Thinking alkaline water is a medicine, receiving a bitter end
The authorities have stepped in and handled "the doctor" Nguyen Tien Nam in Binh Minh commune, Thanh Oai district (Hanoi) who claimed to be able to treat all diseases, including medical tourism with alkaline water, banned patients from eating other foods, did not use Western medicine and sold an alkaline ionization water purifier worth 15-20 million VND/ machine.
In fact, Mr. Nam was an electrical appliance repairman, without a medical degree or medical examination and treatment license. For about a year, he has posted hundreds of clips promoting the treatment of all diseases with alkaline water, attracting many patients to come and see him. He publicly denied modern medicine, affirming that his alkaline water was the solution to save patients' lives.
After checking, the authorities determined that Mr. Nguyen Tien Nam illegally treated patients at home, without a degree or operating license. Thanh Oai District People's Committee has imposed an administrative fine of VND 80 million, suspended the facility for 18 months and requested the removal of all violating advertisements.
However, many people still use and believe that this drink can cure all diseases, even cancer as advertised. Bach Mai Hospital has just received a critical case due to Facebook reporting that a traditional healer had drunk alkaline water to treat the disease.
A 67-year-old female patient with Basedow voluntarily stopped taking the medicine prescribed by a doctor and switched to drinking alkaline water according to the instructions of a traditional healer in Binh Minh commune, Thanh Oai district, Hanoi, leading to a critical coma. Notably, this facility was warned because of many serious cases after being treated here.
The patient started drinking alkaline water mixed from a filter and salt from the afternoon of March 14, 2025, fasting, and only drinking water when hungry or thirsty. By dawn on March 16, 2025, the patient was unconscious and taken to the emergency room in a coma, respiratory failure, blood clotting disorder, hypersodium, and severe hypothyroidism.
At the Poison Control Center - Bach Mai Hospital, the patient was diagnosed with thyroid storm, coma after hypoglycemia, hepatitis, pneumonia, Basedow. Despite her active recovery, she was still in a deep coma after 3 days of treatment.
Doctor Nguyen Huy Tien, Center for Anti-Poison - Bach Mai Hospital recommends: "If patients follow the treatment regimen, their health condition can be controlled. Quitting medicine to follow unscientific methods makes the disease worse, threatening life".
Previously, Bach Mai Hospital had received a cluster of cases and also used a type of water introduced as alkaline water to treat the disease. 3 patients with kidney failure had to undergo a cyclical dialysis at Lai Chau General Hospital, and were recommended to stop dialysis on their own and go to Thanh Oai district to drink alkaline water. Drink 6 liters of water per day, fast completely for 15 - 20 days. These patients only drank for about 2 - 3 days, and began to have difficulty breathing and coma, so they had to be taken to the emergency room.
According to Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen - Director of the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital, even drinking too much water can be dangerous, leading to pulmonary edema, blood thinning, hyponatremia, cerebral edema, coma, convulsions and death. With alkaline water, the risk of disrupting blood pH is even higher, causing metabolic alkalosis, arrhythmia, paralysis, enzyme failure and possibly death.
The stomach has a pH of 1.5 - 3.5 to help kill bacteria from food. Drinking too much water thins the taste buds, reduces protective ability, and creates conditions for disease-causing bacteria to penetrate deeper into the digestive tract.
No scientific evidence to treat alkaline water
Currently, many types of water are advertised incorrectly for their treatment effects, causing people to misunderstand and apply them without scientific basis, posing serious health risks. When suspecting a disease, it is necessary to go to a medical facility for examination instead of believing in unverified information.
"There is currently no scientific research confirming that drinking alkaline water can prevent or treat diseases. blindly trusting unverified information not only costs consumers money but can also delay access to traditional healthcare treatments. Be alert and consult an expert before making a health-related choice. Inconsistent, unscientific advertising can have serious consequences, even death. The authorities need to quickly intervene to prevent it," Dr. Nguyen emphasized.
Fake advertising of alkaline water as a treatment is threatening public health. Doctors warn that people should not believe in unscientific methods but need to be treated at reputable medical facilities.
Alkaline water (pH 8 - 9.5) is often created through water or electrolytes, which are said to help detoxify, balance acids and prevent disease. However, authorities have warned about the risks of using alkaline water as a treatment therapy. Many people believe that according to advertisements, not only cannot they get rid of the disease but also suffer from complications such as alkaline disorder, electrolyte disorder, kidney failure.
