U.S. health officials are warning that the latest TikTok trend of adding borax to drinking water to reduce inflammation and alleviate joint pain is extremely dangerous and potentially deadly.
According to UPI News, similar to many online trends, it’s unclear how the popular practice of “drinking borax to reduce inflammation and joint pain” began, but it has now become a widely discussed trend on TikTok.
Health officials warn people not to follow the latest TikTok trend: adding borax to drinking water, as it can be fatal – (Image: CHEMICAL INTEREST)
Dr. Kelly Johnson – Arbor emphasized to NBC News: “There is really no evidence that using borax helps reduce inflammation or stress or anything similar.”
The account @chem.thug, which identifies itself as a chemist working on a PhD thesis in organic chemistry, also posted a video explaining why consuming borax is a bad idea. He called it “a clear danger.” The video is currently going viral, with over 1.8 million views.
US Borax has also issued a warning about this dangerous trend. The company stated: “we do not supply any of our products for use as dietary ingredients, pharmaceuticals, or over-the-counter active ingredients, nor as food additives or direct additives to food.”
NBC News reported that on July 21, they reached out to a TikTok spokesperson for comment on the trending borax drinking practice, but have not yet received a response.
Borax is found in laundry detergents and cleaning products. A different formulation of borax is boric acid, which can kill cockroaches and other insects. Borax has been banned for use in food products in the U.S. Poison control centers advise that ingestion of borax can cause stomach irritation. Additionally, frequent use of borax can lead to seizures and anemia. Meanwhile, bathing in borax can cause the skin to turn bright pink and peel off. According to the National Institutes of Health, borax is also associated with symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, seizures, and shock. Experts recommend supplementing with boron, not borax. In the 1990s, Australian nutrition consultant Rex Newnham advocated for boron supplementation – not borax – in diets, as it is an essential mineral that many diets lack. He and others noted that it is an important trace mineral that promotes bone development and maintenance, improves wound healing, enhances magnesium absorption, and has dozens of other benefits. According to the National Institutes of Health, the foods highest in boron include prune juice, avocados, raisins, peaches, and grape juice. |
