A claim circulating on Instagram and Threads asserts that “a neurologist” recommends sticking your tongue out for 40 seconds, and that doing so eliminates cortisol – the body’s main stress hormone – faster than any pill or breathing exercise, with “big pharm” panicking as a result of this exercise. One widely shared version of the post, with over 320,000 likes attributes the advice to an Egyptian neurologist at Mount Sinai, and says a patient’s cortisol fell from a “clinical anxiety” level of 23 mcg/dL to a “normal” 14 mcg/dL within two weeks without any change in medication.
Cortisol is regulated by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, a hormonal feedback system involving the brain and the adrenal glands, and it follows a daily circadian rhythm -peaking in the morning and falling at night. In addition to managing your body’s stress response, it also plays a role in regulating blood pressure, regulating how your body uses glucose for energy and decreasing inflammation, with high or low cortisol levels being detrimental for your health.
When we conducted our research however, we could find no named neurologist, clinical trial or peer-reviewed study has been produced to support cortisol levels being controlled by the position of the tongue or the idea that holding the tongue out for 40 seconds lowers cortisol, let alone that it does so faster than medication or established relaxation techniques.
The widely cited “Egyptian neurologist from Mount Sinai” and his patient cannot be traced to any verifiable source. International outlets that have examined the claim, including The Week, have rated it false, noting that the tongue’s reflexes are involuntary and unrelated to stress regulation. Fact-checks at Factually reached the same conclusion, noting that there is no credible scientific or clinical backing to support the claim.
Why it sounds plausible
The claim borrows the language of real physiology, which is part of why it spreads. Yoga practices such as “lion’s breath” do involve an exaggerated tongue and facial gesture combined with a deliberate breathing pattern, and these can engage the parasympathetic nervous system and produce a subjective sense of calm. But that relaxation comes from the slow breathing, relaxed facial muscles and focused attention that accompany the movement – not from the tongue itself – and “feeling calmer” is not the same as measurably eliminating cortisol.
The “Big Pharma is panicking” framing is itself a recognised red flag for health misinformation. Genuine medical breakthroughs invite competition and replication, not secrecy. The suggestion that a free 40-second trick is being suppressed by powerful interests is a persuasion technique designed to make readers feel they have discovered hidden knowledge.
What actually helps
Health authorities including the Cleveland Clinic recommend evidence-based approaches for managing stress and cortisol over time: adequate and consistent sleep, regular physical activity, mindfulness and meditation, controlled breathing, time outdoors, social connection, and limiting caffeine. These are well documented and freely available – nothing about them is hidden.
Cortisol is governed by a complex hormonal system, not by tongue posture, and there is no credible neurologist or study behind the viral claim. While the exercise may help some people feel momentarily calmer – largely through accompanying slow breathing and relaxation – there is no evidence it clears cortisol at all, much less faster than medication or breathing exercises. Therefore, we rate this claim as false.
