Growing up, whenever I complained of a sore throat, my mother set me up with a “folk remedy” that almost always did the trick:
At the first sign of a throat tickle I was instructed to gargle with a tall glass of warm salt water spiked with 30 drops of iodine, 3-4 times a day. Usually, the sore throat resolved within a couple of days.
I’ve successfully used this remedy in adulthood for myself and my family, but had forgotten it until reading some recent studies confirming throat gargling[i] or nasal rinsing[ii] with a very dilute solution of povidone-iodine kills nearly 100% of the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19.
Coronaviruses replicate most proficiently in the throat and nasal cavities. Povidone-iodine is a potent antimicrobial which effectively inactivates a wide variety of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
Since the droplets that come from the throat and nasal passages are the primary means of spread of coronaviruses, these reports are very promising. Povidone-iodine works by directly killing the virus particles, and by removing the protease, the enzyme that breaks down the proteins the virus needs to replicate.
Studies show that gargling for 15-30 seconds (or rinsing the nasal passages) with a solution containing 0.5% to 1% povidone-iodine (PVP-I) can keep the virus in check, as well as act prophylactically for up to three hours after use, preventing the virus from taking hold.[iii]
Much of this research is focused on high-risk medical settings, however, given the safety profile, efficacy, and affordability of PVP-I against coronaviruses, it seems prudent to add this protocol to our wellness arsenals, particularly in light of a raging viral pandemic.
A PVP-I solution of 0.5% to 1% has been found to be not only highly effective against coronaviruses, but very safe, with the following exceptions:
“A history of allergy to PVP-I or its relevant excipients (alkyl phenol ether sulphate (ammonium salt), disodium hydrogen phosphate dodecahydrate), all forms of thyroid disease or current radioactive iodine treatment, lithium therapy, known pregnancy, renal failure and dermatitis herpetiformis. The protocol should not be used in a sustained manner in children, but can be used as a single episode, e.g. for dental treatment.”[iv]
10% PVP-I preparations can be found in most pharmacies and drugstores. You might already have some in your medicine cabinet! While labels may warn “External Use Only,” researchers claim topical PVP-I is safe for use on mucous membrane.[v] In addition, while traces of the solution may be inadvertently ingested, we are not drinking this stuff: the point is to gargle and SPIT!
I’ve reviewed various povidone-iodine products and their inactive ingredients, including the most popular brand of commercially prepared PVP-I mouthwash. In all of the brand-name PVP-I products I reviewed, including the mouthwash, the inactive ingredients are ones which I don’t want to put on my body, let alone in my body!
But these generic, store-brand products have the safest ingredients of all the products I reviewed. Each of the inactive ingredients have a “1” (best) rating by Environmental Working Group. In fact, all the above generics share the exact same ingredients.
I’ve found the easiest way to measure this is to pour some PVP-I from the original bottle into a small glass bottle with dropper.
Preparing the gargle solution:
Start with a 10% povidone-iodine solution; I use this.
For a 0.5% dilution, use 1:20 ratio, i.e.: 1-part PVP-I to 20 parts water
For a 1% dilution, use 1:10 ratio, i.e.: 1-part PVP-I to 10 parts water
Since I’m concerned about the home-diluted solution degrading over time, I prefer to mix this fresh each time I use it.
My Recipe:
For a 0.5% dilution, single serving, I use 2.5 teaspoons water and add 1/8 teaspoon of PVP-I.
For a 1% dilution, single serving, I use 2.5 teaspoons water and add 1/4 teaspoon of PVP-I.
Alternatively, this dilution can be added to a neti pot rinse.
I am in a low-risk category for COVID[vi], however, as rates of infection and hospitalization appear to skyrocket, I’ve chosen to use the 0.5% solution up to twice a day, once as a 15-second gargle, and once as a nasal rinse, as a precaution. Otherwise, I use it before and after I’ve run an errand, or if I feel a sore throat blooming.
I am not concerned about long-term exposure to PVP-I, as the scientific literature states:
“Povidone-iodine has been safely administered for up to 5 months in the nasal cavity and 6 months in the oral cavity. Concentrations less than 2.5% in vitro do not reduce ciliary beat frequency or cause pathological changes in ciliated nasal epithelium, upper respiratory, or mucosal cells. Adverse events with oral use have not been reported in conscious adults or children. Allergy and contact sensitivity is rare. Chronic mucosal use up to 5% has not been shown to result in clinical thyroid disease.”[vii]
If I were to discover I had been exposed to COVID-19, or if I noticed symptoms, I would begin implementing this protocol right away, using the 1% gargle three to four times a day, for 6 days, as that has been found to completely clear the virus when caught early.[viii]
You can see how I mix this magic potion here:
All studies concerning the effects of iodine against SARS-Cov-2 have been conducted with povidone-iodine, which, after decades of use, has been found to be a very safe and effective germicide. In PVP-I, iodine is bound to povidone, creating a product that offers greater efficacy with less iodine. Personally, for the purpose of using an iodine-based gargle or sinus wash to keep COVID-19 at bay, I will stick with what has been used in all the trials, and found to be safe and effective, and that is PVP-I.[xi]
I’m so grateful to have another safe, affordable, effective option for keeping myself and my family healthy during a pandemic!
Wishing you well,
Susan
[i] Povidone‐iodine gargle as a prophylactic intervention to interrupt the transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7267645/?fbclid=IwAR2ZlndjvjipYyKcGDNpFilWJHLx63lt_S7A8RFTVohGKe8JUZrI2CwBVUo [ii] In Vitro Efficacy of a Povidone-Iodine Nasal Antiseptic for Rapid Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/2770785?fbclid=IwAR2ZlndjvjipYyKcGDNpFilWJHLx63lt_S7A8RFTVohGKe8JUZrI2CwBVUo [iii] Consideration of povidone-iodine as a public health intervention for COVID-19: Utilization as “Personal Protective Equipment” for frontline providers exposed in high-risk head and neck and skull base oncology care: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7161480/ [iv] The use of Povidone Iodine nasal spray and mouthwash during the current COVID-19 pandemic may reduce cross infection and protect healthcare workers https://www.colegiopontevedraourense.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/2-Povidona-yodadaSSRN-id3563092_compressed.pdf [v] Povidone-iodine solution as SARS-CoV-2 prophylaxis for procedures of the upper aerodigestive tract a theoretical framework https://journalotohns.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40463-020-00474-x [vi] I work from home, practice scrupulous hand hygiene, and follow a variety of lifestyle habits shown to support health such as: eating low-sugar, nutrient-rich foods; moving my body daily; and using mindfulness and meditation to manage stressful thoughts and events. On the rare occasion I am out in public I wear a mask and practice physical distancing. [vii] Povidone-Iodine Use in Sinonasal and Oral Cavities: A Review of Safety in the COVID-19 Era https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/research/coronavirus/publication/32520599?fbclid=IwAR33ylhOyKw4-lpyI7mOi7r4eFd8aWFPR4bCBgotHwpImHiHubbN3267Zms [viii] Early Viral Clearance Among COVID-19 Patients When Gargling With Povidone-Iodine and Essential Oils: A Pilot Clinical Trial https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.09.07.20180448v1 [ix] Nascent Iodine explanation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nascent_iodine_(dietary_supplement) [x] Lugol’s explanation https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-drug/def/lugols-solution [xi] Chris Masterjohn explains Lugol’s https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/covid-19/povidone-iodine-safety-efficacy-and-lugols
Disclaimer: I am not a physician. This information is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, nutritional, or other health advice. Any interventions you choose to use, you do so at your own risk.
©Coach Susan Murray, 2020
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