IN SHORT: Several Facebook posts are advertising a herbal mixture as the ultimate cure for hepatitis. However, it is not possible for one herbal medicine to heal all forms of hepatitis, and readers are advised to seek medical attention.
Herbal cures are being advertised on Facebook, under the name “Vallax Flusher” or “Vallax 25” and “ Liver Edge”, with the claim they can “kick out” hepatitis “completely”.
One post, dated 27 January 2025, claims the product is “100% Natural, No Side Effects” and has “fast results”. It says it will “kick out” hepatitis “completely without leaving anything behind”.
Another ad for a similar product, from 4 February, says, “This powerful herb makes it possible by activating your liver's fat-burning switch so you can: • Reactivate your liver's natural repair system • Burn stubborn fat • Flush out harmful substances • Repair damaged cells.”
Hepatitis occurs when the liver is inflamed. According to the World Health Organization, hepatitis viruses are the most common cause of hepatitis. But other infections, toxic substances, such as alcohol or certain drugs, and autoimmune diseases can also cause hepatitis.
The Facebook ads direct people to external websites here and here to make their purchases.
But can these mixtures cure hepatitis? We checked.
Hepatitis explained
There are five main hepatitis viruses: types A, B, C, D, and E. Hepatitis A is highly contagious, most likely to be contracted from contaminated food or water, or from an infected person or object.
Hepatitis B can be acute or chronic, putting infected people at risk of liver cancer or death.
Hepatitis C is contracted from contact with blood that carries the hepatitis C virus.
You can only contract hepatitis D if you already have a hepatitis B infection – it is not possible to contract hepatitis D on its own.
Hepatitis A and E are the most common types of hepatitis as they are caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water. While there are safe and effective vaccines available to treat hepatitis A, B and D, there is no vaccine available to treat hepatitis C. Although safe and efficient vaccines have been developed to stop the spread of hepatitis E, they are not yet widely available.
Red flags
We clicked the link attached to two of the posts. These links directed us to websites that feature testimonials from supposed users of the herbal remedies.
“I am about to show you the wonders of herbals that will help you to say goodbye to hepatitis permanently. Many have attested to the potency and efficiency of our herbal remedy already,” copy on one of the websites reads.
The website also explains how hepatitis works, listing the complications associated with each type of hepatitis. However, neither of the websites provide any scientific evidence for how these herbal remedies could cure hepatitis, or link to any trustworthy external sources. Likewise, none of the websites mention if these drugs have been clinically tested. These are indications that the herbal mixtures are not trustworthy.
We also found it suspicious that these Facebook ads promote only one remedy for five different types of hepatitis, even though one of the websites makes it clear that different complications stem out from each type of hepatitis.
Additionally, customers are not asked to pay immediately to make their purchase. Instead, they are asked to fill out forms with their name, address, phone number, state and “preferred plan”, after which they are told they will be contacted. This points to phishing, a cybercrime in which scammers intentionally collect people’s personal details.
No herbal mixture can cure all types of hepatitis – expert
Africa Check contacted Abraham Malu, a professor of internal medicine at the University of Jos in Nigeria. He said that one herbal mixture could not cure all types of hepatitis.
“Hepatitis A, D, and E are acute. This means that they can go after a short time. But B and C are not: they could turn to liver cancer. This is why one single mixture cannot cure them all.”
Malu further said hepatitis ordinarily made the liver weak and taking herbal mixtures for which there was no scientific evidence could cause further damage to the liver.
Other instances of Facebook posts advertising a cure for hepatitis can be found here, here, here, here and here.
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