What is 'Garlic in the nose' trend on TikTok? Is it safe?
TikTok keeps on showcasing trends that leave users shocked. Gen Z is glued to the ideas that call for fitness trends, from crazy challenges like 'Bucket Prank' to the 'Tranquilizier challenge' and more. This time it’s 'Garlic in the Nose Challenge'.
The challenge is as self-explanatory as the name suggests, you need to insert a small piece of garlic into your nostril and leave it there for a few minutes. It may be trending but is it safe?
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What is the trend all about?
The idea behind the garlic in-nose trick is that garlic can help to alleviate cold and flu symptoms. According to TikTok users who have tried it, you simply insert a small piece of garlic into your nostril and leave it there for a few minutes. The supposed benefits of this trend include reduced congestion, improved breathing, and a boost to the immune system.
After the user removes the garlic, a flash flood of mucus gushes from their noses, prompting the semblance and sensation of actual decongestion. But does it stops here? No! A user wrote on Twitter, "Y’all do NOT do the garlic in the nose trick from tiktok I told nick to do it and now he has a sinus infection lmaoooo"
Y’all do NOT do the garlic in the nose trick from tiktok I told nick to do it and now he has a sinus infection lmaoooo
— mia (@piami4) August 4, 2021
Is this safe?
More than 94.9 million clips have been shared within TikTok’s #GarlicInNose genre. But in addition to creating an unnecessary layer of excess snot, jamming garlic into one’s nostrils can also spark an array of abiding health issues such as skin irritation, chemical burns, bleeding, oral cavity burns, and severe sinus infections. According to yahoo.com, Dr Richard Wender, the chair of Family Medicine and Community Health at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, said that this could have the reverse effect.
Wender said, "The TikTok results may be due to the garlic generating excess mucus that wasn't there before, as the nose produces mucus when it is irritated. Sticking cloves up the nose blocks the mucus flow for a bit, which is why it all comes pouring out after." Instead, Wender suggested that people try safe solutions like antihistamines, over-the-counter saline sprays, or a neti pot to alleviate congestion.