Recent advertising by Dabur suggested that its famed Ayurvedic supplement, Chyawanprash, can help protect lungs from the effects of air pollution, a claim that has sparked controversy and triggered responses from critics, health-influencers, and public-health observers.
According to reporting:
An influencer (referred to as FoodPharmer) publicly challenged Dabur’s campaign, arguing that stating a supplement can protect against lung damage from smog overreaches scientific support.
The critic’s argument rests on the fact that no robust clinical studies or peer-reviewed research establish that chyawanprash (or similar herbal tonics) can prevent or reverse lung damage from particulate pollution or gaseous pollutants.
The concern is that such advertisements may give consumers a false sense of security, possibly deterring them from evidence-based measures like reducing exposure, using masks, improving indoor air quality, or seeking medical care when needed.
Air pollution, especially fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅), nitrogen oxides, ozone, is strongly linked to respiratory diseases: chronic bronchitis, asthma exacerbation, impaired lung function, cardiovascular stress, and increased mortality. Public health authorities globally consider pollution a major environmental risk.
Preventing or mitigating pollution-related lung damage relies on reducing exposure (e.g., masks, air filtration), policy and environmental action, and medical care for respiratory diseases.
To date, there is no credible peer-reviewed clinical trial showing that Chyawanprash or similar herbal supplements can safeguard the lungs from pollution-induced damage.
Lung injury from pollution involves oxidative stress, inflammation, and damage to delicate lung tissue. While some herbs might have antioxidant or anti-inflammatory properties, that does not equate to proven protection in real-world, high-exposure settings.
Regulatory and medical-ethical standards require evidence-based claims before a product is marketed for disease prevention or protection.
In absence of such evidence, health experts warn against claims that a supplement alone can offset the hazards of air pollution.
The claims are all based on a 2021 animal study1 published in Environmental Challenges examined whether Chyawanprash could mitigate lung inflammation caused by PM2.5 exposure in mice (PMID: 34649804).
In the experiment, mice received oral Chyawanprash for 28 days before being exposed to intratracheal or inhaled PM2.5. The treatment group showed reduced inflammatory cytokines (including TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ), lower inflammatory cell infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and milder lung tissue changes compared with untreated controls.
While the authors reported a protective effect in this mouse model, the findings cannot be extrapolated to humans, as no clinical trials were performed and the exposure model does not replicate real-world pollution.
Additionally, several authors of the study were affiliated with Dabur Research Foundation, the R&D arm of the Chyawanprash manufacturer indicating a significant conflict of interest that warrants cautious interpretation of the results.
This controversy pints out a broader issue in the wellness and supplement market:
Advertising Standards: Products marketed with health-protection claims (especially against serious risks like air pollution) must be backed by rigorous evidence.
Consumer Protection: Consumers exposed to aggressive marketing may be misled into thinking a simple supplement is sufficient, potentially neglecting more effective protective measures.
Public Health Implications: In high-pollution cities, misplaced trust in “miracle” supplements could weaken public pressure for environmental reforms or discourage real protective behavior.
Hence, critics argue that claims linking Chyawanprash to lung protection fall short of ethical advertising standards and public health responsibility.
For individuals living in pollution-prone areas:
There is no substitute for reducing exposure to polluted air, through masks, air purifiers, avoiding peak pollution hours, and supporting clean-air policies.
Supplements can contribute to general wellness (if safe and used properly), but they should not be viewed as shields against environmental hazards without evidence.
While Dabur’s Chyawanprash remains a popular and widely used tonic, the recent claims that it can protect lungs from air-pollution damage are medically unverified and have drawn justified criticism. Until rigorous scientific studies prove otherwise, public health experts and consumers alike should remain cautious about equating herbal supplements with prevention or protection from environmental hazards.
Reference
1. Kumar S., P. Rugvedi, K. Mani, and A. Gupta. “Evaluation of Anti-inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Activity of Chyawanprash on Particulate Matter–Induced Pulmonary Disease in Mice.” Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine 12, no. 4 (October–December 2021): 649–656. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaim.2021.06.022
(Rh/TL)