Doctor issues warning to anyone trying viral ‘internal shower’ health trend

It seems a lot of folks are interested in attempting to flush out their insides, given how popular the 'internal shower' health trend has been online.

The craze first took social media by storm years ago, but it's managed to stick around ever since - as it's been touted as something of a miracle worker.

According to a host of TikTok users, you can give your insides a good rinse with a DIY concoction that contains three simple ingredients.

To whip up an 'internal shower', all you need to do is combine a couple of tablespoons of chia seeds with a glass of water and a splash of lemon juice, although the latter is optional.

You then need to let the mixture sit for a few minutes - as a fun fact about chia seeds is that they are able to absorb 'up to 12 times' their weight when exposed to a liquid.

Although this is pretty cool and all, it can lead to some pretty dire consequences if you don't soak them before swallowing them - such as the 'blockages' they can cause internally.

Registered dietitian Beth Czerwony explained that the superfood takes on 'a gel-like consistency' after being introduced to a liquid, as per the Cleveland Clinic.

Chia seeds are considered nutritional powerhouses as they are brimming with fibre, antioxidants and protein, so including them in your diet can give your wellbeing a good boost.

Explaining some of the digestive benefits that come with consuming them, Czerwony said they can 'improve intestinal tissue health, promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, alter the absorption of some dietary components and ease constipation'.

Though there are some things you need to know before you start guzzling gallons of water, chia seeds and lemon juice.

Dr Karan Rajan, who is best known for doling out handy health advice online, explained that this viral trend is 'more of an internal drain cleaner than an internal shower'.

However, he added in a video originally shared to social media in 2022: "This is probably one of the first TikTok trends that actually works... and won't kill you."

He explained that it's not really the chia seeds that are particularly 'special', as the NHS surgeon dubbed them 'expensive fibre'.

For a cheaper alternative, Dr Rajan suggested opting for psyllium husk, 'as it's cheaper'.

Whatever ingredient you're whipping up an internal shower with, the medic said that the most important thing overall is that you 'don't consume too much fibre'.

Although two tablespoons of chia seeds should do the trick and get your bowels moving, overdoing it could leave you in a worse state than where you started.

"Be warned - don't consume too much fibre because it can cause cramping and bloating," Dr Rajan said in the clip.

He then jokingly added: "Just be warned as well that whatever you do drink will end up tasting like molten frog spawn. And you better drink it fast, as the longer you leave it, the more it will make you gag."

Although an internal shower can be an acquired taste, Dr Karan reassured social media users in the comment section that there is some truth behind this TikTok health trend.

"It makes you consume more fibre and water, which helps to soften and bulk up your poop," he said of the benefits drinking the concoction can bring.

The doctor also told people to have a bit of patience, as the effect is 'not immediate' and usually takes somewhere between 12 and 24 hours to kick in.

Czerwony concurs, as the dietitian explained that chia seeds are 'hypothesised to have a laxative effect due to their fibre content', adding: "They add bulk and weight to stools, which softens them and helps them pass."