Dr Amir Khan, a well-known medical expert and ITV regular, has taken to Instagram to debunk five common medical myths circulating online. In a video, he warned that much of the health advice on the internet is 'very confident nonsense' and often amounts to marketing rather than medicine.
The first myth he tackled is the concept of 'cortisol face', where facial puffiness is attributed to high cortisol levels. Dr Khan explained that true cortisol excess, known as Cushing's syndrome, is a rare endocrine disorder with severe symptoms like muscle wasting and high blood pressure. A puffy face is far more likely due to fluid retention, salt intake, alcohol, allergies, or fatigue.
Next, he addressed 'parasite cleanses', which he described as 'herbal laxatives' that irritate the bowels and cause people to mistake mucus or debris for parasites. He stressed that parasitic infections are uncommon in the UK unless one has travelled abroad or had specific exposure.
Dr Khan also dismissed 'detox teas', noting that the body already has a sophisticated detox system in the liver and kidneys. Most such teas contain Senna or caffeine, which simply increase bowel movements, not detoxify the body.
He warned against 'hormone-balancing supplements', explaining that hormones are regulated by complex feedback loops that generic supplements cannot override. If hormones are genuinely abnormal, medical therapy is required.
Finally, he debunked 'seed cycling', a trend that suggests eating specific seeds during the menstrual cycle to balance hormones. Dr Khan clarified that hormone levels are controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, not by dietary seeds.
