotine as a wellness hack is deeply intertwined with political and cultural signaling, particularly within the 'Maha' (Make America Healthy Again) movement, where it is framed as an edgy, anti-establishment choice, despite leading to dangerous medical misinformation, including advice given to parents of autistic children. 

Segments

Podcast Introduction and Context
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode of Conspirituality addresses the wellness trend of using nicotine, contrasting it with historical regulation against smoking.
  • Summary: The episode, 289: Big Wellness’s Nicotine Gambit [feat Mallory DeMille], sets the stage by referencing the 1965 Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act. Nicotine is now being promoted in contrarian wellness circles for energy and mood enhancement, sometimes claiming to treat serious conditions like cancer and autism. Guest Mallory DeMille returns to analyze this emerging wellness buzz.
Influencer Nicotine Promotion
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(00:03:17)
  • Key Takeaway: A wellness influencer promotes low-dose oral nicotine pouches based on anecdotal experience and a doctor’s podcast, claiming benefits for energy and inflammation.
  • Summary: One influencer details experimenting with 1.5mg oral nicotine pouches for three months, citing personal benefits like reduced inflammation and stronger immunity. This promotion references a doctor who allegedly discussed nicotine’s medicinal use for dementia and a COVID study suggesting protection. The influencer encourages listeners to seek out the specific direct-to-consumer brand she uses.
Identifying the Source of Claims
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(00:05:48)
  • Key Takeaway: The current obsession with nicotine as a health hack is largely traceable to chiropractor Brian Artis, who links it to COVID-19 contrarianism.
  • Summary: The hosts identify chiropractor Brian Artis as the root cause for many claims that nicotine cures conditions like Parkinson’s, MS, and ulcerative colitis. Artis gained traction by claiming nicotine dissolved glioblastoma tumors in a study he claims was government-funded. His 2024 book heavily relies on an anti-establishment narrative regarding COVID-19 vaccines and official health agencies.
Artis’s Pseudoscience Claims
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(00:09:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Brian Artis promotes nicotine patches as a treatment for heart injury (elevated troponin) and claims nicotine itself is not addictive, blaming additives like pyrazines.
  • Summary: Artis suggests wearing a 7mg nicotine patch daily, especially if troponin levels are high, and offers a free PDF on using nicotine agents for various health scenarios. He claims nicotine cures aggressive cancers and that its supposed dangers stem only from additives in tobacco products. Experts counter that nicotine is scientifically recognized as addictive and that his claims lack clinical evidence.
Nuance: Nicotine Research Context
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(00:15:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Clean nicotine products, like Swedish Snus, are associated with lower smoking rates and related cancers, showing potential harm reduction compared to smoking.
  • Summary: A Wall Street Journal investigation clip notes that while nicotine itself doesn’t cause cancer, its long-term effects are not fully known. Sweden’s low smoking rates correlate with the use of Snus, a smokeless oral tobacco product, suggesting clean nicotine delivery is far less toxic than smoking. However, this evidence does not validate nicotine as an ultimate wellness hack.
Nicotine as Political Symbolism
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(00:18:58)
  • Key Takeaway: Nicotine pouches have become a cultural signifier for conservative masculinity and are being actively marketed by political figures and associated media figures.
  • Summary: Alex Clark of Culture Apothecary (a Turning Point USA entity) promoted nicotine patches based on Artis’s advice, illustrating dangerous parasocial influence where listeners buy products based on controversial health claims. Tucker Carlson launched his own brand, Alp, after criticizing Zyn, framing non-political nicotine consumption as a stand against liberal culture wars.
Nicotine for Children and Autism
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(00:38:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Influencers are actively advising parents to use nicotine patches on children, citing unproven claims that it treats autism and detoxifies spike proteins.
  • Summary: A clip features a wellness influencer interviewing an integrative cancer clinic founder who recommends nicotine patches for children with high spike protein levels. Brian Artis is cited again for claiming nicotine patches improve autism traits within seven days when placed between the shoulder blades. This misinformation is tragically mirrored by a real-life case where a grandmother faced charges for using patches on her grandson.