The dark truth behind 'Gold Terapi': Hallucinations, addiction, and fraud

Advertisement is a powerful tool, but it can also be a trap. Many patients, lured by the hope of recovery, found themselves addicted instead. Those who trusted a person operating under the name "Gold Terapi," who referred to himself as a "professor," shared their harrowing experiences of suffering intense pain and psychological torment with Kun.uz.

"They are a family mafia"

Our first protagonist is a man who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2021.

"I began to notice the progression of the disease. In early 2024, I came across an interview on the Chotki.tv YouTube channel. A man named Khayrulla Kasimov, associated with the 'Gold Terapi' clinic, claimed that he had brought a device from the U.S. for $17,000. He said the device sends waves to the brain, 'rebooting' it, and can cure all kinds of diseases. He even claimed it could treat Parkinson’s among other conditions."

I trusted them and immediately made contact. A man named Rikhsitilla answered the phone at the "Gold Terapi" clinic. He said he was Khayrulla’s brother. "You’ll speak with Professor Khayrulla Kasimov. He’ll assess you online and provide a diagnosis," he explained.

When you're in pain, money doesn’t even cross your mind. I withdrew $2,000 and paid for the online consultation. At that exchange rate, it amounted to 24 million UZS. I paid at the "Gold Terapi" office and was given a receipt.

Afterward, I had an online consultation with Khayrulla Kasimov. He was in Thailand and, in a brief and direct manner, said, "I treat Parkinson's. If I can't treat it, I won't speak. The price is $20,000." We spoke for 40 minutes, with me talking for 35 and him for 5. I paid the $20,000.

For reference: According to Professor Zarifboy Ibodullayev, accurately diagnosing Parkinson's disease, identifying its causes, and detecting any other underlying conditions are essential for starting the correct treatment. Treatment should only be conducted by a qualified doctor. One cannot begin treating Parkinson’s without first determining its root cause.

"Then Rikhsitilla contacted me, asking if I had a foreign passport and telling me that I needed to fly to Thailand immediately. They had already purchased a ticket for me, registering me as a tourist. In August 2024, I met Rikhsitilla at the airport. His mother was with him. She told me that she had suffered from liver cirrhosis and that her son had treated and cured her.

When we arrived in Thailand, Rikhsitilla took my passport, and I followed them. They had rented a villa in a restricted area where outsiders were not allowed. They gave me a room as well. The next day, another brother, Ubaydulla, suddenly arrived. That’s when I realized they were running a family scheme — Rikhsitilla and his mother gain people’s trust, Ubaydulla welcomes them in Thailand, and Khayrulla carries out the operation. Meanwhile, they receive the payment in Uzbekistan.

Khayrulla arrived with his brother Ubaydulla, and handed me something and said, 'Smell this.' When I reminded them that they had promised treatment without medication, they insisted, 'Just smell it, smell it,' forcing me to inhale something and then drink a liquid. Already weak and exhausted from my illness, I lost consciousness and felt incredibly heavy. Later, I discovered that what they gave me was ayahuasca, a powerful psychotropic substance. Since drugs are legal in Thailand, that’s why they operated there."

For reference, ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic drink made from plants native to tropical rainforests. It is a powerful psychotropic substance containing alkaloids and other psychoactive compounds. When consumed, it can significantly alter consciousness, induce intense visual hallucinations, and cause profound psychological changes. In extreme cases, it may even lead to insanity or death.

Ayahuasca has potent mind-altering effects. Some individuals experience severe side effects, including anxiety, hallucinations, paranoia, or depressive episodes. Traditionally, it has been used by shamans, who believe it enables communication with the spirit world and the ability to foresee events.

According to our protagonist, he was given this drink for a week as part of his so-called "treatment." He was forbidden from eating, leaving him weak, malnourished, and even more vulnerable. On the final day, they finally gave him food and instructed him to give an interview for their platform. He later realized that he had given the interview while still under the influence of the drug.

"They recorded on camera. They placed a simple device on my head, claiming it would alter the program. However, I felt no effect whatsoever. I reminded him, 'You promised to treat me without medication. You took the money in Tashkent, brought me here, and now my condition is worsening. Who will be held accountable for this?' To which he simply replied, 'Everything will be fine.' A week passed, and by that time, I was so weak they had to carry me around. They asked me to give an interview. When I questioned, 'What am I supposed to say in an interview when I haven't received any real treatment?' he kept evading my concerns. In the end, I told him, 'Just so you know, I am not in a sound state of mind. The only reason I am doing this interview is to get away from you as quickly as possible.'"

You may have seen many such interviews on their Instagram and YouTube pages. These pages are continuously monitored, and negative comments are regularly deleted. The presence of only positive feedback encourages viewers to trust what they see.

"There’s something inside you that makes you willing to do anything to get rid of it."

Our second protagonist is a woman. In an effort to improve her psychological state and health, she trusted the clinic after seeing advertisements featuring singer Samandar Khamrokulov and the Chotki.tv channel on YouTube. She paid 24 million UZS for a consultation and initially paid 16,000 USD for treatment.

This patient, too, underwent the same one-week “treatment,” during which she was interviewed while experiencing hallucinations. However, she had no idea what awaited her when she returned home. She soon began experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms, commonly referred to as “cravings,” following the abrupt cessation of the potent substances she had been given.

"Fifteen days after returning, something was happening to my body, and I couldn’t understand it. It was a terrifying sensation — whether it was fear or panic, I didn’t know. I called in tears, and they told me it could last anywhere from 3 to 6 months. But they hadn’t warned me that this would happen. My body was experiencing something so horrible that, out of sheer fear, a thought crossed my mind: 'If I learn how they prepare the drink I was made to drink, maybe it will pass, and I can help myself.'

Because when something like this happens to your body, you’re willing to do anything to get rid of it. To find relief, I decided to sign up as an apprentice again. I paid 15,000 USD. In their therapy, they give that same drink, which causes the person to fall into a trance-like state. Various questions are asked, and the subconscious is influenced. That’s how the 'treatment' is completed. Now, all of their apprentices follow the same method. I can’t deceive people; I haven’t seen any results myself, so how could I deceive others? I couldn’t continue with this, so I walked away and lost all my money."

"I even tried to commit suicide"

Recently, the illusionary ideas of "financial breakthrough" and "unlocking wealth" gained traction. Khayrulla Kasimov promised our next protagonist that she would earn $10,000 every month. After seeing such advertisements on his pages, she wholeheartedly believed it and took on a loan of 100 million UZS to pay him.

"I saw an interview with Samandar Khamrokulov, where he claimed to have unlocked financial success and overcome his health issues. I didn’t have any physical ailments myself; my only goal was to achieve financial success."

She paid 3.3 million UZS for an online consultation. Then they told her that four treatments would cost 100 million UZS. If she didn’t pay within 21 days, the price would double. They urged her to act quickly because there were many others in line. She borrowed money from friends and family and went. In a dimly lit room, they made grand promises, claiming she would make $10,000 every month.

They made her drink something from a small container and asked her a series of questions. Simple questions that didn’t interest her. But what really troubled her was: What did I just drink? She became terrified.

After the treatment, she felt better and was happy. But after 15 days to a month, she started feeling intense stress, fear, and panic. She lost her sense of taste. Even though she had never sought help for any physical illness, she had never experienced such pain. She couldn't find words to describe what had happened to her body. Her hopes were shattered, and her trust disappeared. The worst thing they gave her was a panic disorder. She even tried to commit suicide.

"They didn’t refund my money because I said I was feeling better in the interview"

Several other individuals who underwent Khayrulla Kasimov’s “treatments” and experienced similar situations have also submitted complaints to Kun.uz.

"I was diagnosed with a virus in my blood. Khayrulla Kasimov assured me of 100% recovery. I paid a total of $15,000. In Thailand, they made me drink something and conducted an interview with me. As a result, my condition worsened."

"I went to them to treat my neurosis. They gave me something that resembled a plant. I paid a total of $17,000, but saw no improvement. Initially, Khayrulla promised that if I didn’t recover, I would get my money back. But when I told them I hadn’t seen any benefits, they responded, 'You said you felt better in the interview,' and refused to refund my money."

Some of the victims may have even passed away

So, who exactly is Khayrulla Kasimov? Why are people paying 24 million UZS for just one consultation and $20,000 for his treatments?

Khayrulla Kasimov, who claims to be a professor, doctor, philanthropist, psycho-chemist, and the founder of "Gold Terapi," fills his social media pages with images of his lavish lifestyle and promises about how to easily achieve wealth.

His social media profiles are packed with grandiose claims, including guarantees to resolve economic, medical, and social issues simultaneously. However, the social media pages of the "professor" are full of spelling mistakes.

Even the clinic administrators are unaware of which educational institution Kasimov allegedly attended. There is also doubt about whether he holds a legitimate higher education, as he only possesses a certificate, not a formal diploma.

According to the patients, they were drawn to his clinic after seeing advertisements by Samandar Khamrokulov and the Chotki.tv YouTube channel. The channel’s administrators claim they were also unaware of Kasimov’s "miraculous healing methods." One administrator even revealed that the interview had been deleted due to complaints from Kasimov’s patients.

The complainants report that many people have suffered from his unconventional treatment methods, but for various reasons, they have refrained from reporting it to the authorities. Some victims are said to have passed away. What remains perplexing is that complaints sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other higher organizations have gone unanswered.

"I wrote a complaint, but the issue here is something else. They are a limited liability company, fraudsters posing as entrepreneurs. Up until now, I have been writing complaints, reaching out to the portal, and contacting the Shaykhontohur district department of Internal Affairs, but no action has been taken. My wife also filed a complaint, but I can't even leave the house.

If I can't trust the law in Uzbekistan, if I can't trust the prosecutor, if I can't trust the police, should I move abroad?" says one of the complainants.

Kun.uz tried to contact Khayrulla Kasimov, but couldn't get in touch due to him being abroad. Unfortunately, his advertisements are still running, and it wouldn't be surprising if there are still people who believe in them.

Whether any organization will investigate these matters is currently unclear.