As coronavirus cases continue to surge, scores of hospitals across the country are facing shortage of oxygen for patients. In this backdrop, a post is doing rounds on social media. It is being claimed that Camphor, Cloves, Carom seeds and Eucalyptus oil can be used to increase oxygen levels.
The post on Facebook reads: Camphor, lavang, ajwain, few drops eucalyptus oil. Make potli and keep smelling it throughout the day and night . Helps increase oxygen levels and congestion. This potli is also given to tourists in Ladakh when oxygen levels are low. It’s a home remedy .. kindly share and help.
The link to the above post can be found here. More posts can be seen here, here, and here.
FACT CHECK
NewsMobile fact-checked the post and found the claim to be false.
We did a Google search with the relevant keywords and found a report published by the University of Szeged on the benefits and risks of Camphor.
The report suggested that camphor vapours increase the nasal sensation of airflow through the nose. But, blood oxygen saturation decreases in severe Covid-19 infections because of the lungs and lower respiratory tract damage and not because of nasal blockage.
It further stated that several cases of camphor intoxication in humans, especially children, have been recorded, primarily due to accidental ingestion.
A report by NDTV on carom (ajwain) seeds suggested that it is a remedy for chest congestion and works in a similar way as camphor does by removing nasal blockage but it cannot increase the blood level in oxygen.
Further, eucalyptus oil and cloves are found to have anti-inflammatory properties but there is no research or evidence to suggest that they increase blood oxygen or relieve respiratory distress.
NewsMobile contacted Respiratory Medicine Specialist at Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, Dr P.K. Mangla, who confirmed that the claim is not true.
Hence, from the above information, it is clear that Camphor, Cloves, Carom seeds and Eucalyptus oil cannot elevate oxygen levels in COVID-19 patients.
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