Fact Check: Herbal Mixture Cannot Cleanse Smokers' Lungs, Indonesian Experts Say

A recent viral video circulating on Facebook has promoted a herbal concoction—ginger, turmeric, galangal, and lemongrass—as a cure for cleansing the lungs of smokers. The claim suggests this brew can effectively remove toxins accumulated from decades of smoking and exposure to dust and pollution. However, Tempo's Fact Check Team, in consultation with lung specialists and medical literature, has debunked this assertion.

Dr. Prastuti Asta Wulaningrum, a lung specialist at Airlangga University Hospital, unequivocally stated that there is no known method to cleanse the lungs of pollution or cigarette toxins. Once inhaled, these harmful substances cannot be simply flushed out. Medical sources, such as Medical News Today, corroborate this, noting that no product has been scientifically proven to instantly cleanse the lungs, and some purported cleansing agents may even pose health risks. The lungs' natural defense mechanisms, like coughing, are not always indicative of illness but rather the body's attempt to clear irritants.

“

Unfortunately, there is no way to cleanse the lungs of pollution or cigarettes. Once you smoke, the toxins cannot be removed.

Therefore, the claim that this herbal mixture can purify a smoker's lungs is false. The most effective strategy for maintaining lung health remains the avoidance of toxins, including cigarette smoke, vaping, and environmental pollution. Smoking is a primary cause of lung cancer and COPD, and preventative measures are far more impactful than any post-exposure remedy. Tempo's fact-checking initiative underscores the importance of relying on scientific evidence rather than unsubstantiated viral claims, especially concerning health matters.

“

The lungs possess a self-cleansing mechanism, such as coughing, which does not always indicate illness.