(NewsSpace.com) – Social media has proven to be useful for many people. They can promote their businesses, stay in touch with family and friends, and even learn some useful information. However, there’s an ugly side to the platforms as well. Every so often, a social media challenge arises, and with it, cautionary tales not to engage in behavior dangerous to one’s health. The latest doesn’t involve teenagers, however, but adults.
In recent weeks, adults scrolling through TikTok may have found a video that says adding borax to their drinking water could help with joint pain and inflammation. They’ve also suggested taking a bath with the chemical, which is a common component used in laundry detergent as well as a cleaning agent. Doctors are cautioning that drinking the substance or bathing in it could have serious health consequences, though.
According to Dr. Kelly Johnson-Arbor, soaking in borax could cause skin rashes or even cause the skin to fall off. Consuming borax could cause stomach irritation, blue-green-tinged vomit, and diarrhea. But that’s not all. If it’s used regularly, it could lead to serious internal injuries, causing seizures and anemia.
TikTok has been removing the posts, but they’re going up faster than the company can take them down. In fact, there are even online groups perpetrating the move, some with tens of thousands of members.
Borax isn’t the only chemical that people have suggested consuming. Who could forget the whole Tide Pod fiasco of 2017? Poison control centers received hundreds of calls of kids ingesting the laundry detergent simply for a challenge. There are other videos out there, as well, some promoting berberine for weight loss, and others suggesting apetamin, an illegally imported drug that can affect the heart and liver, for the hourglass-shaped body.
It’s important to do your research before consuming anything, and that means contacting a health professional. Discuss any supplements or chemicals with your doctor first.
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