By Nurainaa Syafiqah
KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 (Bernama) – A viral “six-second sleep” therapy spreading on social media could pose serious health risks and even lead to death, Malaysia’s Health Ministry has warned.
Responding to a query from MyCheck Malaysia, the ministry stressed that the “sleep” referred to in the method is not actual sleep. Instead, it involves applying physical pressure to the neck, causing a person to lose consciousness due to a lack of oxygen to the brain.
“Such procedures can lead to significant medical complications including sudden fainting, stroke, carotid artery injury, irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia), cerebral hypoxia, permanent brain injury, seizures, and even death.
“To date, there is no scientific basis or medical evidence supporting the effectiveness of this method, which involves applying pressure to the neck to induce temporary loss of consciousness,” KKM told MyCheck Malaysia.
MyCheck Malaysia is a fact-checking initiative established by the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) to promote media literacy and curb the spread of misinformation.
Among the claims circulating online are that the “six-second sleep” therapy, promoted by self-proclaimed healers, can “reset” the brain’s centre, relieve stress and remove negative elements from the body.
Therapy Not Recognised
Videos that have gone viral online show individuals appearing to be briefly “put to sleep” or knocked unconscious after a “healer” presses certain points on the neck, shoulder or the back of the neck.
After their bodies go limp and their eyes close for a few seconds, the individuals typically regain consciousness abruptly, often appearing startled, confused and disoriented.
KKM said that medically, the phenomenon is known as induced convulsive syncope – a type of fainting accompanied by seizure-like movements caused by a sudden disruption of oxygen supply to the brain.
The ministry also stressed that the therapy circulating on social media is not recognised by any medical or health body, including the ministry itself and the broader medical community.
It is also not a recognised practice under the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act 2016 (Act 775), and does not fall under any recognised modern medical treatment or approved traditional practice.
“From a clinical assessment and evidence-based medical perspective, this action does not constitute a legitimate therapeutic intervention or health treatment.
“Rather, it is a high-risk physical act that could cause serious harm to those involved. Seeing as the practice is not regulated under Act 775, no specific guidelines have been developed,” KKM said.
Concerns Over Social Media Promotion
KKM said the method raises serious concern because it is widely promoted across social media and digital platforms that are easily accessible to the public.
This could encourage people to seek out the treatment without understanding the actual risks involved.
According to the ministry, the practice violates the medical principles of non-maleficence (do no harm) and informed consent, as individuals may be misled into believing the loss of consciousness is simply “sleep”.
Such situations not only endanger patients but also manipulate public trust in healthcare practices that are meant to be safe and effective.
“Therefore, this practice is unsafe and poses a public health risk. It is not supported by scientific evidence and should be avoided for safety reasons.
“The public should only seek medical services that have proven effectiveness from registered practitioners, including recognised traditional and complementary treatments provided by registered practitioners,” the ministry added.
Not Supported by Medical Science
But why do some people who undergo the therapy claim they feel refreshed, as though they had enjoyed a long, restful sleep?
Health advocacy platform Public Health Malaysia (PHM) explained that the sense of relief or lightness experienced afterwards is merely a temporary effect of the body’s emergency response.
“When the brain lacks oxygen, the body immediately activates its emergency system. Hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline, along with surges of dopamine and endorphins, are released to protect the brain.
“This can trigger a temporary feeling of relief, lightness or even euphoria. In reality, it is the body reacting after nearly facing danger,” PHM said.
PHM likened the sensation to someone who almost drowned but managed to breathe again. While the relief of breathing again may feel overwhelming, the near-drowning itself remains dangerous.
“The term ‘six-second sleep’ is typically used to describe pressing someone’s shoulder, neck or the back of the neck until the person briefly faints before regaining consciousness.
“It is often treated as a joke, a challenge, or supposedly a form of ‘therapy’.
“But medically, this is not a treatment procedure and it is not a safe technique. The brain has no oxygen reserve, and blood flow must be continuous every second. This makes risks significant and unpredictable,” PHM said.
PHM added that the method could also cause sudden cardiac arrest, with the risk higher among individuals who may have undiagnosed heart or blood vessel conditions.
-- BERNAMA
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