Posts falsely tout unproven treatment for high blood pressure and sugar level
- Published on November 3, 2025 at 05:31
- 2 min read
- By Nyan Tun SHEIN, AFP Thailand
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Health experts said there is no scientific evidence that drinking a mixture of aloe vera and egg white can cure diabetes and hypertension, contrary to social media posts. Taking such unproven remedies may delay proper treatment and while the conditions currently have no cure, they can be managed with lifestyle changes and medication.
"Conditions like diabetes and hypertension can be effectively alleviated and cured using eggs and aloe vera," reads part of a Burmese-language TikTok post shared on October 8, 2025.
It goes on to falsely advise people to mix aloe vera extract thoroughly with egg white and drink the mixture twice a week.
The post includes an image of an aloe vera leaf and eggs, with text saying those that follow the recipe will see a "noticeable result."
Similar claims have spread elsewhere on Facebook.
Diabetes is a condition caused by excessive levels of blood sugar in the body, followed by complications such as heart diseases, kidney problems, eye problems and neurological impairment (archived link).
Hypertension is due to high pressure in the blood vessels and can lead to serious complications if left untreated (archived link).
AFP has debunked other remedies that falsely claim to be cures for the conditions.
According to the US National Institutes of Health, a small amount of research suggests that aloe taken orally may reduce blood sugar in people with diabetes (archived link).
But Dr Thurein Hlaing Win, country manager of the Myanmar healthcare website Hello Sayarwon, told AFP on September 22 in an email that there is no scientific evidence to support the false claim that drinking the mixture can cure the condition (archived here and here).
He said patients with diabetes and hypertension should adhere to prescribed medications and adopt healthy lifestyle changes -- including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and stress management.
Dr Phyu Phyu Thin Zaw, a lecturer at the University of Hong Kong's School of Public Health, also said there is "no solid scientific evidence" to support the claim that it can cure the conditions (archived link).
"Relying on such unproven remedies can actually be risky -- it might delay proper treatment, and large amounts of aloe vera or raw eggs can cause side effects like gastrointestinal issues or infections," she added.
She also encouraged patients with diabetes or hypertension to "follow doctor's treatment plan, eat healthily, stay active, and keep up with regular check-ups".
The World Health Organization also advises diabetes and hypertension patients to control their conditions by medical treatment and lifestyle changes (archived here and here).
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