Stop putting garlic up your nose like a TikTok 'cold-curing' hack said, doctors reveal how dangerous it actually is

Winter may be the time many of us are searching for health remedies as blocked noses flare up during the colder months, but one TikTok trend to "cure colds" is widely being debunked by medical experts.

The trend, typified by sticking two cloves of garlic in either nostril for five to 15 minutes, claims to clear out blocked sinuses — followed by a disgusting stream of mucus flowing out of the body.

Hundreds of users have shared the effects of the video, saying the hack is "perfect" if you're "sick."

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One TikTok user shared a video of themselves trying the hack, appearing with cloves shoved into their nose, and a long stream of clear mucus flowing out.

Captioning the video, "try this if you're sick", the young woman says, "so I stuck two cloves of garlic in my nose," while standing over the sink.

The camera then cuts to the woman blowing out the mucus and removing the garlic, as she says "it's taking it all out."

Doctors have come out in response, claiming the method is both ineffective and "dangerous."

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"Not only does it have the potential to rot or cause a nasal obstruction, it can induce an episode of sinusitis [aka a sinus infection]," Omid Mehdizadeh, an otolaryngologist and laryngologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center, told Shape.

Furthermore, Anthony Del Signore, director of rhinology and endoscopic skull bases surgery at Mount Sinai Union Square in New York, told TODAY the hack could even require surgery.

"We typically do not recommend putting anything into the nostril for the obvious fact that it could get dislodged or lodged up into the nasal cavity," he said.

"You may need to go to the operating room to remove it. But anytime you put an organic product, or even non-organic objects (up the nose) there's always a risk of superinfection within the nasal cavity."

Doctors have also said while the method may give the appearance of mucus draining out of the body, it's simply smoke and mirrors — due to the potent smell of the garlic.

"When it starts to irritate the nose, you'll definitely have some mucus drainage," Neil Bhattacharyya, an otolaryngologist and surgeon told Shape.

"You may feel like, 'Wow, something is mobilising' but in reality, you're just reacting to the compound."

The hack can actually cause cold symptoms to decline, with the cloves likely irritating the nasal cavity more than alleviating symptoms.

Abisola Olulade, a physician, told Refinery 29, "[it] may make people falsely think it is working to help relieve a stuffy nose."

Dr. Olulade says the "running nose" sensation is simply "a reaction to the irritation and to the strong smell."

When in doubt, use a tissue?