ENT's, who specialize in the treatment of diseases of the nose and sinuses, have been using baby shampoo in nasal rinses for years. Compared to rinsing with salt water, the surfactants (cleaning agents) in baby shampoo do a better job of eliminating viruses and bacteria by dissolving the protective membranes of certain bacteria and viruses, thereby inactivating them. However, until recently, there was little evidence that baby shampoo may be effective against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which causes Covid.
Penn State College of Medicine
Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine tested this hypothesis in the lab using solutions containing a strain of human coronavirus that is genetically similar to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which causes Covid. The solutions were then treated with various agents, including Johnson and Johnson’s baby shampoo. They then placed the treated solutions in contact with cultured human cells and measured growth of the virus. The results, published in the September 2020 Journal of Medical Virology, show that a 1% solution of baby shampoo deactivated 99.9% of this coronavirus after a two minute period of exposure. Dr. Justin Turner, an ENT at Vanderbilt University has initiated a clinical trial to measure how rinsing the nose with diluted baby shampoo reduces the symptoms of Covid as well as how the disease spreads. The study was initiated in May of 2020 results are expected mid 2022.
Why is baby shampoo better than regular shampoo?
Baby shampoo is formulated to be milder than other types of shampoo. The list of ingredients include Cocamidopropyl betaine, Decyl glucoside, Sodium cocoyl isethionate, Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, and Lauryl glucoside. Baby shampoos use milder surfactants (known as amphoteric surfactants) that clean without causing that burning sensation – that’s one of the reasons why baby shampoos are labeled “tear-free.” Amphoteric surfactants also generate less foam than sulfates which is good for a nasal rinse application. Baby shampoos can make a good nasal rinse because of what they do NOT contain.
Baby shampoo is not a Covid cure
If continued studies help establish that baby shampoo is effective against Covid, it will be a preventative treatment, not curative, and should significantly reduce the viral load. This is important because the amount of the virus you are exposed to is a factor in determining whether or not you will contract the disease.
Nasal sinus irrigation system
Nasal sinus irrigation is by far the best way to deal with your sinus problem it's easy and fast in terms of execution and it is also one of the best natural relief methods. The other advantage of sinus irrigation is there are no side effects associated with this technique. There are several nasal irrigation tools available in order to effectively irrigate however pulsatile irrigation is recommended most and reported to be more effective at removing bacteria. Pulsatile nasal irrigation is reported in medical journals to effectively break down biofilm which acts as a breeding ground for bacteria and helps to restore ciliary function.
The key to successfully using sinus irrigation is regular use. The objective of nasal irrigation is to rinse away any pollen, dust, or allergens which might cause an allergic response or infection. People whom have not tried sinus irrigation before might find it unusual, messy, or difficult to use. However, the SinuPulse Elite® Advanced Nasal Sinus Irrigation System combines the performance of pulsatile irrigation, which has been reported to be more effective than non pulsating methods, with the convenience of a device designed for quick and easy use. The SinuPulse takes only minutes to use and can deliver dramatic relief from allergy and sinus problems. For those suffering from chronic sinus infections daily use of the SinuPulse can help prevent colds and recurrent sinus infections.
References
When you are suffering from sinus congestion it's easy to just run down to your
Impact of Nasal Saline Irrigations on Viral Load in Patients With COVID-19
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04347538
Treatments that target the coronavirus in the nose might help prevent COVID-19
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/coronavirus-covid-19-treatments-target-nose-prevention
Mouthwashes, oral rinses may inactivate human coronaviruses
https://news.psu.edu/story/635101/2020/10/19/research/mouthwashes-oral-rinses-may-inactivate-human-coronaviruses
