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A Facebook post shared in Nigeria in November 2020 advises people to drink a tea made from lemongrass and ginger to detoxify the system. It says this is the act of cleansing or flushing one’s system from toxins and unwanted substances and gives directions for how to prepare the mixture. Africa Check has previously debunked similar claims that teas and potions made from common herbs and foodstuffs help the body detox or cure diseases . Detoxing the body and detox diets have been widely shown to be ineffective and unnecessary . Is this lemon and ginger concoction any different? ‘No scientific evidence’ We asked Jacob Awobusuyi, professor of medicine in the faculty of clinical sciences at Lagos State University in southern Nigeria, whether people should follow the advice in the Facebook post . There is no scientific proof a home remedy like this works, he said. There are a number of processes involved in ‘detoxifying’. If you come up with a treatment, you have to be specific. What is being detoxified that the liver cannot handle? Why do you have to use herbal preparations? He suggested people ask the following questions about herbal preparations: What does the preparation do? How does it work? What are the active ingredients? Have there been any medical trials to prove its effectiveness? Awobusuyi reiterated that the body has its own cleansing mechanisms and there is no scientific evidence to back this detox claim. It should be disregarded. – Catherine Olorunfemi
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