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IF you see videos of people drinking borax on social networks, especially TikTok, then please don't copy them. This white powder, which dissolves easily in water, does not help treat inflammation or joint pain, as the creators of such content suggest. If consumed in excessive quantities, this product can harm your health, explain many specialists who are speaking out about the trend.
Faced with the proliferation of videos (falsely) extolling the health benefits of borax since the start of the year, many professionals are now speaking out to alert social media users to the dangers this can entail. On social networks, internet users explain that they drink borax, or sodium borate – a white powder of natural origin – by diluting it in water or coffee. Some even go so far as to take borax baths to "detoxify" their skin.
"But while borax is naturally occurring, this isn’t a guarantee of safety. Arsenic, ricin and the toxin responsible for botulism are also 100% natural, but can be highly toxic to humans," explains Nathan Kilah, senior lecturer in chemistry and the University of Tasmania, Australia, in an article posted on The Conversation.
Borax, a salt of boric acid, is a very useful and effective ally for cleaning your home, thanks to its disinfectant and cleansing properties.
It is found in laundry detergents, in particular, as it has a whitening action. But drinking it is strongly discouraged, as its benefits do not work in humans.
NBC News spoke to Dr Kelly Johnson-Arbor, a medical toxicologist and medical co-director of the National Capital Poison Center, about the dangers of drinking borax. The news site reports that "borax can cause stomach irritation and potentially result in blue-green vomit or diarrhea if ingested. Over time, it can cause anemia and seizures, [the expert] said, and that soaking in borax could cause rashes that make the skin appear as bright pink as a boiled lobster and start to fall off."
According to Dr Kelly Johnson-Arbor, this misinformation stems – as is often the case on social networks – from a misinterpretation of a scientific study. In this case, it appears to be a 1994 study that states that boron is "an essential nutrient for healthy bones and joints."
Internet users may have confused borax with boron, which are two different things – boron is a chemical element whereas the borax is a chemical compound. Boron is a mineral found naturally in fruit and vegetables, such as avocados, plums and grapes. But eating fruit and vegetables regularly is enough to supply the body with the right amount of boron.
"There’s really nothing to support the use of borax in humans for inflammation or reduction of oxidative stress or anything like that," concludes Dr Kelly Johnson-Arbor, speaking to NBC.
Fortunately, videos of influencers advocating the product have been removed from TikTok, although some experts have noted a recent resurgence in this kind of content. Carlo Ledesma, a medical laboratory professional known for sharing his expertise on TikTok, warned of this trend in a video back in April. "There are children on this app. There are parents watching this that are not medical professionals," Ledesma told NBC News. "As a medical professional, we swore an oath to protect the interests of the greater good." – ETX Daily Up, July 29, 2023