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Claim: Cloves and garlic clean the womb.
Verdict: FALSE! Reliable medical journals and medical experts establish no existing evidence for the assertion.
Full Text
As it has become very common, herbal drugs have become more sought after than their pharmaceutical counterparts. According to a Facebook page, the Fertility guideline group, cloves and garlic can be used to clean the womb.
The page prescribed that the cloves and pieces of grounded garlic should be fermented and later stored in a refrigerator. It should be taken hot in the morning, before breakfast. Although it can be taken during a menstrual period, it should be avoided during ovulation. It also asserted that men suffering from chlamydia or gonorrhoea can take it.
Another Facebook user, Tomi Adenuga, also made a similar assertion.
As of Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, the post has attracted over 5,900 likes, 78 comments, and 2,000 shares.
Due to its virality and implications for public health, DUBAWA decided to verify it.
Verification
According to Healthline, cloves contain eugenol, an antioxidant that manages oxidative stress. Concentrated clove oil also kills cancer cells in the oesophagus, among other health diseases. Both clove extract and nigericin can also manage blood sugar levels, preserve bone mass, and treat stomach or peptic cancer.
The Medical News Today researchers also discovered that clove extract reduced the amount of obesity derived from a high-fat diet. The medical publication further mentioned that mice fed the clove extract witnessed a reduction in body weight, abnormal fat, and liver fat than those not fed.
While Breathe Well-being, Verywell Health, MedicineNet, and Drug.com highlight various functions that cloves can do, none mention womb-cleansing.
Does garlic clean the womb?
According to Medical News Today, garlic is potent in managing a host of body infirmities, including lung cancer, brain cancer, hip osteoarthritis, heart attack, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure. PharmEasy, Spice World, Everyday Health, Real Simple, and Health all discuss and share views on the health benefits of consuming garlic. However, none indicated or identified that the vegetables can clean the womb.
What experts say
In a consult with Dr Victoria Shittu, a medical doctor and mental health advocate, she dismissed the claim as absolutely unfounded.
“The womb does not need cleaning. It is a sterile organ unless some people find their way like this (referring to the claim above) to pollute it,” she said.
The mental health advocate further maintained that womb cleansing is unnecessary. According to her, it would even require a proper medical procedure in a situation where the womb has been infected with microorganisms.
“A womb that is not septic would never need cleaning. Even septic abortion would require manual vacuum aspiration and antibiotics aside from many other medical interventions.” Dr Shittu asserted.
Dr Nathaniel Adewole, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology and chief consultant gynaecologist at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, also dismissed the assertion as non-existing. According to the consultant, “I am not aware of such in his years of practice.”
He further informed that such a condition does not exist, and the mentioned food items are inconsequential to cleaning a woman’s womb whatsoever “to the best of my knowledge,” Dr Adewole said.
Conclusion
The claim is false. No medical research or medical experts support the claim.
