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| Siblings Drs. Doloreich Dumaluan (left) and Theodore Dumaluan on fighting against COVID-19. Photo: Allen Doydora/DYRD |
The
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has ignited interest in
viral transmission and prevention owing to the extent of it and
significan morbidity and mortality associated with the severe acute
respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Nature
Medicine said the cells in the eye and some other organs also contain
the viral-entry proteins. The study also predicts how a key entry
protein is regulated with other immune system genes and reveals
potential targets for the development of treatments to reduce
transmission.
The COVID-19 affects the lungs
and airways. In the worst cases, the virus causes pneumonia that can
ultimately lead to death. The virus is thought to be spread through
respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes,
and appears to be easily transmitted within affected areas.
Just like our teeth, our nasal needs cleaning.
Last
Saturday's "The Doctor is In" (with Dr. Doloreich Dumaluan as the main
resource person), the topic was about nasal washing.
Sinus
rinsing, using a saline solution of salt and water, can be beneficial
for those with allergies and sinus and nasal diseases.
It
moisturizes the nose while flushing out allergens and mucus, says
Theodore "Doyet" Dumaluan, M.D., an eye, ear, nose and throat (EENT)
surgeon.
He said all infections of the body result from failure of innate immune system.
The primary defense against respiratory infection is in the nose in the way of mucus clearance.
Dumaluan
recommends spray washing (not nasal irrigation) "because it is very
convenient and gentle, easy to apply on daily basis, adaptable to all
ages and generally safe."
But with the rise of the novel coronavirus, nasal washing is recommended.
Here'
an article from Theodore Dumaluan, EENT about Novel Nasal Wash for
Airborne Particles: a home remedy solution I lifted from his Facebook
page" Nasal Care":
Nasal washing, in its
practical sense, would mean sanitation. That is, lessening the number of
contaminants lodged in the nasal cavity. Since it started as an ancient
Hindu practice in preparation for meditation, a significant amount of
liquid was used to pass into the nasal cavity to cleanse it. Neti pot, a
tea pot shaped vessel, was popularized in the early 70’s. It delivers
saline solution into the nasal cavity by gravity; that is, positioning
the tilted head below the pot while pressing the spout into the
nostril.
Since then, with the basic principles
in place, nasal washing evolved with the use of squirt bottles and mist
sprays (and even automated irrigation-aspiration device).
A
study was done to prove the efficacy of saline nasal lavage for long
term use (1 year) with unfavorable outcome, showing lower incidence of
infection AFTER discontinuing.
The
recommendation then was not to use saline nasal irrigation on a regular
basis, only when there is infection. One possible reason for the risk of
infection is the retention of fluids in the sinuses, when not properly
drained, which favors pathogenic eruption as normal saline has no
antiseptic potential.
Saline nasal (lavage)wash
is basically good, but not for long term. We unknowingly inhale
airborne particles (dust, pollen, virus, bacteria etc.) from the
environment most of the time, on a daily basis, that would trigger
allergic reactions to acute and chronic infection. These micro-particles
are initially trapped in the mucus layer covering the nasal epithelium.
Our innate immune system has limited capacity, depending on the load
and virulence of the pathogen, among others.
How do we balance the issues of long-term wash, daily airborne-particle load, and pathogenic virulence which maybe carried?
In
washing, what you cannot do with small volume, you can compensate with
technique. Mist sprays cannot mechanically displace contaminated mucus
but can deliver enough liquid coating to lessen viscosity and make it
more displaceable. If we coat it with layers of saline, good mucus
clearance is attained easing down particle load, without possibility of
fluid retention in the sinuses that predisposes to infection.
Apparently, saline is not enough. How do we address pathogenicity?
Povidone-Iodine
(PVI) is a very potent antiseptic, which is widely available and has
been around for ages. It is the only antiseptic which increases biocidal
potency, at contact time of 15 seconds, when diluted. Free Iodine, the
active component, is released when 10% PVI is diluted, with the highest
free Iodine at 0.1% dilution (4.88 ppm) where it is tasteless, odorless
and colorless.
At the same dilution, studies
have shown that it is non-toxic to the ciliary lining of the nasal
mucosal epithelium. The free Iodine is involved in blocking viral
attachment to cellular receptors and inhibits viral release and spread
from infected cells. PVI is useful to prevent infection and limit spread
of human and avian influenza viruses.
Virgin
coconut oil (VCO) is generally recommended and safe (GRAS) oil for oral
intake and local application. It has antiulcerogenic activity, thus a
good mucosal conditioner, minimizing the mild irritating effect of
hyperyonic saline. Its monolaurin compounds reduce viral infectivity of
enveloped RNA and DNA viruses. Though local application may trigger
irritation and mild allergic reaction, it is not common.
Delivering
the saline wash thru pump mist spray minimizes fluid retention; VCO
promotes nasal mucosal epithelium function, and together with the free
iodine from PVI, biocidal activity is potentiated without ciliotoxicity.
This Saline-Iodine-VCO (SIV) emulsion wash is a novel home remedy
solution made with boiled/sterile water.
Thus, SIV
emulsion is a safe nasal wash solution for daily hygiene, with minimal
tolerable irritation, delivered with pump nasal spray bottle and can be
applied 2-3x a day.
Homemade saline solution requires the following:
1. 4 cups of distilled or boiled (for at least 20minutes) water. Cooled later.
2. 1 tsp iodized salt
3. An airtight storage container with a lid, such as 350ml bottle
To make saline solution (stock):
A. Wash hands thoroughly
B. Sterilize container and mixing utensil using dishwasher or boiling them in water
C. Pour 300-350 of the cooled sterile water into 350 ml sterilized bottle
D. Add and mix 1 tsp of iodized salt into the bottle.
To make SIV emulsion wash with 30 ml saline in spray bottle:
A. Add 3-5 drops of 10% PVI (Betadine) then
B. Add 2 ml VCO
To
apply, shake the spray bottle thoroughly to emulsify the oil before
using. Position spray tip 2-3mm in the nasal opening. Apply 3 rounds of
5 puffs per nostril, sniffing in every puff and blow out gently after
every round. Wash nose 3x a day. Refill with stock saline when consumed
then add PVI and VCO.
(See technique at "Nasal Care" Facebook page)
https://www.facebook.com/107202160845042/videos/507688963266732/
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Thanks
for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at
leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.
