Verdict: Misleading
Full Text
@HerbalistChief, a well-known herbal remedy promoter on X, is famous for advocating alternative treatments for various health conditions. He has a history of making controversial prescriptions, including once claiming that a particular plant could cure all forms of cancer. His posts often go viral, reaching hundreds of thousands of users, sparking both praise and criticism.
On Wednesday. 28th May 2025, he tweeted, “A teaspoonful of powdered moringa leaves mixed with honey when given to a baby once everyday makes a crawling child walk faster. The combo is fantastic for children with delayed milestone. Nature heals.” (sic)
The post was accompanied by a picture of an infant and moringa leaves. By Thursday morning, it had reached close to 700,000 users and was shared more than 1,200 times with over 4,000 likes. According to the Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics (20th Edition), a standard reference by experts in child health, most children begin crawling at around 7 months and start walking by 12 months.
The post sparked mixed reactions online. One user, @PrinceJerry1987, fully endorsed the claim despite a lack of scientific backing. Another follower, @NaturePulseRx, replied, “Thanks for this masterpiece again. I really like you so much. We will continue to let them know what’s the real cure.”
Following the viral claim, HealthTabs investigated the safety of giving infants honey-based mixtures.
Verification
Information obtained from a World Health Organization (WHO) by HealthTabs revealed that honey can contain a bacteria known as Clostridium Botulinum, the organism grows in the gut of infants and release toxic chemicals. Older children and adults are spared from the toxicity of the bacteria by their own stronger immunity.
Botulism, which is the infection caused by the bacteria, can cause constipation, loss of appetite, weakness, poor cry and loss of head control in infants. The WHO therefore warned parents and caregivers against feeding honey to infants before the age of 1 year.
Checks by HealthTabs shows that the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) also discourage the consumption of honey by children less than 12 months, with warning that it can cause food poisoning called botulism.
No evidence was however found for the role of honey or moringa leaves in the development of gross motor function in infants.
Conclusion
The claim that honey-based potion can help infants walk faster or sooner is misleading in the absence of any scientific evidence. The WHO and the CDC also warned of botulism infection that can be caused by such practice.
As a child educator,I know well that honey is not good for babies consumption let to talk of adding moringa leave…lolzzz, not even a drop.. one teaspoon. The person that made this post should definitely be arrested.