As things stand, we have been in the pandemic for several months, and a vaccine or cure may still be a long way off. This discouraging fact has led researchers to explore other strategies to combat the coronavirus and mitigate its symptoms. Among those strategies is nasal irrigation, the practice of cleaning the nostrils, using a spray bottle or a Neti pot to introduce a therapeutic solution.
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A team of researchers recently studied the effects of nasal irrigation on COVID-19 and determined that this simple practice at home could help decrease a person’s viral load. “Nasal irrigation should be promoted especially for patients and healthcare workers,” the study concludes.
Although hardly a silver bullet solution for the disease, the study argues that nasal irrigation may help “reduce viral severity and further transmission” of the coronavirus early after a patient becomes infected. The researchers explain that this is because, “similar to other viral upper respiratory infections, [coronavirus] infection occurs primarily in the nasal and nasopharyngeal mucosa with high viral loads early in the disease. “This presents an opportunity to” remove COVID-19, “the study suggests.
The researchers noted that the “overall benefit of topical nasal saline has been well established,” explaining that the nasal lining plays an important role in the immune system, acting as the primary defense against inhaled viruses and bacteria. Nasal rinses help remove this particulate matter, while increasing hydration and reducing inflammation, all of which can lessen the effects of a respiratory infection.
So what exactly do you need to test it? The study suggested choosing an over-the-counter hypertonic saline spray, which can be found in most drugstores. Betadine and other iodine-derived aerosols also appear to support “substantial reduction of the coronavirus,” the researchers noted.
While there is no cure for coronavirus, this home treatment can help limit the severity of your illness and reduce the time you spend ill, and that’s certainly a step in the right direction. And for more information on this simple practice, see Nasal Irrigation is the Key to Slow COVID-19 Progression, says the doctor.
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