AI-generated videos promote false herbal cure for COPD, a currently incurable lung disease

In early December 2024, videos promoting a “revolutionary pill” that allegedly cured chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) “within three days” went viral on Facebook. The videos featured public figures like Fox News anchor Jesse Watters, as well as the alleged developer of the drug, surgeon and TV personality Mehmet Oz, popularly known as “Dr. Oz”.

Although the images used in the videos varied from post to post, all the videos we found used the exact same narration and promised “to pay one million dollars” if the drug failed to cure COPD.

However, these videos showed clear signs of manipulation.

Altered or artificial intelligence-generated videos featuring celebrities and major TV networks have been profusely used for scams over the past few years. Science Feedback documented several examples of such doctored videos falsely promoting diabetes cures and cannabidiol (CBD) gummies as a treatment for a wide range of medical conditions.

“Dr. Oz” has often been mentioned either as a developer of these products or as endorsing them, though he’s repeatedly denied any involvement in these ads. In a 2019 article for the Wall Street Journal that he also shared on Facebook and Twitter, Oz stated that these ads weren’t “legit” and warned about potential scams exploiting his image.

Likewise, the COPD videos posted on Facebook are also false. First, COPD currently has no known cure, so any product claiming to cure it is simply a scam. Second, the poor synchronization between video and audio suggests that the audio isn’t authentic.

Visual clues like Watters’ outfit, his body language, and the background allowed us to identify the source of the Fox News clip. It is an excerpt (timestamp 00:10 to 00:20) from a 28 June 2024 live broadcast in which Watters commented on the CNN Presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Watters made no mention of COPD or any new treatment.

COPD is currently incurable; lifestyle changes and medication help manage symptoms

COPD is a progressive lung disease that results from lung damage. This damage causes inflammation inside the airways, limiting airflow into and out of the lungs and making it hard to breathe.

In early phases, people with COPD may feel short of breath or tired, especially when exercising. But as the disease progresses, symptoms usually worsen, causing breathing problems, chest tightness, and ongoing coughing, often with large amounts of mucus. Certain factors such as air pollution or infections can cause a temporary worsening of COPD symptoms called exacerbation that can last for several days or weeks. Severe COPD symptoms can limit the person’s ability to carry out daily activities.

Tobacco smoking is a major cause of COPD and accounts for over 70% of COPD cases in high-income countries. The reason is that tobacco smoke contains a multitude of harmful chemicals that cause airway swelling and lung damage, both contributing factors for COPD. There is no clear evidence linking smokeless tobacco products like e-cigarettes and COPD. However, these products can still cause chronic irritation and inflammation in the airways, which contribute to developing respiratory conditions.

In addition to tobacco, air pollution and genetics further contribute to the risk of developing COPD. Air pollution plays a particularly relevant role in low- and middle-income countries, where smoking accounts for less than half of COPD cases. Long-term occupational exposure to certain chemicals, dust, and fumes also increases the risk of developing COPD.

Finally, a genetic condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is also a rare cause of COPD. Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a protein made in the liver that plays a key role in protecting the lungs from damage. People with certain mutations in the SERPINA1 gene that codes for this protein don’t produce enough alpha-1 antitrypsin, which makes them particularly sensitive to lung damage from the environment.

COPD is a major cause of disability and death and is associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and lung cancer, independently of smoking history^[1]. In 2019, COPD affected an estimated 400 million people worldwide^[2], a figure that is expected to increase in the following decades due to smoking and a worsening of air quality^[3,4].

No proven cure currently exists for COPD. However, lifestyle changes, including quitting smoking, avoiding polluted environments, and managing other risk factors, help reduce the chances of developing the disease and relieve symptoms in people who already have it. In addition, treatments reducing inflammation and relaxing the muscles around the airways (bronchodilators) can help slow the progression of the disease.

No conclusive evidence that herbal preparations are an effective COPD treatment

Natural remedies claiming to treat or even cure COPD are abundant on social media but are unsupported by scientific evidence, which is limited in amount and quality.

Edzard Ernst, a professor emeritus of complementary medicine at the U.K.’s University of Exeter, told Science Feedback that some studies on herbal preparations have produced “encouraging findings for COPD and other pulmonary conditions”. However, he cautioned that claims of herbal remedies’ effectiveness against COPD “are not supported by sound evidence”.

Ernst pointed out that the problem with existing studies is that “their scientific rigor tends to be dismal and that independent replications tend to be lacking”. Because of these limitations, it remains unclear whether herbal preparations are safe and beneficial in people with COPD.

A 2006 study co-authored by Ernst and published in the European Respiratory Journal reviewed the evidence available at the time on the use of herbal preparations for treating COPD^[5]. The authors analyzed 14 randomized clinical trials (1,359 individuals) using single herbs or herbal mixtures to treat COPD, often along with conventional therapies.

Although some studies reported improvements in COPD symptoms and pulmonary function, the study concluded that the effectiveness of herbal preparations for treating COPD was “not established beyond reasonable doubt”. The reason was that the evidence was overall “scarce and often methodologically weak”.

Randomized clinical trials are considered the gold standard for evaluating the effectiveness of a treatment because this type of design minimizes the risk of bias. However, the review’s authors explained that most of the few existing RCTs lacked double-blinding and placebo control, two essential features in high-quality RCTs. The review pointed out other weaknesses in the individual studies analyzed, including the use of unclear or inappropriate methodology and statistical analyses or inadequate reporting of the overall results.

Two 2021 analyses of previous RCTs published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine^[6] and in Frontiers in Pharmacology^[7] arrived at the same conclusion. Both studies evaluated the safety and effectiveness of herbal preparations in managing COPD symptoms compared to placebo. All the studies included in the analyses used herbal remedies in addition to conventional therapies.

The results suggested improvements in COPD symptoms and quality of life among the patients using herbal preparations. However, both studies highlighted low methodological quality, heterogeneity, and high risk of bias in the individual studies. Therefore, high-quality RCTs with larger sample sizes and longer follow-ups are needed to draw reliable conclusions about the potential benefits of herbal preparations in people with COPD.

Natural products can be dangerous

Apart from questions about the effectiveness of herbal preparations, it’s also important to note that “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean “safe”. This common assumption can in fact be dangerous because natural products contain multiple chemical compounds that can have effects on the body. While some of these effects might be beneficial, others may be unknown or harmful. Many of these compounds can also interfere with certain medications, reducing their effectiveness or increasing the risk of serious adverse events.

Furthermore, dietary supplements aren’t subject to the same strict regulations as prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Unlike medicines, supplements aren’t required to be tested for safety and efficacy and, therefore, can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Manufacturers and distributors are responsible for ensuring that their products are correctly labeled and meet the safety requirements. However, regulatory agencies don’t test the products’ composition before they reach the consumer. This means that the composition and quality of the product isn’t guaranteed.

For all these reasons, experts warn people to be cautious when using herbal remedies, especially if they currently take medication or have existing health conditions.

To the best of my knowledge, these claims are not supported by sound evidence.
There are many studies of herbal medicines (of which there are thousands!) and some have generated encouraging findings for COPD and other pulmonary conditions. The problem, however, is that their scientific rigor tends to be dismal and that independent replications tend to be lacking.

REFERENCES

• 1 – Young et al. (2009) COPD prevalence is increased in lung cancer, independent of age, sex and smoking history. European Respiratory Journal.
• 2 – Adeloye et al. (2022) Global, regional, and national prevalence of, and risk factors for, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 2019: a systematic review and modelling analysis. Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
• 3 – Boers et al. (2023) Global Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Through 2050. JAMA.
• 4 – Boers et al. (2022) An estimate of the global COPD prevalence in 2050: Disparities by income and gender. European Respiratory Journal.
• 5 – Guo et al. (2006) Herbal medicines for the treatment of COPD: a systematic review. European Respiratory Journal.
• 6 – Xiong et al. (2021) Clinical efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine versus placebo for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Medicine.
• 7 – Kwon et al. (2021) Herbal Medicine Compared to Placebo for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Pharmacology.