Wellness
People are stuffing cloves of garlic up their noses to clear their sinuses
This odd hack seems to genuinely work for people but some dermatologists are warning against it.
Laura Shallcross
07.11.21

Of all the smells out there, raw garlic is perhaps the most pungent.

If you’re one of the millions of garlic lovers in the world, you probably agree that having garlic breath is well worth it if you get to enjoy a slice of crispy garlic bread in the process. But that doesn’t mean you find the smell of raw garlic particularly appealing.

Nick Collins/ Pexels
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Nick Collins/ Pexels

The last thing you’d want to do is stick a raw garlic clove up your nose

Who would do such a thing anyway? If you’ve clicked on this post, you’ll know the answer to that already: lots of people, apparently.

That’s right – people are genuinely putting garlic cloves up their nostrils. And, like with many “hacks” nowadays, it all started with a TikTok video.

Hwannah5/ TikTok
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Hwannah5/ TikTok

TikTok has been a haven for some of the most useful life hacks recently.

We’ve seen hacks for cleaning your Tupperware, opening cans, hammering nails, folding pizza boxes, and so much more.

You probably didn’t even search out for half the stuff you’ve learned from TikTok – but you’re happy you know it now, anyway.

Adrian_mountainman/ TikTok
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Adrian_mountainman/ TikTok

This latest TikTok garlic hack reminds you of what a strange place the internet can be.

Once upon a time, somebody was the first person to stick a clove of garlic up their nose. Was it in the name of science? A drunken behavior? A desperate attempt to stop a nose bleed? We’ll never know.

All that we can be certain of is that some TikTok users are now putting garlic up their noses to “clear out the sinuses”.

Hwannah5/ TikTok
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Hwannah5/ TikTok

TikTok user Hwannah5 shared a video of the hack, and the results are, quite frankly, disgusting.

The video starts with Hannah and her boyfriend standing in her kitchen with a garlic clove shoved into each nostril. So far, so normal.

It looks like the pair of them are crying, which is clearly because they’ve got pungent whiffs of garlic circulating their nostrils.

Hwannah5/ TikTok
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Hwannah5/ TikTok

Then comes the really gross part.

Hannah films her boyfriend removing the garlic cloves and producing what can only be described as the biggest snot bubble we’ve ever seen.

You’re going to want to scroll past this next photo fast if even the sound of someone blowing their nose grosses you out.

Hwannah5/ TikTok
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Hwannah5/ TikTok

The question is, can garlic really clear your sinuses out?

Well, sort of. Yes, your nose will run when you do the big reveal (aka. take the garlic clove out of your nostril). But that’s not necessarily because garlic is “good” for you when shoved up your nose.

Rather, it’s an irritant. Technically, sticking anything up your nose promotes mucus production, whether that’s a bit of a tissue, a clove of garlic, or anything weirder.

Garlic may just be more effective at this because it’s much more irritating than other said items.

Polina Tankilevitch/ Pexels
Source:
Polina Tankilevitch/ Pexels

Some doctors are warning against using garlic up your nose, too, as it’s a known irritant.

Dr. Dana Crosby, the chair of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine’s Department of Otolaryngology, told TODAY:

“Garlic is a pretty strong substance. It’s almost causing a kind of dermatitis-type reaction where the mucosa gets really irritated.”

Tijana Drndarski/ Unsplash
Source:
Tijana Drndarski/ Unsplash

Should you try this at home? Maybe. It’s up to you and depends on your level of desperation.

But if you’re not too squeamish, you can check out the snot-tastic TikTok video below.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

@hwannah5

****warning: Snot*** This is not dangerous. the garlic just clean your sinuses out. ##comedy ##safe ##fyp ##garlicinnose ##shaquilleoneal @jdean40

♬ original sound – hwannah5

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