Borax isn't for drinking, but many TikTok users are still doing so.
The latest trend TikTok users have been challenging themselves with has people drinking or soaking in the toxic cleaning product to allegedly reduce or even relieve inflammation and other issues of the body.
There are no scientific studies supporting the claims TikTok users are spreading; many are pointing towards not using it as anything other than a cleaning product.
The New Tide Pod Challenge
TikTok is home to a variety of social media challenges. Some benefit those who participate in them, while some suffer serious injury because of them - some even die.
However, there is another trend going around TikTok and maybe even social media in general - a trend that may be worse than the infamous Tide Pod Challenge.
According to a report from Ars Technica, there are TikTok users that have "hopped on the borax train" and are drinking or soaking in the toxic cleaning product. Based on the false claims they're spreading, borax allegedly helps reduce inflammation, treat arthritis, and even "detoxify" the body, ironically.
A report from Forbes mentioned that some even believe that borax can help cure joint pain, eye and mouth swelling, menstrual cramps, and even cancer. Not only are they drinking or soaking in the cleaning product, but they are also consuming it by seasoning their food with it.
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Much like the Tide Pod challenge of old, these TikTok users have drawn on conspiracy theories and questionable data to support their argument about borax. Some say that Big Pharma has been keeping the benefits of borax under wraps to keep people paying for more expensive (and regulated) pharmaceutical products. This is a common argument for people advocating unproven health and wellness products.
They also argue that borax contains boron, a naturally occurring trace element found in common foods like fruits, peanuts, legumes, potatoes, milk, and dietary supplements. However, boron isn't an essential nutrient for people, and researchers have yet to identify a clear biological function for the element, though studies are exploring that possibility.
Just As Deadly As the Tide Pod Challenge
Unfortunately, boron and borax are not the same. The latter is toxic; ingestion could lead to serious medical issues like nausea, diarrhea, seizures, anemia, erythema, and even death, per the New York Post citing a statement from the National Institutes of Health.
"Extremely high doses of boron can be fatal; for example, 15,000 to 20,000 mg can cause death in adults."
Even US Borax, the maker of 20 Mule Team Borax, states that their product isn't intended for use as a dietary ingredient. The company isn't promoting it as a pharmaceutical and/or over-the-counter active ingredient nor food additive or direct additive to foods.
It even warns those who ingest it to rinse their mouths with a large full glass of milk or water and not to induce vomiting to get the toxin out of their body. Instead, they should seek a physician immediately.
