Dr Peter McCullough: Twice Daily Nasal Sprays and Gargles First Line of Defense in Cold and Flu Season (2025)
Please enjoy this brief update from the Steve Gruber Show (below) on Real
America’s Voice. You may think the claim that twice daily nasal sprays and
gargles are better than vaccines is overstated however consider these
observations:
I told Steve Gruber that I have interviewed multiple individuals and have panned my patients. Twice daily nasal sprays and gargles seems to be the trick to going a full year with free of colds and flu.
- On demand sporadic Vicks First Defence and Saline nasal sprays reduced the rate of viral upper respiratory tract infection by ~20% as shown in the Immune Defence Study (below).
- Balmforth et al, demonstrated a 71% risk reduction in COVID-19 illness with a xylitol nasal spray done on a regular basis through the pandemic
- Influenza vaccine efficacy is running 24-40% in four CDC networks for 2023-2024
- COVID-19 vaccine efficacy is negative in four studies, meaning continued vaccination is associated with greater risk of recurrent acute illness.
I told Steve Gruber that I have interviewed multiple individuals and have panned my patients. Twice daily nasal sprays and gargles seems to be the trick to going a full year with free of colds and flu.
The Immune Defence Study
Large-Scale Randomized Trial Provides Proof of Principle--Nasal Sprays Work on Demand but Must be Used Daily to Prevent Viral Upper Respiratory Infections Altogether
Nasal sprays and gargles are the most widely available and safest products we
have to help prevent viral upper respiratory tract infections. Viral particles
stick in the anterior nose on the hair cells for about five days until they
replicate to the point of invading the mucosal cells causing the
characteristic symptoms of a cold. Because the lymphatics drain to the back of
the throat, oftentimes a sore throat is the first sign of a viral infection in
the nasal cavity. Many have said there are no large scale randomized trials of
nasal sprays to prove the concept of prevention after sick exposure or in
early treatment of a cold. Until now.
Little and colleagues
published the Immune Defence Study in Lancet Respiratory Diseases in 2024.
This randomised, controlled, open-label, parallel-group trial was done at 332
general practitioner practices in the UK. Eligible adults (aged ≥18 years) had
at least one comorbidity; obesity [BMI ≥30 kg/m2]; or age ≥65 years) or at
least three self-reported respiratory tract infections in a normal year (ie,
any year before the COVID-19 pandemic). Participants were randomly assigned
(1:1:1:1) to: usual care (brief advice about managing illness); Vicks First
Defence gel-based spray or a saline nasal spray (two sprays per nostril at the
first sign of an infection or after potential exposure to infection, up to 6
times per day); or a brief behavioural intervention in which participants were
given access to a website promoting physical activity and stress management.
Between Dec 12, 2020, and April 7, 2023, of 19 475 individuals screened for
eligibility, 13 799 participants were randomly assigned.
Compared with
participants in the usual care group, who had a mean of 8·2 (SD 16·1) days of
illness, the number of days of illness was significantly lower in the
gel-based spray group (mean 6·5 days [SD 12·8]; adjusted incidence rate ratio
[IRR] 0·82 [99% CI 0·76-0·90]; p<0·0001) and the saline spray group (6·4
days [12·4]; 0·81 [0·74-0·88]; p<0·0001), but not in the group allocated to
the behavioural website (7·4 days [14·7]; 0·97 [0·89-1·06]; p=0·46). Compared
with usual care, antibiotic use was lower for all interventions: IRR 0·65 (95%
CI 0·50-0·84; p=0·001) for the gel-based spray group; 0·69 (0·45-0·88;
p=0·003) for the saline spray group; and 0·74 (0·57-0·94; p=0·02) for the
behavioural website group.
This trial found on demand use of pharmacologically inactive nasal sprays (Vicks, saline) had an impact which is very difficult to show in a randomized trial using survey data outcomes. I have found clinically it is hard to determine sick exposures and even the onset of “coming down with a cold.” Thus the rationale for routine twice daily instead of on-demand nasal sprays is very strong. Using xylitol or povidone iodine based sprays and adding a throat spray and/or gargle is a big upgrade from Vicks polymer or saline. I have interviewed multiple individuals who have had zero colds in 2024—the common factor is the daily use of nasal sprays and gargles. I have learned the brand you choose is less important than committing to twice daily use—like flossing and brushing your teeth. Here are the two pairs I most commonly recommend.
This trial found on demand use of pharmacologically inactive nasal sprays (Vicks, saline) had an impact which is very difficult to show in a randomized trial using survey data outcomes. I have found clinically it is hard to determine sick exposures and even the onset of “coming down with a cold.” Thus the rationale for routine twice daily instead of on-demand nasal sprays is very strong. Using xylitol or povidone iodine based sprays and adding a throat spray and/or gargle is a big upgrade from Vicks polymer or saline. I have interviewed multiple individuals who have had zero colds in 2024—the common factor is the daily use of nasal sprays and gargles. I have learned the brand you choose is less important than committing to twice daily use—like flossing and brushing your teeth. Here are the two pairs I most commonly recommend.
Sources:
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