As parts of China continue to be engulfed¹ by choking smog, many are turning to traditional Chinese medicine to combat the pollution's effect on their health.

在中国仍有部分地区被雾霾笼罩之际，一些人开始转向中医，以对抗污染对健康的影响。

One practice that has gained popularity is drinking "anti-smog" tea, which some believe can "clean" their lungs.

喝“抗霾”茶开始流行起来，一些人相信这可以“清肺”。

But a leading Chinese medicine practitioner² has sought to dispel³ this myth, saying it is ineffective.

但一位著名的中医专家力图打破这一神话，他表示喝抗霾茶其实没有用。

"Anti-smog" teas have become more widely available in Chinese medicine shops, pharmacies⁴ and online sites.

中国中药店、药房和网络上出售的“抗霾”茶越来越多。

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 concoctions⁵ can boost one's health and rid the body of impurities⁶.

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 noted⁷ that several pharmacies in the capital were selling "lung-cleansing teas to combat smog".

2015年《北京晨报》的报道指出，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 per packet and one listing claims that its combination of seven ingredients including dried chrysanthemums⁸ and honeysuckle can "boost lungs and moisten throats", and "combat the smog".

在受欢迎的在线购物商家淘宝网上，抗霾茶售价为每包20元。一份产品列表显示其由七种成分构成，包括干菊花和金银花等，可以“清肺润喉，对抗雾霾”。

But in a recent report by state broadcaster CCTV, Liu Qingquan, 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“如果长期摄入会导致健康问题”。

What would help instead, Mr Liu added, was maintaining a healthy diet and boosting one's immune system.

刘院长补充说，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.

上述报道还引述了中国传染病中心负责人的话说，使用空气净化器和戴口罩对抗霾更有效。