A simple spray on the mouth and nose can act as an effective shield to protect against COVID-19, adding yet another tool to the arsenal of antiviral options. The simple solution proposed by Dr. Mostafa Kamal Arefin of Dhaka Hospital & Medical College in Bangladesh and consists of polyvinyl pyrrolidone or povidone iodine (PVP-I), a microbicide that effectively kills viruses is 99.99%.first
Writing in the Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Arefin recommended PVP-I nasal spray to healthcare workers and anyone else to help prevent COVID-19,2 Repeatedly several other studies also showed benefits from gargling, rinsing, and aerosolizing Lugol’s PVP-I and other compounds, including iodine, saline, and hydrogen peroxide.3
How can nasal sprays protect you from COVID-19?
Arefin nasal spray is made with 0.6% PVP-I solution, which is kept in a “simple nasal sprayer”. He notes that the spray formulation works better than the dropper form because it allows the active ingredient to diffuse further and go deeper into the nose and nasopharynx, which is the upper part of the throat behind the nose. When applied, the nasal spray acts as a protective layer, covering the lining of the nose and mouth.
Normally, if you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, it enters your body through your nose and mouth, where it stays for a while before binding to ACE2 receptors and entering cells. Once inside your cells, the virus has a chance to multiply.
“The first step in the development of URTI [upper respiratory tract infections]Arefin writes, “is the adhesion and localization of respiratory pathogens to the nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal mucosa. Assuming such pathogens enter through the nose and mouth, the intranasal and intranasal administration of Povidone Iodine would provide a practical means of preventing them.”4
By creating a protective shield, nasal spray helps prevent SARS-CoV-2 from binding to ACE2 receptors and entering your cells. In an unpublished clinical trial,5 Arefin and colleagues had positive results using 0.6% PVP-I Oro-nasal spray in 189 patients with COVID-19. The 0.6% solution has an effectiveness rate of about 81.5%, which is higher than that of other concentrations (0.4% and 0.5%) and is “virtually non-irritating to the mucosa”.6
Povidone-Iodine neutralizes SARS-CoV-2
Currently, PVP-I mouthwash, throat spray, and nasal spray are available over-the-counter in countries such as Japan and Canada.7 In Japan, 0.45% PVP-I throat spray is available to prevent colds and sore throats, while gargling with this compound is part of their national respiratory guidelines.8
A 2002 study, in which patients were asked to rinse their mouths more than four times a day with a solution of PVP-I, for several months to two years, found that the method significantly reduced rates of respiratory infections. chronic.9 In an earlier study that also supported the use of PVP-I nasal spray and mouthwash to protect healthcare workers and reduce cross-contamination during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was explained:ten
“The antibacterial activity of PVP-I occurs after the free iodine (I2) dissociates from the polymer complex. When in free form, iodine rapidly penetrates microorganisms and breaks down proteins and oxidizes nucleic acid structures. This interaction eventually leads to microbial death.”
PVP-I has been found to be effective in vitro against the coronaviruses that caused the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic of 2002 to 2003 and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) epidemic since 2012. until 2013.11
Povidone iodine solution has also been found to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 within 15 secondstwelfth and has the potential to reduce transmission of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in individuals with mild to moderate COVID-19.13 In another study of nasal irrigation in high-risk patients with COVID-19, the use of povidone iodine or baking soda nasal irrigation reduced the risk of hospitalization by eight times compared with the national rate. .14
In a letter to the editor of the Journal of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, the researchers further note:15
“Since the reservoir of SARS-CoV-2 is located in the nasopharynx, nasal cavity, and mouth, the application of bactericidal agents to these surfaces may reduce the viral burden.
Numerous studies have confirmed that povidone-iodine inactivates many common respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-1. Povidone-iodine also has good mucosal tolerability. Therefore, we propose a prophylactic regimen for the topical application of povidone-iodine to the upper gastrointestinal tract. ”
Benefits and how to use PVP-I Oro-Nasal Spray
Using 0.6% PVP-I Oro-nasal spray is low-cost, safe and effective against coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2. It can be used both in healthy individuals as a protective agent and in those with COVID-19 to reduce viral load and the potential for transmission of the virus to close contacts.
Side effects are minimal and include mucosal irritation, tooth staining, and thyroid dysfunction. At least one study, using both PVP-I mouthwash and mouthwash four times a day for five days, found an increase in thyroid-stimulating hormone during treatment, but levels returned to normal. usually after stopping treatment.16
Arefin recommends spraying both healthcare workers and the general public, before attending public gatherings or working outside the home, and after coming into contact with a patient with suspected COVID-19. He recommends two to three puffs in each nostril and one to three puffs in the throat every three to four hours. After every one to two weeks of use, he recommends taking a day off from treatment.17
However, there are ways to use nasal rinses, gargles, and nebulizers against COVID-19. For example, Dr Peter McCullough, an internist, cardiologist and epidemiologist, tweeted: “Nosewash/oral bactericide can be prophylactically performed twice a day and up to 4 hours once during early treatment. Reduce the viral load so that the disease is less severe”.18
The COVID-19 Front Line Critical Care Working Group (FLCCC) also recommends povidone-iodine as part of their I-Mask+ regimen for the prevention and early treatment of COVID-19 in outpatients. Part of their preventive regimen includes twice-daily gargling with a 1% povidone/iodine solution, while iodinated nasal drops or drops are recommended as one of the first agents in the regimen. their early treatment. Specifically, they recommend:19
“Use the commercial product povidone-iodine 1% as directed 2-3 times per day. If a 1% product is not available, the more widely available 10% solution must be diluted first and 4–5 drops in each nostril every 4 hours. (Not more than 5 days pregnant.)”
Importantly, povidone-iodine solutions sold as a topical skin antiseptic to treat cuts and wounds should not be used as a mouthwash due to potentially harmful ingredients.
Hydrogen Peroxide Mist for COVID-19
As I discussed in the interview with Dr. David Brownstein above, he has successfully treated hundreds of COVID-19 patients using immune-enhancing strategies such as intravenous or aerosol hydrogen peroxide. , iodine, oral vitamins A, C and D, and intramuscular ozone. In a case report of 107 confirmed COVID-19 patients he treated, 91 (85%) used aerosol peroxide diluted with regular saline, plus Lugol’s iodine. As explained in Brownstein’s article:20
“A 250 cc solution of regular saline was mixed with 3 cc 3% hydrogen peroxide to give a final concentration of 0.04% hydrogen peroxide… In addition, 1 cc magnesium chloride (200 mg/ml) was added. into 250 cc salt/bag of hydrogen peroxide. (This was mixed in the patient’s office.)
Patients were instructed on how to nebulize 3 cc of the mixture three times daily or more frequently if respiratory problems were present. Usually, one or two nebulizer treatments have been reported to improve breathing problems… They report no side effects. We have been using nebulized saline/hydrogen peroxide at this concentration for over two decades in his practice.
Hydrogen peroxide is continuously produced in the human body with significant amounts being produced in the mitochondria. Every cell in the body is exposed to some level of hydrogen peroxide. The lungs are known to produce hydrogen peroxide. Aerosolized hydrogen peroxide has been shown to have antiviral activities. Hydrogen peroxide can activate lymphocytes that have been depleted in COVID-19.”
I have been accepting aerosol peroxide since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and have received numerous anecdotal reports from people who have successfully used it, even at more advanced stages. Based on Brownstein’s experience, I also recommend adding iodine when nebulizing, as it seems to make it even more effective.
Proper dilution is key to safety
Most people can safely use povidone-iodine-containing mouthwashes and nasal sprays, provided these are properly diluted.
For example, while aerosol sprays with 0.1% to 3% hydrogen peroxide appear to be quite safe, there is a very serious risk to using peroxide in larger concentrations. Food grade peroxide can be obtained in concentrations up to 35% but should NEVER be used topically or internally. It MUST be diluted or serious injury can occur. Your safest bet is to use 3% food grade peroxide and dilute it as indicated in the chart provided below so you get a 0.1% solution.
It is interesting to note that even the usual saline mist can be an effective treatment for acute viral bronchiolitis, a viral infection of the small airways. of your lungs.21 So while saline is considered “inert” in solution – and is often used as a placebo in trials evaluating aerosol-forming drugs – it may have its own benefits.
I recommend using aerosolized peroxide for any suspected respiratory infection and starting as soon as possible. There’s nothing dangerous about taking it daily if you’re regularly exposed, and there may even be additional beneficial effects, such as a rapid rise in your blood oxygen level.
It is important to understand that this is a protocol that you need to implement BEFORE you attempt to handle COVID. Since early treatment is so important, ideally on Day 1, you want to have your nebulizer and materials ready in your home. I would avoid using a battery-powered handheld nebulizer and opt for one you plug into the wall.
You can find them on eBay or Amazon but make sure they have a mask and not just a mouthpiece because you want to get the mist into your nose in addition to your lungs because a lot of the virus resides there and if you just use mouthpiece. you will not have access to these virus particles. Here’s an example of one that plugs into the wall and has a mask.
