Calling it a hoax, doctors are urging social media followers to not blindly believe whatever is posted in the name of health
A new and potentially dangerous trend is now being followed on social media, where many influencers are now drinking or bathing with the mixture of borax and water for health and well-being. According to news reports, many of the videos of people consuming borax have been taken down from the internet by various service providers, including YouTube, but a few on TikTok are still there.
Calling it a hoax, doctors are urging social media followers to not blindly believe whatever is posted in the name of health—as borax—a powdery and naturally occurring mineral used in many household products and industrial applications is highly toxic.
Why do some people think borax has health benefits?
Also known as sodium borate, borax is used as a household cleaner or laundry detergent booster—made with sodium, oxygen, and boron. And so, it is not intended to be used for human consumption.
And even though it is not clear why many social media influencers are promoting borax, or what benefits they expect to experience, some now-deleted videos have suggested that soaking in a bathtub of borax relieves body aches and pains. Another used the hashtags "#jointpainrelief" and "#painrelief" in a video about ingesting borax. There are also a few who claim that the compound helps relieve inflammation, arthritis, and even fibromyalgia—a condition that causes pain across your body.
Doctors are now debunking the borax trend, saying that maybe borax is being confused with boron, a trace element found in many foods. Boron plays a role in bone health and other bodily functions. Some good sources of boron in food include prunes, raisins, apples, avocados, and certain nuts.
However, according to Health.com, boron is not considered an essential nutrient in the human diet, and the research is still out on whether it has a clear biological function. There is also no recommended dietary allowance, adequate intake, or daily value for boron.
What happens when you ingest borax?
Doctors say ingesting borax is extremely dangerous for your health as it can have reproductive and developmental consequences, as well as effects on the nervous system and your kidney function. Inhaling the powder can lead to irritation, apart from extreme:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomachache
- Diarrhoea
- Rashes
- Fainting or unconsciousness
- Depression
- Kidney failure
Doctors say vomiting after ingesting borax is usually blue or green in colour, which can be extremely alarming.
Also, high exposure to borax can disrupt your body’s hormones—and especially impair male reproduction, reducing sperm count and libido. According to experts, in women, borax reduces ovulation and fertility, leading to low birth weight.
Can even cause death
If a young child ingests as little as 5–10 grams of borax, they may experience severe vomiting, diarrhoea, shock, and even death. Small children can be exposed to borax through hand-to-mouth transfer, especially if they play with slime made with borax or crawl around the floor where pesticides have been applied.
What to do for joint pains?
Rather than using harmful chemicals, doctors say there are various tried-and-tested home remedies you can use to reduce joint pains and inflammation. Or else you can see a doctor to get prescribed medication. For short-term and minor discomfort, you can get over-the-counter painkillers from your pharmacist, but for long-term or severe discomfort, make sure to get all the tests done.
Also, make some dietary adjustments, like adding more legumes, fruits, or tubers to your diets—all of which are rich in boron. In particular, prune juice, avocado, raisins, and peaches have particularly high concentrations of boron and are still part of a healthy diet.
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