As the United States is in the midst of a winter “tripledemic” with rising cases of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, also called RSV, an Instagram post claims a garlic salve can alleviate the symptoms of RSV and pneumonia — especially among children.
The Dec. 4 post includes video instructions for making the salve — which a text overlay says is for “RSV, croup, cough and pneumonia” — using a mixture of minced garlic, lard, olive oil and beeswax.
“A well-crafted garlic salve, harnessing the power of one of nature’s most potent broad-spectrum antibiotics (found in the compound allicin), holds the willingness to heal any ailment of the lungs and respiratory system,” the post’s caption reads.
The caption also says the salve is “gentle enough to be used on babies and children of all ages!”
The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)
Garlic does have antiviral and antibacterial properties, but doctors told PolitiFact the post overstates the plant’s ability to treat illnesses such as RSV, croup and pneumonia. There’s no scientific evidence that garlic can be used to treat respiratory illnesses.
Dr. Jason Nagata, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, said he knows of no evidence that supports the post’s claim.
Although there have been no studies to examine garlic’s impact...
CLAIM: Video claiming President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had resigned. RATING: FALSE A YouTube video falsely claimed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had stepped down from office amid continue...