There is no scientific evidence to prove that a combination of camphor, cloves, carom seeds and a few drops of eucalyptus oil can help in increasing oxygen levels in the body.

By Sahil Bali

Social media posts and YouTube videos promoting a combination of products available at home to help increase oxygen levels in the body are getting wide popularity. However, the claim is false.

We came across 7-8 YouTube videos claiming that inhaling vapours of camphor (kapur), clove (laung), carom seeds (ajwain) and eucalyptus oil can increase the blood oxygen level. In some videos, this claim is also being attributed to doctors and medical institutions.

In this video, the narrator demonstrates how to make this mixture at home. The narrator claims that a person who is facing difficulty in breathing should inhale this mixture every 1-2 hours. In another video, the narrator claims that if a person is unable to hold his/her breath for 30 seconds then that person has a low oxygen level in their body and to cure the same. Similar videos are posted here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. All of these videos have thousands of views and are being liked and shared by people.

On research, we didn't find any scientific evidence or research papers to back the claim. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over exposure to camphor can lead to nose, ear and eye irritation.

The Quint has also debunked a similar message going viral on social media, their fact-check highlights that there is no scientific evidence to back the claim. In fact, chest specialists called this claim a myth.  

Furthermore, some videos also claim that the blood oxygen level can be determined by holding one’s breath. The Press Information Bureau has verified that holding one’s breath is not a test and the message is fake. "Most young patients with #Coronavirus will be able to hold their breaths for more the 10 sec and many elderly won't be able to do the same" highlighted their Twitter post.