A viral TikTok video posted by the user Rozaline Katherine is claiming to have found the ultimate hack to relive clogged sinuses.
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Garlic up your nose
Unfortunately for those who suffer frequently from blocked sinuses, the tip has been advised against by doctors who claim it could do more damage than good. The quick health hack vid has, since being posted, amassed more than 4.3 million views.
In the video, the 29-year old personal trainer inserts one garlic clove in each nostril. She then proceeds to explain how leaving garlic inside each nostril for 10 to 15 minutes results in a stream of snot cascading down her nose, seemingly unclogging her sinuses. In an interview with the Mirror, the Arizona native said:
I didn't think it was actually going to work which is why I filmed it more as a joke. I didn't smell any garlic afterwards either - I think my sinuses were flushed out. I was totally surprised by the results.
The dangers
But medical expert, Neil Bhattacharyya—an ear, nose, and throat doctor and surgeon at Mass Eye and Ear— believes that this method might actually cause some serious dangers. He explains:
If you do this enough, the body will start to react to the oils and chemicals in the garlic and cause contact dermatitis in the nose.
Contact dermatitis is a red and itchy rash as a result of an allergic reaction that is directly linked to having contact with an allergen. Bhattacharyya continued:
Some garlic cloves are really strong, and if you get enough leaching of the chemicals and oils into your nose, it will definitely irritate it. Garlic has a strong smell and, when it starts to irritate the nose, you'll definitely have some mucus drainage.
And added:
You may feel like, 'Wow, something is mobilizing' but in reality, you're just reacting to the compound.
So, there you have it folks: definitely don't try this at home.
