Don’t let TikTok fool your patients—drinking borax is unhealthy
Key Takeaways
Some people are participating in a new TikTok trend where they drink borax, claiming the chemical has health benefits.
Now, experts are trying to correct misinformation.
They warn that borax is toxic and that people who participate in the trend should seek medical attention from a doctor’s office or poison control center.
Get a load of this — some Tik Tok users are drinking borax, a common laundry detergent ingredient, and claiming the chemical can help treat various health conditions. However, medical experts disagree with these claims and are trying to correct misinformation to keep people safe.[]
Experts warn that consuming borax can lead to toxicity and tell people to keep the chemical out of their mouths and in the washing machine, where it belongs.
Why are people drinking borax?
Part of the lure may be due to the fact that borax is derived from an element—boron—which is present in some nutritious fruits and vegetables. Dietary boron may aid in supporting healthy bones, healthy brain function, and healthy immune responses, according to research. Dietary boron isn’t comparable to borax, however, as the latter has been chemically altered and is meant to clean clothes – not support healthy bodies.[][]
“Although borax is infrequently used in trace amounts as a food preservative in other countries, it can be poisonous when swallowed,” says Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD, FACEP, FUHM, FACMT, a medical toxicologist and interim executive director with the National Capital Poison Center in Washington, DC.
Among other risks, consuming borax can cause “gastrointestinal distress, skin rashes, and even skin peeling,” as well as pain or irritation, Dr. Johnson-Arbor adds. People who are experiencing these signs and symptoms after partaking in the trend should call their doctor or poison control as soon as possible, she says.
People who have been participating in the trend for some time may develop other types of symptoms or dangerous health conditions like seizures or anemia, she says. However, she adds that “ongoing exposures may cause different signs and symptoms that may not be as apparent,” so it is wise to refer trend participants to poison control centers for evaluations and care regardless of their present symptoms.
Poison control centers are responding to calls about borax
At the National Capital Poison Center, calls “related to human exposures to borates”—which includes borax and boric acid, a chemical found in things like preservatives, antiseptics, ant killers, and fireproofing agents for wood—have been higher in recent months than in the same period last year, Dr. Johnson-Arbor says. People have both contacted poison centers and sought out emergency room care for borax exposure, she says.[]
The trend is dangerous, and educating patients about the risks of consuming borax is important so that they know not to partake in it. Further, it is important for doctors to be aware of social media’s influence on users and to help correct misinformation where possible, Dr. Johnson-Arbor says.
“Since many teenagers and young adults have grown up with phones and social media at their disposal and use their devices frequently to conduct information searches for school and at home, they may not fully understand the difference between social media content and evidence-based medicine,” Dr. Johnson-Arbor adds. “Medical professionals should engage in risk prevention by discussing these differences with patients, especially teenagers and young adults, [and] remind patients that social media influencers can easily create convincing videos that dispense medical advice, despite having little or no medical background.”
TikTok has now age-restricted some trending videos, including a viral post compiling several participant videos, which the app has listed as “may not be comfortable for some audiences.”[]
What this means for you
Drinking borax is unhealthy, despite what TikTokers may say. It may be important for doctors to engage in prevention education with young patients and parents to address misconceptions about borax and other social media “health” trends.