Karnataka rationalist debunks Ramdev’s ‘tulsi prevents radiation’ claim

Yoga teacher and businessman Ramkrishna Yadav, who has self-styled himself as Baba Ramdev, is in the news once again for a questionable claim. Ramdev was in Udupi for a conference on “Yoga for Heart Care” on Saturday, where he reportedly said, “Put tulsi leaves in your phone cover, and you will be protected from the radiation it emits.” He also claimed that tulsi “kills” radiation. Debunking this claim, rational Narendra Nayak from Karnataka conducted a series of experiments with a cell phone, tulsi leaves, and other materials.

Before going into the experiment – let’s get the science and definitions straight. ‘Radiation’ refers to the emission of waves or particles, and is a term used for electromagnetic waves like radio waves, micro waves etc that are used in communication technology, as well as gamma rays – that come from nuclear reactions and cause major tissue damage to the body. The way cell phones work is by emitting and receiving radio frequencies, typically in the range of 800-900 MHz. So, like your favourite FM radio channels receive frequencies in the 88-108 MHz range (that’s usually the number associated with a radio channel), your cell phone receives frequencies in the 800-900 MHz range. They also emit radiation – that is, they convert your voice to electric signals, which is how you can communicate with another person over phone.

Now, if as Ramdev claims, tulsi leaves ‘killed’ radiation, you would’t be able to use your phone to make phone calls at all. And rationalist Narendra Nayak basically demonstrated this with a series of experiments at his home. “Recently a huge claim has been made by Ramkishen Yadav, who goes by the name of Baba Ramdev (who sells a lot of unproven concoctions through his commercial enterprises), with tall claims that tulsi leaves can stop microwave radiations of cell phones… You are all invited to step in with your cell phones and other recording devices to check on this in my laboratory … for a demonstration of the same,” Narendra Nayak told reporters in a message.

With a good dose of sarcasm, he added, “Please call my landline number … as a precaution if the cell does not work due to blockage of radiations by the tulsi leaves kept.”

When reporters reached his place, the rationalist performed a series of experiments. First, he kept a cell phone inside a microwave oven, shut the door, and asked his assistant for the experiment to call the number. The phone rang, proving that the radiation had not been ‘killed’ and the cell phone was still receiving signal.

He then kept the phone on a plate and covered the phone with tulsi leaves. Once again, the number was dialled – and unsurprisingly, the phone rang, proving that the radiation had not been ‘killed’ by the tulsi leaves either.

Narendra Nayak repeated the experiment with some other leaves, with the same result. He then wrapped the cell phone in aluminium foil – which is the only method used by him that essentially blocked the call.

“When you make calls and receive calls, there is radiation,” Narendra Nayak explains, “They’re creating fear and saying tulsi leaves will help block this radiation. If radiation is blocked, then shouldn’t the mobile stop working?”

There has been a lot of debate across the world about whether cell phone radiation is harmful to the human body. People on both sides of the debate have put forward evidence to support their claim, but there is no conclusion on whether or not this is the case.