The Research Behind the Use of Mouthwashes & Nasal Sprays That Might Destroy COVID-19

As always, consult a physician when taking any medicine, but staples in the household medicine chest might help deactivate COVID-19. Relatively unpublicized research has recently resulted in the development of several inexpensive new products--as well as finding a new use for some old-fashioned ones—that could lessen one’s chances of catching COVID-19 or disabling the SARS-CoV-2 virus before it does much harm. Surprisingly, these findings advocating the use of mouthwashes and nasal swabs first appeared in scientific publications in April and May 2020. They might not be as flashy as the recently announced COVID-19 vaccines are, but they could possibly help protect the public against the virus: Kirk-Bayley, Justin, Sunkaraneni, Vishnu and Challacombe, Stephen, (May 4, 2020). in The use of povidone iodine nasal spray and mouthwash during the current COVID-19 pandemic may reduce cross infection and protect healthcare workers points out that since povidone iodine has proven to be an effective virucide against earlier coronaviruses, such as MERS CoV, if administered in the nasal cavities and/or as a mouthwash, it might reduce the viral load of droplets and aerosols before a human host has the chance to pass on COVID-19. Sizun J., Yu M. W., Talbot P. J. (2000, September). Survival of human coronaviruses 229E and OC43 in suspension and after drying on surfaces: a possible source of hospital-acquired infections. The Journal of Hospital Infection. 2000 Sep;46(1):55-60. supports this claim because povidone iodine has reduced upper respiratory infections in strains of OC43 and 229E human coronaviruses in aqueous suspension by at least 50 percent on absorptive and non-absorptive surfaces in a hospital environment. Likewise, COVID-19: Povidone-iodine intranasal prophylaxis in front-line healthcare personnel and inpatients (PIIPPI). (2020, April 28;2020 May 14). National Library of Medicine posits that the antiseptic Povidone-iodine (PVP-I) should be effective against SARS-CoV-2 because of its previous success destroying bacteria, fungi, and viruses. In vitro assays, a concentration of one percent PVP-1 has cut viral activity 99.9 percent, and after two minutes, a concentration of 0.23 percent has sufficiently reduced viral loads “appreciably”. Then again, researchers have long known that foods high in iodine, such as cod and seaweed, when added to the diet act as virus prophylactics, according to Warren, Gary. (2020, April). Iodine intake to reduce COVID-19 transmission and mortality. Research Gate. Thus, researchers first speculated that adding foods rich in iodine to a diet might destroy COVID-19’s ability to replicate itself, thus eventually leading some of them back to the realization that gargling a povidone iodine or cetypyridinium chloride (CPC) mouthwash might be another way to reduce the spread of COVID-19. However, proving this theory sometimes gets very specific as Dunleavy, Brian P. (2020, September 17). Nasal solution may stop the spread of COVID-19, UPI demonstrates. If one can believe these claims, a peer-reviewed study published by JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, notes that a nasal antiseptic solution, povidone-iodine, “administered to each nostril” in 15 seconds inactivates” COVID-19. Thus, Eli Lilly plans to market this solution--both as nasal and oral rinse--under the brand name Halodine after the completion of clinical trials starting in October. Because of this and similar research, the media has slowly begun to suggest the possible effectiveness of povidone-iodine mouthwashes like Plax Advanced and Listerine Gum Therapy (as well as others found by searching “povidone iodine mouthwashes AND COVID” as prophylactics) when the University of Connecticut’s dental school has touted its use: UConn health researchers find a simple oral rinse can inactivate the COVID-19 virus. (2020, June 18)--all within a contact period of 15 seconds followed by a rinsing period of at least 30 seconds in a laboratory setting. They, however, caution against the use of povidone-iodine mouthwashes if one is allergic to iodine, pregnant, or has thyroid problems. Similarly, research at Cardiff University in Wales has discovered that mouthwashes containing at least a 0.07 percent solution of cetypyridinium chloride (CPC) destroy the COVID virus in saliva as Woods, Amanda. (2020, November 17). Pocisone-Mouthwash can kill COVID-19 in 30 seconds, study reveals. New York Post. This means that mouthwashes originally created to fight gum disease can perhaps also disarm the COVID-19, according to preliminary laboratory studies performed before the start of clinic trials. Of course, the British researchers have yet to conduct a clinical study to discover how long these results last. Even so, very soon, antiseptic nasal solutions will be available: Dunleavy, Brian P. (2020, September 17). Nasal solution may stop the spread of COVID-19, study finds. UPI. In a peer-reviewed study published by JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, a nasal antiseptic solution, povidone-iodine, “administered to each nostril” in 15 seconds inactivates” COVID-19. Eli Lilly plans to market this solution both as nasal and oral rinse, under the brand name Halodine sometime after the completion of clinical trials. Similarly, Bluewillow Biologics has released the nasal spray, NanoBio. Finally, nebulized mists might also enhance the treatment of COVID-19 if readers can believe a much earlier study: Kawana, Akihiko, and Kudo, Koichiro. (1999). A trial of povidone-iodine (PVP-I) nasal inhalation and gargling to remove potentially pathogenic bacteria colonized in the pharynx: In 1999, Japanese researchers theorized that inhaling a nasal mist with a miniscule amount of povidone-iodine in it is an effective means of removing pathogenic bacteria from the lungs, mouth, and sinuses after comparing the results of dispensing the same with both a control group of participants who gargled the solution and another group who inhaled it. By extension, some COVID-contemporary physicians hypothesize that an effective way of dispensing povidone-iodine is in a nebulized mist since not only will it reach the sinuses and throat, but it will also penetrate the lungs. Please also note disclaimers by manufacturers like Listerine in the Forbes' article, "Listerine: Our Mouthwash ‘Is Not Intended To Prevent Or Treat Covid-19" primarily because researchers at present confine their experiments to petri dishes rather than double blind studies of subjects who either swish with a povidone-iodine mouthwash or three percent hydrogen peroxide and those who are given a placebo mouthwash. Also, understand no one knows how often adults (only) should gargle with a povidone-iodine or hydrogen peroxide mouthwash. Nevertheless, consumers who want to purchase Povidone-iodine mouthwashes will find that ACT, Listerine, and Tom’s of Maine are among the well-known brands that carry alcohol-free povidone-iodine mouthwashes as each bottle's list of ingredients should note.

Common Sense Solutions for Dealing with the Ever-Continuing COVID-19 Pandemic

A Coronavirus Checklist for Concerned Citizens & Ambitious Politicians

Evelyn E. Smith

Medical science has proven that some of the original advice the public received about COVID-19 is wrong because researchers have continued to test hypotheses that explore how best to contain and treat COVID-19.

 

Because knowledge about how to deal with the virus continues to change, I recommend occasionally reading up on the subject by reading Pub Med abstracts https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ as well as sources like Web M. D. and the Mayo Clinic, all of which do not politicize the subject.  Google Scholar also offers additional articles that provide an international point-of-view. The medical community understands why advice about how to treat COVID-19 changes, but a sizeable percentage of the general public for the most part perhaps does not.

 

Originally, few “home remedies” to make the virus less virulent appeared in the popular press, although Web M. D. did discuss taking Vitamin D3 as a preventive measure in March 2020: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/  Similarly, my STEM Library Science Blog offered an annotated bibliography on Vitamin D in April and again in July (https://evelynsmithsstemscienceblog.blogspot.com/2020/04/ ).

 

Not only has knowledge about how to deal with COVID-19 grown, but the virus itself has mutated as well into a less virulent virus.  Accordingly, a single vaccination against the virus will not necessarily work as various authorities have admitted that since viruses are always changing and adapting, the COVID-19 virus will continue to infect more victims. Additionally, at least six strains of COVID-19 currently exist: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200803105246.htm

 

Masks are more likely to work if the public wears them correctly, which means covering the nostrils.  However, some individuals are more likely to wear a mask as if it were a fashion accessory: https://blogs.webmd.com/public-health/20201027/why-is-it-important-to-cover-your-nose-with-a-mask

 

It may be just me, but I am not prepared to take any vaccination that researchers rush through production without going through all the clinical trials it will need to go through. Instead, I would rather continue to take vitamin D3 and zinc and consistently eat a healthy (Mediterranean) diet, so if I contract the virus, I will most likely be able to fight the disease successfully.  These measures do not confer immunity, but usually they do tend to make COVID-19 less severe. In the meantime, I cover my nose and treat to keep my distance from those who do not do so: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/immune-boosting-supplements#The-bottom-line  All the same, the public probably will not submit to a very restrictive second lockdown imposed from above no matter how many experts mandate it.

 

Public Health authorities have traditionally quarantined the most vulnerable populations; for example, older adults over age 70 and those with pre-existing conditions, during epidemics and pandemics rather than enforcing a lockdown on the general public. This is what Israel has tried to do, although it has also imposed some general lockdowns https://equityhealthj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12939-020-01191-7

 

A few states skewed the COVID-19 statistics for the United States because they housed elderly COVID-19 patients with the general population in nursing homes rather than in closed wards reserved only for COVID-19 patients. https://nypost.com/2020/06/27/almost-half-of-us-covid-19-deaths-are-linked-to-nursing-homes/

 

 Social isolation results in increased mental health problems and a decimated economy, which in turn causes more societal problems:  drug abuse, alcoholism, suicide, child abuse and neglect, for instance: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/head-games/202003/what-are-the-psychological-effects-quarantine.

 

Most elementary school and middle and high school students definitely need to be attending classes in person (https://owlcation.com/academia/Why-Traditional-Classroom-Learning-is-Better-than-Online-Courses) because a) single parents need to work; b) someone (usually a teacher) is more likely to discover and report child abuse and neglect if a child is attending school; c)  isolation can lead to depression; d)  public school students are more likely to complete their assignments and do well in school if they keep to a schedule, which in many instances they can only accomplish by attending a physical classroom. e) Students also need to exercise and participate in sports. f) Yes, personal affirmation and encouragement works better in person than Online or on Zoom. Of course, schools may need to switch to virtual school only temporarily if not enough substitute are available to cover classes for quarantined teachers. By necessity, this will also limit or cancel the students’ summer vacation.

 

Unfortunately, in the United States, both Democrat and Republic politicians and the media have politicized the COVID-19 virus more than they should have. No easy answers exist, although eventually the disease will completely run its course as did the Spanish Flu in 1918 and 1919. Even so, it definitely should not become a vehicle for social engineering! 

 

Perhaps, however, COVID-19 will be a spur that prods Americans into taking better care of their health, thus cutting the incidence of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity by diet and exercise.

 

Never under estimate the power of prayer.  Even with public health measures that limit the size of a congregation and mandate the wearing of masks, the faithful need the in-person support of fellow believers.

 

 

 

In Other News: The United Kingdom has launched the Open Safely Platform--a Internet compendium of actual patient cases. So when will the United States launch a similar site? (11/21/2020) See: https://opensafely.org/