A rinse for your throat
Saltwater helps flush harmful bacteria and viruses from your throat, which can lower your risk of infection. That can help you stay well, recover faster if you get sick, and make respiratory infections less severe.
In one trial, healthy people who gargled plain water caught fewer colds, and in a pilot trial, gargling and rinsing the nose with saltwater shortened colds by about two days.
The research
9 papers chosen for this practice, each with its source and summary. After them, every study in the database that mentions saltwater gargling.
A pilot study found that using hypertonic saline nasal irrigation and gargling can significantly reduce the duration and severity of common cold symptoms in adults.
Key points
- Hypertonic saline nasal irrigation and gargling (HSNIG) can reduce the duration of common cold symptoms by about 1.9 days.
- 87% of participants found HSNIG acceptable; 93% felt it improved their symptoms.
- HSNIG led to a 36% reduction in over-the-counter medication use.
- There was a 35% decrease in the transmission of the virus to household contacts.
- A larger trial is needed to confirm these findings.
Saline water gargling and nasal irrigation may help reduce the risk of COVID-19 by targeting the virus in the upper respiratory tract, despite limited evidence of their effectiveness.
Key points
- Limited evidence on saline gargling and nasal irrigation’s effectiveness against COVID-19.
- These methods are simple, economical, and globally implementable.
- Previous studies suggest potential benefits in reducing viral load and preventing infections.
- Saline solutions may help clear pathogens from the upper respiratory tract.
- Considered harmless and can be easily practiced by individuals, especially in home quarantine.
- Further clinical studies are needed for conclusive evidence.
Saline solution gargling and nasal rinsing have been studied in a double-blind randomized controlled trial for their potential impact on SARS-CoV-2 infection, providing valuable insights for non-specialist readers.
Saline solution gargling and nasal rinsing have shown potential as simple and safe interventions in reducing the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection, according to a double-blind randomized controlled trial.
Gargling with Salt Water May Help Prevent Covid Hospitalization (opens in a new tab)
Gargling with salt water may help reduce the risk of Covid hospitalization, according to a study presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting.
Key points
- Gargling with salt water may help prevent Covid hospitalization.
- Both low- and high-dose saline regimens are associated with lower hospitalization rates compared to controls in SARS-CoV-2 infections.
- Saline nasal irrigation and gargling improve respiratory symptoms associated with coronavirus infection.
Hypertonic saline nasal irrigation and gargling may reduce the duration of upper respiratory tract infection caused by coronaviruses, including COVID-19, according to a pilot study. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings and determine the full effectiveness of this intervention.
Key points
- Hypertonic saline nasal irrigation and gargling (HSNIG) reduced the duration of coronavirus upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) by an average of two-and-a-half days.
- HSNIG may offer a potentially safe, effective, and scalable intervention for COVID-19.
- HSNIG reduced the duration of URTI, over-the-counter medication use, transmission within household contacts, and viral shedding.
- Epithelial cells produce hypochlorous acid (HOCl) from chloride ions, which has an antiviral effect against various viruses.
- SARS-CoV-2 titres are higher in the nose than the throat, suggesting that measures to control the infection and viral shedding can help reduce transmission.
- HSNIG reduced the duration of illness, blocked nose, cough, and hoarseness of voice in individuals infected with coronavirus.
- The findings suggest that HSNIG may have a role in reducing symptoms and duration of illness in COVID-19.
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The study analyzed the effect of steam inhalation, saline gargling, and povidone-iodine gargling on COVID-19 patients in Bangalore, and found that povidone-iodine gargling was effective in providing early test negativity, whereas saline gargling was effective in early clinical recovery.
Key points
- Povidone-iodine gargling can help in early test negativity.
- Saline gargling is effective in early clinical recovery.
- Steam inhalation can help in overall symptom recovery.
- These interventions can be practiced safely by the public to curb the transmission of the disease and provide symptomatic improvement to patients across the globe.
Gargling with water is an effective and low-cost way to prevent upper respiratory tract infections among healthy individuals, according to a randomized controlled trial.
Key points
- Gargling with water can help prevent upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) among healthy people.
- This is a virtually cost-free and simple method that could benefit the general population.
- The study found that the incidence rate of first URTI was lower in the water gargling group compared to the control group.
- Even when a URTI occurred, water gargling tended to attenuate bronchial symptoms.
Gargling with certain mouthwash formulations containing cetylperidinium chloride, chlorhexidine, and hexetidine showed potential in reducing SARS-CoV-2 in the throat, which could help minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Key points
- Gargle formulations containing povidone-iodine and essential oils have shown potential effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2.
- Chlorhexidine and Listerine antiseptic have demonstrated antiviral properties against certain viruses.
- Chloride ions may enhance the antiviral immune response in non-myeloid cells.