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If you’ve been gargling with salt water to prevent covid-19, read this NOW

Social media is buzzing with myths when it comes to covid-19 and its prevention. And today we are unveiling the truth about gargling with saline water.
salt water gargle
Salt water gargles can help soothe your sore throat, but it’s not your best bet against covid-19. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Nikita Bhardwaj Updated: 22 Jun 2020, 11:47 am IST
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If you are active on social media then you must be following the updates on covid-19 too. Last week a doctor’s video, as he was spreading awareness about covid-19 prevention from the sunroof of his Audi, went viral. This doctor was emphasizing on the fact that gargling with salt water daily can prevent reduce your risk of covid-19. According to him, this is the Ayurvedic way to deal with SARS-CoV-2. But does it really work?

Not according to the Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health at least
Researchers at Harvard have totally dismissed gargling with saline water as a measure to prevent covid-19. According to them, this technique won’t be able to stop the covid-19 virus from reaching your lungs. They were also quick to add that sipping lukewarm water at regular intervals won’t help either. 

The WHO is of the same opinion too
In fact, the WHO has already said this quite a few times. According to them, gargling with salt water isn’t a foolproof technique of prevention. That said, they haven’t denied the fact that salt water gargles can help soothe sore throat. The WHO also mentions that there is no evidence to suggest that gargling with saline water can prevent covid-19.

coronavirus
All big research and health agencies like the WHO is denying the efficacy of salt water gargle for coronavirus prevention. Image courtesy: Shutterstock.

Rather, the WHO suggests washing your hands regularly and maintaining social distancing.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also seems to be in agreement with the WHO and Harvard. 

So why is gargling with salt water being suggested so vehemently in India?
When three renowned health bodies have totally negated the credibility of the salt water gargle technique, then why is that Indians are putting their faith in it?
We got in touch with a Dr Kunal Shah (M.D.), a homeopathy expert who runs his own clinic in Mumbai, to get to the bottom of it.

“Gargling with salt water is a naturopathic form of treatment. And there is no denying that it is NOT an effective technique when it comes to covid-19. The only benefit it has to offer is that it will keep your throat healthy,” he says.

He added:

There are a lot of doctors that are proliferating the usage of doing salt water gargles to prevent coronavirus but it is more of a physiological relief.

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The final verdict
Clearly gargling with salt water is not the suraksha kawaj it is made out to be. Yes, it’s good for the throat-but if you want to stay safe from covid-19, then it’s masks and social distancing all the way baby. 

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About the Author

Six-pack abs are all that Nikita needs, along with her daily dose of green tea. At Health Shots, she produces videos, podcasts, stories, and other kick-ass content. ...Read More

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