Neti Pot COVID Rinse: Is Nasal Irrigation Effective in Flushing Out Congestion?

With the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the world has suffered from a global pandemic that killed 7 million people. Medical countermeasures such as vaccination have been proposed to prevent further damage from COVID-19. However, the virus has also undergone mutations which led to the emergence of different variants such as Omicron. Because of this, health experts continue to look for convenient and effective measures to help relieve the symptoms.

Since the coronavirus infects the respiratory tract, one of the approaches used by other people is the use of neti pot COVID flush to clear the sinus cavity. However, there are still debates if this ancient Ayurvedic medical practice can effectively manage COVID infection.

Neti Pot COVID Relief for High-Risk Patients

In a study published by SAGE Journals, researchers tried to determine the effectiveness of saline nasal irrigation to COVID outpatients. Led by Dr. Richard Schwartz from the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, the scientists made a comparative observation of 826 high-risk outpatients aged 55 and older who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Among the screened participants, 79 were assigned to perform self-administered nasal irrigation using saline solution mixed with povidone-iodine or baking soda. The neti pot COVID rinse of the nasal cavity was done twice daily for 14 days.

The participants were observed after 28 days, and it was found that only 1.3% of them needed hospitalization compared to 11% of people from the control group who either got hospitalized or died. Flushing the sinus cavity two times a day with a mild saline solution can reduce the risk of hospitalization and death among COVID-19 patients. On a larger scale, the 8.5-fold reduction is equivalent to more than 1 million Americans requiring hospital admission.

In a separate study, a group of Chinese researchers conducted proof-of-concept experiments in the Syrian hamster model to investigate the effectiveness of neti drop COVID cleanse as an alternative option in fighting the Omicron variant of coronavirus. It was found that the inflammation and lung injury in hamsters were decreased by a direct viral cleanse of the sinus cavity.

What is Neti Pot?

A neti pot is a ceramic or plastic container designed to rinse the debris or mucus from the sinus cavity. It was originally used in the Ayurvedic tradition that dates back thousands of years.

Neti pot is one of the most popular methods of nasal irrigation, a therapy involving using saline solution to clear the nasal passages. Commonly used in treating the symptoms of allergies or colds, this device gained more popularity during the COVID pandemic.

The saline solution in the neti pot works by increasing the speed of hair-like structures called cilia inside the upper respiratory tract. This improves their coordination for better removal of allergens and irritants.

Although neti pots are considered a good solution for congestion, safety measures must still be exercised for nasal irrigation. Since a neti pot is filled with a salt-based mixture, the solution must be adequately prepared using distilled or filtered water and the right amount of salt.