As parts of China continue to be engulfed by choking smog, many are turning to traditional Chinese medicine to combat the pollution’s effect on their health.
随着中国部分地区持续被令人窒息的雾霾笼罩，一些人开始求助中医，以对抗污染对健康带来的影响。
One practice that has gained popularity is drinking "anti-smog" tea, which some believe can "clean" their lungs.
其中一项开始流利起来的行为，就是喝“抗霾”茶，一些人相信这可以“清肺”。
But a leading Chinese medicine practitioner has sought to dispel this myth, saying it is ineffective.
但一位著名的中医力图打破这一神话，他表示喝抗霾茶其实无效。
Anti-smog" teas have become more widely available in Chinese medicine shops, pharmacies and online sites as the smog in China has worsened over the last few years.
There are different recipes, but they generally are made up of Chinese herbs such as dried flowers and roots.
这些抗霾茶配方不同，但其成分一般都是中草药，比如晒干的花和植物根茎。
The practice stems from the Chinese medicinal belief that drinking certain concoctions can boost one’s health and rid the body of impurities.
这种做法来源于中医理念，认为饮用某些混合饮品有助健康，排出体内杂质。
A 2015 report by Beijing Morning Post noted that several pharmacies in the capital were selling "lung-cleansing teas to combat smog".
2015年《北京晨报》的一则报道指出，北京的多家药房都在出售“清肺抗霾茶”。
On popular online marketplace Taobao, "anti-smog" teas can be bought for 20 yuan ($2.90) per packet and one listing claims that its combination of seven ingredients including dried chrysanthemums and honeysuckle can "boost lungs and moisten throats", and "combat the smog".
But in a recent report by state broadcaster CCTV, Liu Quanqing, president of the Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said such teas were "unreliable".
但近日央视报道称，北京中医医院院长刘清泉表示，这种抗霾茶“不可靠”。
He noted, that the digestive and respiratory systems were separate, and that many teas contained ingredients which "may cause health problems if taken for a long time."
他指出，消化系统和呼吸系统各自独立，很多茶中含有的成分“会导致健康问题，如果长期摄入的话”。
What would help instead, Mr Liu added, was maintaining a healthy diet and boosting one’s immune system.
刘院长补充说，只有保持健康饮食，增强免疫力，这才可以抗霾。
The same report also quoted officials from China’s communicable disease centre as saying that using air purifiers and wearing masks were more effective in combating the smog.
