This study is interesting because it is the first time this technique has been investigated as a way of reducing the severity of Covid 19. Crucially, the findings of this study suggest that rinsing makes you less likely to pass the illness on to others in close contact with you - because you are washing the virus down the plug hole and getting it out of the environment.
Nasal rinsing (also called 'nasal douching') using a squeezy bottle which contains a saline solution is a mainstay of self care for many problems with the nose. Whether you have allergies or chronic rhinosinusitis, squeezy bottles offer an efficient and safe way of clearing allergens, pollutants, and excess mucus from the upper airway.
Neti pots are another option, but I find them more difficult to keep clean and because you can't squeeze them, you can't regulate the pressure of the "squirt" - you only get gravity. NeilMed rinse bottles - which you can find online and in many UK pharmacists - are the ones I prefer, though I've tried all kinds. Many US drugstores, such as CVS, make their own versions too.
Here are my key tips for nasal rinsing, whether you have just caught Covid or have another reason for using nasal rinsing:
The study was carried out by researchers from the School of Public Health at Xiamen University in China. They used Syrian hamsters whose olfactory systems are very close to those of humans.
The NHS has more information about making your own buffer solution here.
May 22, 2023