Nurse issues urgent warning over toxic chemical trend for weight loss

A nurse has warned against taking five potentially dangerous chemicals being promoted as part of the latest online trend said to get rid of parasites boost weight loss while reducing bloating, IBS and Crohn's. The trend is encouraging social media users to ingest dangerous amounts of herbs and toxic chemicals to rid their body of often non-existent parasites.

There is little to no substantial scientific evidence that supports the prevalence of parasites in the body or that cleansing the body of these supposed parasites has any benefit, says Jane Clarke, Nurse at ConfidenceClub .

And many of the unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms that people associate with parasites, such as bloating and fatigue can have a multitude of other genuine causes. These need to be investigated by your doctor and treated appropriately. By focusing on parasites, you could be missing out on a serious diagnosis of conditions such as bowel cancer.

Jane said: "Aside from the risk of misdiagnosing serious health issues, even if you are healthy, taking part in the DIY parasite cleanse trend can actually cause harm to your body. Using large quantities of herbal supplements can cause kidney damage, allergic reactions, or disrupt the natural balance of your gut biome.

"Your gut is home to an ecosystem of beneficial bacteria which all play a complex role in digestion, immunity, and general health and wellbeing. It is unwise to disrupt this, as it can lead to an upset stomach or even a weakened immune system."

Some of the most commonly suggested DIY Parasite Cleanse Ingredients, and why you should not be ingesting them.

Wormwood

Wormwood, is the bitter herb best known for its use in the french spirit absinthe. The plant contains a compound called thujone, which can be toxic to the nervous system in high doses, causing convulsions and in rare cases even death. Ingesting large amounts of wormwood as a part of a DIY parasite cleanse can lead to symptoms like dizziness, nausea, vomiting.

Black Walnut

Black walnut is used as a natural pesticide due to the fact it is toxic to certain plants and insects, perhaps this is the reason some believe it can be used to cleanse parasites in the human gut.

However when ingested by humans its pest killing compound juglone can cause stomach upsets, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain - it is in effect a poison, and there is no reason for humans to swallow it.

Oregano Oil

Oregano oil might sound harmless; after all, this sweet-smelling herb is most commonly associated with pizza. When eaten fresh or dried, it is a healthy flavour enhancer for Mediterranean cooking. Highly concentrated oregano oil, on the other hand, although sold widely as a dietary supplement, has no proven effect on human health in small quantities. In contrast, large quantities can irritate your insides and cause heartburn. In severe cases where very large quantities are ingested, it can lead to liver toxicity.

Castor Oil

Although in the past castor oil was used medicinally both as a laxative and to induce labour, it’s really not recommended for these purposes anymore. In fact, the pressed vegetable oil can cause explosive diarrhoea, and in large doses, serious poisoning. It’s best to avoid ingesting it altogether, especially if you’re pregnant.

Social media users make many wild claims about castor oil, including that by pouring the oil into your belly button you can detox your body, aid weight loss, or even cure cancer. The truth is there is absolutely no scientific evidence to support these claims. It also will do nothing to rid your body of perceived parasites.

Borax

Borax is a chemical cleaning solution, which should tell you everything you need to know about whether it is a good idea to swallow it. In short, the answer is no, never.

Ingesting Borax this can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach pains. Even more concerning, long-term ingestion of Borax can lead to kidney damage, reproductive problems, and neurological symptoms. In actual fact, social media platforms should be doing everything in theiur power to take down videos that suggest ingesting Borax as a matter of urgency.