Early nasal rinsing and gargling with saltwater may shorten the common cold. Digest
The common cold remains difficult to treat because many viruses can produce similar symptoms, and no broadly effective antiviral medication exists. Researchers in Edinburgh tested whether starting saltwater nasal rinsing plus gargling within 48 hours after symptom onset could change the illness course.
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Sixty-six adults were randomly assigned to either continue their usual self-care or to use hypertonic saline, a saltwater solution (sodium chloride in water) that is more concentrated than normal body fluids, for nasal rinsing and gargling. Participants were instructed to choose the highest saline concentration they found comfortable and to use the rinse and gargle as many times as needed. All participants were asked to track their symptoms using a standardized questionnaire and to collect nasal swabs so researchers could measure viral shedding, which refers to the amount of virus detected in the nose, over time.
- Most participants (87%) found the procedure tolerable, and nearly all (93%) reported that it improved their symptoms.
- Most participants used a 3% saltwater solution, typically three times daily, with more frequent use early in the illness.
- Average illness duration was lower in the saltwater group (6.8 vs. 8.7 days).
- Participants assigned to the saltwater regimen reported less use of over-the-counter cold medicines (50% vs. 86%).
- Among participants who did not live alone, fewer in the intervention arm reported that a household contact developed symptoms after them (31% vs. 66%).
- A difference in viral shedding was observed after excluding participants infected with paramyxoviruses, respiratory viruses that were unevenly distributed between the study groups and are known to have longer life cycles and prolonged viral shedding compared with several other common cold viruses. After this exclusion, 73% of the intervention group showed rapid declines in viral levels versus 43% of controls.
Laboratory evidence suggests that chloride ions can enhance natural antiviral defenses inside epithelial cells, which are the type of cells that line the airways. These cells can use chloride to produce hypochlorous acid (a reactive substance also found in bleach), which can contribute to the limitation of viral replication. Rinsing may also help by washing away virus particles.
Because this was a small, open-label pilot trial without a placebo group, designed primarily to determine whether participants could be successfully recruited rather than to definitively test treatment effects, the results should be interpreted cautiously. If confirmed in larger high-quality studies, early saltwater nasal rinsing and gargling could offer a simple, inexpensive, and safe way to shorten cold duration and potentially reduce spread within households. In Q&A #74, I discuss evidence-based strategies to counteract the age-related decline in immune function.