Fact Check: Can drink made with garlic, lemon, turmeric, and black pepper cleanse kidneys naturally in two weeks?

An Instagram post claims that homemade drink made with garlic, lemon, turmeric, and black pepper cleanses the kidneys naturally in two weeks. The claim is FALSE.

Claims

In an Instagram post, it is claimed that a homemade drink made with garlic, lemon, turmeric, and black pepper cleanses the kidneys naturally in two weeks. In the video posted by healing1natural, known alternative health care promoter who advertises unsupported health practices, Barbara O'Neill is seen making several claims. She is heard saying, "Think of this, and you'll never set foot in a hospital again. It cleanses your kidneys, boosts your immunity, cleanses your respiratory system, detoxifies your digestive system, and reduces inflammation in the body. First, we need three cloves of garlic, cut them into slices. Next, we're going to use two lemons.

Cut as shown in the demonstration, then we have to add a teaspoon of turmeric powder and a pinch of black pepper, which will increase the efficacy of this drink by 2,000% making it a powerful antibiotic drink. Put half a liter of water and the ingredients we've just prepared in a pot. Cook over high heat for 10 minutes. Then strain the mixture. How to take it? Drink one of these drinks for two weeks.

You can add a teaspoon of honey to sweeten it. After two weeks, your kidneys will be as good as new, your digestive and respiratory systems will be completely cleared, and all your organs will be working in complete harmony."

The claim can be accessed here.

Fact Check

The claim is FALSE. There is no scientific research or medical consensus supporting the idea that these four ingredients either alone or together cleanse or detoxify the kidneys that too in a short span of two weeks. Further the user has posted an old video of ,Barbara O'Neill, a known alternative health care promoter who is infamous for adverting unsupported health practices

How are the kidneys cleaned?

Most people are born with two kidneys, each roughly the size of an adult fist, located on either side of the spine just below the rib cage. Despite their small size, kidneys carry out numerous essential functions to maintain the body’s balance. They remove waste and excess fluids, filter the blood by retaining some compounds while eliminating others, and assist in the production of red blood cells. Additionally, kidneys help regulate the balance of vital vitamins and minerals, maintain blood pressure, and contribute to bone health.

The kidneys are cleaned through a process called filtration. Blood enters the kidneys through an artery from the heart. Inside the kidneys, millions of tiny filters called nephrons remove waste and excess substances from the blood. The filtered blood, now free of waste, is returned to the body through veins. The waste is converted into urine, which travels through the ureters to the bladder for storage. Once the bladder is full, urine is expelled from the body through the urethra. This filtration process helps maintain the body's fluid balance and eliminate waste.

What are the Nutritional Benefits of Garlic, Lemon, Turmeric, and Black Pepper?

Garlic, a widely used kitchen ingredient, has been valued in traditional herbal medicine for its rich content of organosulfur compounds. These compounds exhibit various therapeutic and biological effects, which vary based on how garlic is prepared, used, or extracted. Garlic is recognized for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-regulating actions, contributing to immune system stability by modulating immune cell function and cytokine activity. These effects highlight its potential in managing infections and certain cancers. Moreover, garlic’s organosulfur compounds support cardiovascular health by influencing lipid profiles and exerting blood pressure-lowering and antiplatelet properties.

Lemons are a rich source of vitamin C, a vital nutrient that strengthens the immune system and enhances the body’s ability to fight infections. They also contain powerful antioxidants that help counteract oxidative stress and inflammation, contributing to better heart health by improving cholesterol profiles and lowering blood pressure. The citric acid found in lemons aids digestion by promoting gastric juice secretion, while their alkalizing properties help maintain the body’s pH balance. Furthermore, the vitamin C in lemons supports skin health by boosting collagen synthesis and minimizing signs of aging.

Turmeric, commonly known as Haldi, is derived from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa L. and is widely recognized for its vibrant orange-yellow hue and distinctive flavor, primarily due to its active compound curcumin. It possesses notable anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. In Ayurvedic practice, turmeric is traditionally used to manage a range of respiratory conditions such as asthma, allergies, and bronchial hyperreactivity, along with liver ailments, loss of appetite, rheumatism, diabetic wounds, cough, sinusitis, and nasal discharge.

Black pepper, often referred to as the “King of Spices,” is prized not only for its culinary use but also for its wide range of therapeutic benefits. It contains bioactive compounds such as piperine, which contribute to its antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and lipid-lowering effects. Research suggests that black pepper may help combat infections and mitigate oxidative damage. Additionally, it exhibits anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and neuroprotective properties.

Can drink made with garlic, lemon, turmeric, and black pepper cleanse the kidneys naturally in two weeks?

The claim that a homemade drink containing garlic, lemon, turmeric, and black pepper can naturally cleanse the kidneys in two weeks is false. While these ingredients have general health benefits and might support the kidney health, there is no scientific evidence to support the idea that this combination detoxifies or cleanses the kidneys in two weeks.

Garlic may offer potential benefits for kidney health by helping to reduce inflammation linked to kidney function. The findings of a study by Elham Zare et. al., published in BMC Nephrology, suggest that administering 400 mg of standardized garlic extract twice daily for eight weeks led to a significant decrease in inflammatory markers, including Interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).

Although there is no scientific evidence or medical consensus supporting the claim that lemon juice can detoxify the kidneys, research suggests it may help protect against kidney stone formation. In a review conducted by Yazeed Barghouthy et. al., lemon juice was found to increase urinary citrate levels, a key factor in preventing kidney stones. However, the study also reported that lemon juice had minimal impact on raising urine pH, indicating a limited alkalinizing effect.

Turmeric contains the bioactive compound curcumin, known for its wide-ranging health benefits. A review by Siddhartha S. Ghosh et. al. highlighted curcumin’s potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, along with other therapeutic effects, suggesting that it maybe a promising addition to treatment approaches for chronic kidney disease.

Black pepper contains piperine, a bioactive compound known for its health-promoting effects. According to research by Maryam Mohammadi et. al., piperine may help protect the kidneys from acute injury caused by ischemia-reperfusion (a type of blood flow disturbance and restoration). This protective effect is largely attributed to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

In addition, the video recommends adding honey to the mixture. Honey does have certain properties that may support kidney health. A study by R. B. Nerli et.al. found that oral administration of honey helped may prevent kidney damage by reducing inflammation, suggesting its potential protective effect on the kidneys.

The ingredients mentioned in the video such as garlic, lemon, turmeric, black pepper, and honey may offer certain health benefits for the kidneys, particularly due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that these ingredients can cleanse the kidneys within two weeks or act as a detox treatment.

Dr Sashi Kiran A, Consultant Nephrologist, Yashoda Hopsitals, Malakpet, Hyderabad in a conversation with The Medical Dialogues Fact Check Team said, "There’s a lot of buzz around natural detox drinks, but the idea that a mixture of garlic, lemon, black pepper, and turmeric can cleanse the kidneys isn’t backed by scientific evidence. Kidneys are already highly efficient at filtering waste and toxins from your blood. While these ingredients do have some antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, they don’t directly “detoxify” the kidneys. For example:

- Lemon contains citrate, which may help prevent kidney stones

- Garlic has antimicrobial and heart-health benefits.

- Turmeric contains curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory effects.

- Black pepper enhances curcumin absorption but doesn’t directly impact kidney function.

The best way to support kidney health is staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet, and avoiding excessive salt and processed foods. If you’re looking for kidney-friendly drinks, water, lemon water, and cranberry juice are better options."

Dr Tarun Kumar Saha, Sr. Consultant Nephrologist & Transplant Physician, Yashoda Hospitals, Secundarabad, Hyderabad further said, "This is in response to the video which is being circulated claiming that the mixture of clove, garlic, turmeric and lemon can heal and cure kidney diseases. This is not the true scientific statement.

Although the mixture is helpful to prevent the metabolic syndrome but when there is established kidney disease, these mixtures cannot cure kidney diseases. In fact, in a patient whose kidney function is impaired, this may cause high potassium level in the blood which can be dangerous for kidney disease patients. These claims give a false hope in kidney patients and may endanger their life."

Medical Dialogues Final Take

There is no scientific evidence or established medical consensus to support the user’s claim. While garlic, lemon, turmeric, and black pepper each have well-documented health benefits and may contribute to overall kidney support, the idea that combining these ingredients can cleanse the kidneys within two weeks is false.

Hence, the claim by the user is FALSE.