A New Age community branded a "cult" by its critics is under investigation by health authorities over a range of herbal supplements it sells online.
Universal Medicine, based in Lismore, on the NSW north coast, is the subject of an "urgent review" by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
The leader of Universal Medicine, Serge Benhayon, a former tennis coach who has claimed to be the reincarnation of Leonardo da Vinci and Pythagoras, sells three different "Eso-Herbs" - Harmony, Re-Balancing and Connection - for $40 a plastic tub.
A TGA spokeswoman said the products met the definition of therapeutic goods because they made general therapeutic claims and were sold in a dosage pack rather than being raw herbs.
"The TGA is concerned that these goods are not included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods and have not been evaluated by the TGA as the law requires," she said.
"In order to protect the public, this matter is being urgently investigated by the TGA with the sponsor being required to achieve compliance with the regulatory requirements of Australia's therapeutic goods legislation."
Mr Benhayon said he would co-operate with the TGA.
"I wish they would have just said to me, 'Hey, you're doing the wrong thing'," he said.
The Sun-Herald revealed yesterday that Mr Benhayon, 48, has up to 1000 followers - mainly female - but he faces a backlash from a group of men who say they have lost their partners to Universal Medicine, which they claim is a cult based around him.
Most adherents radically alter their eating, exercise and lovemaking habits when they take up the esoteric lifestyle.
One Universal Medicine student, Tamara, objected to the claim that it was a cult, saying she had reclaimed her life from an abusive relationship rather than losing herself to a cult.
Mr Benhayon confirmed the group had held a book burning at the property of his lawyer, Cameron Bell, at Billinudgel, near Mullumbimby.
The director of Melbourne-based Cult Counselling Australia, Raphael Aron, questioned the validity of Mr Benhayon's treatments, which include ''esoteric breast massage'' to fight cancer in women and ''chakra-puncture'' offered by his sons Michael and Curtis for $70 an hour.
Records show Mr Benhayon owns six properties in the Lismore suburb of Goonellabah, where the healing centre is based. He is also the director of five companies associated with Universal Medicine, including Fiery Investments Pty Ltd and Fiery Impulses Pty Ltd.
