Since the World Health Organization labeled COVID-19 a global pandemic, a flurry of dubious “cures” and “preventative measures” have flooded the internet. One of the first I recall was a morning self-test for COVID, where you were instructed to hold your breath for ten seconds. If you managed it, you were supposedly in the clear. I’ll admit, there were days I tried it, feeling a sense of relief when I could breathe easily again. Yet, my rational mind knew not to trust medical advice from a distant relative’s forwarded email. Still, in times of fear and uncertainty, desperation can lead to questionable choices.
We now understand that the ability to hold your breath has no correlation with COVID-19 infection; the virus doesn’t always cause breathing difficulties. Moreover, if you’re feeling unwell and delaying a COVID test based on your breath-holding abilities, you may be waiting too long.
Since those early days, a plethora of dubious remedies have emerged: saltwater gargles, unverified anti-malaria medications, and even bleach injections. (Seriously, don’t do any of these.)
Recently, two ideas have gained traction online involving baby shampoo as a nasal rinse and mouthwash as an oral rinse to supposedly deactivate the coronavirus by disrupting its membrane. These notions stemmed from a study published in the Journal of Medical Virology, which assessed various nasal rinses and mouthwashes on cells infected with a common coronavirus. They found that a 1% baby shampoo nasal rinse could inactivate the virus after two minutes, and antiseptic mouthwash could do so in 30 seconds.
However, please refrain from pouring baby shampoo up your nose or thinking you’re immune to COVID-19 because you’ve used mouthwash. These claims are not supported by robust or credible research. While the study’s findings appear promising, they come with significant limitations, explicitly acknowledged by the authors who state, “Several possible limitations of this work must be acknowledged.”
For starters, the study was conducted on a common coronavirus, not the unique and unpredictable COVID-19. Also, the experiments were performed in a petri dish, which doesn’t accurately replicate the complexity of human anatomy. Our nasal passages and mouths contain various organisms and structures that differ greatly from a sterile laboratory environment. Lastly, the authors caution that the act of rinsing might either help reduce viral load or diminish the shampoo or mouthwash’s effectiveness by reducing contact time with the virus.
The bottom line? Experts and laypeople alike are still trying to interpret this study. Dr. Alex Reynolds from the Metro Health Network expressed in an interview that while there might be a minuscule theoretical benefit, “In terms of the disease itself and stopping the transmission, it’s interesting information, but it’s not useful at this point.” This preliminary study may lead to future breakthroughs, but we cannot rely on it yet.
In the meantime, baby shampoo and mouthwash should be used strictly as intended. The makers of popular mouthwash brands emphasize that their products have not been tested against any strains of coronavirus and should not be considered a substitute for hand sanitizers or disinfectants.
It’s crucial to recognize that this study is in its infancy and fraught with limitations. Nasal rinses and mouthwashes cannot replace proven health measures like social distancing and wearing masks. The real risk of these unproven “cures” is that they can create a false sense of security, potentially leading to riskier behavior.
We all want to protect ourselves and our loved ones from this virus. We crave a semblance of control over our lives and long for a miraculous solution that can eradicate COVID-19. But none of these supposed cures or preventative measures are effective. They are, at best, based on preliminary research that hasn’t transitioned from a petri dish to practical application, and at worst, they stem from misinformation spread by those misled or seeking profit.
To truly safeguard yourself against COVID-19, listen to reputable sources (not forwarded emails from distant relatives) and adhere to public health guidelines: wear masks, maintain social distance, and avoid crowded spaces.
For the latest updates on COVID-19, refer to local public health departments, the Centers for Disease Control, and the World Health Organization.
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Summary:
The article warns against using baby shampoo as a nasal rinse or mouthwash to combat COVID-19, emphasizing that these remedies lack credible research and could create a false sense of security. It urges adherence to proven health measures and reliance on reputable sources for the latest information on the virus.