Health experts warn against drinking liquid extracted from banana trees to ‘treat acid reflux’

Fb posts shared a whole bunch of instances declare that consuming water extracted from banana timber for 15 days can treatment acid reflux disorder, a situation that causes heartburn. Nevertheless, the declare is fake; not solely is there no proof the extracted liquid can deal with the situation, well being specialists warned it might comprise dangerous substances that might inflame the digestive system.

The declare was posted here on April 12, 2022 in a Fb group with greater than 125,000 members.

The put up consists of a picture of a steel spoon stuffed with a cloudy liquid, which seems to have been collected by jamming the spoon’s deal with into the trunk of a banana tree. 

The Thai-language caption interprets to English partially as: “I used to undergo from acid reflux disorder, I suffered lots! Remedy is dear and it’s not useful.

“So I resorted to conventional herbs as a substitute. I extracted water from the banana timber and picked up two spoonfuls. I drank banana water often for 15 days, and I used to be utterly cured. Don’t underestimate Thai conventional drugs. I assure this.” 

A screenshot of the deceptive put up on Fb

In line with Britain’s National Health Service (NHS), acid reflux is a situation the place abdomen acids travels up in direction of the throat, inflicting a burning feeling within the chest often called heartburn.

Many individuals expertise heartburn sometimes. It may be brought about or exacerbated by being obese or pregnant, or habits reminiscent of smoking and consuming spicy or fatty meals.

Comparable claims concerning the supposed well being advantages of liquid extracted from banana timber had been shared here and here. 

Nevertheless, the declare is fake; well being specialists advised AFP there isn’t a proof that consuming liquid extracted from banana timber can treatment acid reflux disorder.

‘Baseless hearsay’

“This appears to be a baseless hearsay,” mentioned Bussaraporn Thanasilungkoon, a senior technical officer on the Thailand well being ministry’s Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, which oversees analysis into the medicinal use of conventional herbs.

“There are not any research below Thai conventional drugs which state that banana water treats acid reflux disorder,” she advised AFP.

Sayarm Sirintornpanya, a gastroenterologist at Rajavithi Hospital in Bangkok additionally advised AFP there was no proof the treatment labored for acid reflux disorder.

“There isn’t any medical proof that reveals the water extracted from banana timber has any properties to treatment or relieve sufferers with acid reflux disorder,” he mentioned.

He instructed individuals who suffered from the situation ought to alter their consuming habits and devour more healthy, lighter meals or take over-the-counter medicine out there at native pharmacies in Thailand as a substitute.

Each well being specialists warned the liquid extracted from banana timber might even be dangerous if consumed.

‘Unhygienic’

Bussaraporn mentioned the liquid might comprise rubber that may hurt the digestive system, whereas Sayarm mentioned the substance might “irritate and inflame the digestive system, which could possibly be harmful”.

Nonthalert Lertnitikul, a professor at Chulalongkorn College’s Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, additionally advised AFP that the liquid extracted from banana timber is “unhygienic” and “shouldn’t be consumed to treatment any illnesses”.

He mentioned the liquid extracted from banana timber consists of water, banana rubber and different contaminated substances reminiscent of germs and mud.

“I definitely do not advocate consuming it as it’s not hygienic and will trigger hazard to your physique,” he mentioned.