Fact Check: A viral video on social media claims that a lump in a woman's breast can be treated with lime. The person featured in the video is Rajiv Dixit, who was associated with the Bharat Swabhiman Movement and passed away in 2010.
Vishvas News investigated the viral claim and found it to be misleading. Breast lumps can be serious. Such lumps should be treated only after consulting a doctor. Sometimes such home remedies can have serious side effects. Some lumps can also be cancerous.
What is Going Viral?
An Instagram account named Dr.ninbhalli shared the viral video on May 25, 2025, in which Rajiv Dixit can be heard saying, "If any lump has formed in any part of the body, then the best medicine is lime water. Lumps are formed due to calcium deficiency. And limestone is rich in calcium. It is the cheapest source of calcium. All the lumps that form on the breasts of mothers and sisters are tumors. All of them will dissolve easily. There is lime water, mix two to three spoons of it in curd and eat. Otherwise, just eat lime. Now what is the way to eat lime? Eat it by applying it on paan. Eat it by mixing it in curd. Eat it by mixing it in water. But all this has to be done early in the morning."
The viral claim is reproduced here verbatim. Its archived version can be seen here.
Investigation
Vishvas News began its investigation by conducting a keyword search to find older videos of Dixit. This led us to a video on his official YouTube channel, where he makes the same statement heard in the viral video. However, before that, Dixit stated, "Ayurveda says that not all lumps in the body are cancer. Remember this. If there is a lump in any part of our body, we think that it might be cancer. Doctors often take advantage of your ignorance. If there is even a small lump anywhere, the doctor says that it is cancer. Get this lump cut and removed. If it is cut, it will definitely be cancer…."
In this video, dated December 3, 2023, Dixit further discusses the viral video.
Based on the video, Vishvas News contacted experts for clarification. Dr Tarun Batra, Surgical Oncologist, Banaras Hindu University (BHU)and Dr Abrar Multani, Founder and Ayurveda Expert of Incredible Ayurveda Company.
Dr Batra stated that breast lumps cannot be treated with lime. He emphasised that if any such lumps are noticed, consult a doctor and undergo appropriate treatment.
Dr Multani, founder of Incredible Ayurveda Company and an Ayurveda expert, explains that while limestone might offer some benefits in treating small lumps, any lump, especially in the breast or other body parts, that persists over time, should be properly evaluated under medical supervision. He emphasises consulting a doctor and undergoing necessary tests to determine the severity of the lump. Relying on such videos for self-treatment can be fatal, as the lumps can be cancerous, and early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in such cases.
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Yashali Thakur told Vishvas News that while Chuna (calcium hydroxide) was once used as a traditional remedy, there is no scientific evidence to support its effectiveness as an anti-cancer remedy. The cancer treatment depends on its type and stage, and offering unverified general advice can be risky.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has also issued a social media advisory, emphasising that women in our country often tend to neglect the symptoms of breast cancer. It highlighted the importance of awareness and early detection. Women are encouraged to consult healthcare professionals and get tested for non-communicable diseases at their nearest district hospital, primary health centre, or health sub-centre.
We also analysed the Instagram account that posted the misleading post and found that this account frequently shares internet-sourced videos as reels and has over 56000 followers.
Conclusion: We investigated the viral post and found it to be misleading. Breast lumps should never be treated with lime. If you notice such symptoms, consult a doctor immediately for early diagnosis and treatment.