Cinnamon powder, the natural spice that's used for recipes and home remedies can be dangerous if used in the wrong way. Many teens are participating in the mainstream social media fad known as the "Cinnamon Challenge," which is seen on YouTube.
The dare of the "Cinnamon Challenge" involves attempting to swallow a spoonful of ground cinnamon. The dry, powdery consistency of the cinnamon makes it pretty much impossible and causes the individual to choke. It immediately causes throat irritation, breathing difficulty and can even cause the lungs to collapse.
According to a study, cinnamon powder is "caustic" and "triggers a severe gag reflex." The American Association of Poison Control Centers reported that 222 calls about the misuse of cinnamon were made to U.S. poison control centers last year.
"What we were discovering was that it wasn't just that this was a dare prompted by peer pressure, but in fact there were acute health issues associated with it and there might be some real concerns for more chronic health issues," Dr. Steven Lipshultz, of Miami Miller School of Medicine, said. Lipshultz is a co-author of the study published Monday in Pediatrics.
Lipshultz concluded that the number of cinnamon abuse instances may be higher, since poison control centers are not always called to report the incidents. Dejah Reed, 16, was hospitalized for four days when she took the "Cinnamon Challenge" last year.
"I was laughing very hard, and I coughed it out, and I inhaled it into my lungs. I couldn't breathe," Dejah said. Doctors sent her home with an inhaler which she says she still uses, as she sometimes gets short of breath.
"We all were teenagers and college students at one point and did things we later regretted — most of the time there's not lingering consequences. The concern here is that may not be the case," Lipshultz said.
