The flood of unlikely health hacks on TikTok can only mean that this is the start of a new year. Here we look at some of the more curious tips and the evidence behind them.
Put rubber bands around your ears to reduce facial bags
The South Korean craze of wrapping rubber bands around the ears for ten minutes to reduce facial bags has spread among TikTok users worldwide. Proponents claim that the bands help move fluid through the lymphatic system, but there is no scientific evidence for this. There is some evidence that lymphatic massage, which uses gentle, outward movements, can reduce puffiness, but the effects are temporary.
Professor Hywel Williams, a specialist in evidence-based dermatology at the University of Nottingham, says many TikTok videos feature young, fit people without facial bags. “The craze seems to be creating fear and something new to worry about,” he says.
But he would like to see a real test in which hundreds of people with swollen faces wear elastic bands, a piece of cotton or something else, and have their bags assessed before and after by an independent panel of beauticians. “I’m always open-minded,” he says, “and sometimes the medical profession can be wrong.”
Insert garlic into the nose to cleanse the sinuses
It’s good that TikTok provides a platform for people who want to film large bubbles of mucus coming out of their garlic-filled nostrils, and torrents of snot pouring out when the garlic is removed. The striking effect is presented as evidence that garlic relieves congestion, but that is nonsense. “This doesn’t clarify anything. The mucus was produced by the lining of the nose in response to the pungent smell of the garlic,” says Simon Gane, a consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. “It’s not ‘released’ from anywhere. A stuffy nose is usually caused by swelling of the lining of the nose, and not by snot.”
Apply castor oil in the belly button to reduce bloating
Entire theses have been devoted to the importance of the navel in fashion, religion and meditation, but biologically it serves no purpose other than to remind us that we were once connected to our mothers via an umbilical cord. Some TikTokers claim that pouring castor oil into the belly button, a practice known as navel oiling or navel pulling, aids digestion, reduces bloating, and relieves menstrual pain and endometriosis.
The craze has its roots in the practice of Ayurvedic, an alternative healing system. One treatment claims that essential oils are absorbed through the navel, through what practitioners call the “pechoti gland.” So far, scientists have discovered No proof that such a gland exists.
“Unfortunately, the lack of research into women’s health, coupled with issues such as long waiting lists and dismissal by medical professionals, have left many women turning to unproven home remedies in search of relief from their symptoms,” says Dr. Gemma Sharp, an epidemiologist. at the University of Exeter. “There are no peer-reviewed scientific studies on applying castor oil to the skin for weight loss or to relieve symptoms of endometriosis, so there is no solid evidence of its effectiveness. In some cases it can cause an allergic reaction, so it is best to avoid it.”
Oatzempic helps with weight loss
Ozempic, a diabetes drug, was a big hit last year, although it is perhaps better known for its weight loss benefits. Ozempic contains semaglutide, a hormone-mimicking substance that slows down digestion. Not to be outdone, TikTokers have come up with oatzempic, a mix of oats, water and lime juice, and say it has similar effects. The claim has not been tested, but people only lose weight when they burn more calories than they consume. However, oats can help: They contain soluble fiber called beta-glucan, which may have an effect reduction in body weight and body mass index.
Mouth taping
Many people breathe through their mouth instead of their nose at night, leading to dry mouth, sore throat and bad breath. They are also prone to snoring. Taping the mouth shut with porous tape aims to direct breathing through the nose, which has the added benefit of filtering out allergens and making the inhaled air more humid. Few studies have looked at whether it works, but a pilot study among 30 people found that mouth tape reduced snoring in people with mild obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.
But mouth taping can be dangerous for some. Another test in people with obstructive sleep apnea, it was found that mouth taping generally improved airflow, but more than a fifth saw a significant drop in airflow.
“If someone knows that he or she has no nasal congestion, is of normal weight, and has not been diagnosed with moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea, he or she can try mouth taping at home,” says Dr. Andrew Huang, an otolaryngologist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. . Those who have difficulty breathing through the nose during the day, are overweight or obese, or have been diagnosed with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea should consult an otolaryngologist before trying it, he adds.