The Study
A pilot, open labelled, randomised controlled trial of hypertonic saline nasal irrigation and gargling for the common cold
This study is like a small test run where people with colds were randomly chosen to try saltwater rinses or regular care. It suggests saltwater might help colds go away faster, but because it was a small test and people knew what treatment they got, we need bigger tests to be sure.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Rinsing with salt water might help colds go away faster and spread less.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 556 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes, it could mean less time feeling sick and fewer doctor visits.
- 2Colds lasted 1.9 days less, medicine use dropped 36%, and fewer family members got sick.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Scientific Reports
Year
2019
Authors
S. Ramalingam, C. Graham, J. Dove, L. Morrice, Aziz Sheikh
Related Content
Claims (9)
Rinsing your nose with salt water gives your nose cells what they need to make a natural germ-fighting chemical, which helps your body fight off viruses better.
Rinsing your nose with salt water gives your nose cells a special ingredient that helps them make a natural germ-fighting acid to fight off viruses.
Salty water might help your body's cells fight off viruses better by boosting natural defenses, which could explain why saline treatments work in some medical trials, but more research is needed to be sure.
Using saltwater nose rinses and gargling might help you get over a cold faster by about 2 days if you start doing it right when symptoms begin.
Using saltwater nose rinses and gargling might help people with viruses shed less of the virus, making them less contagious and possibly feeling better faster, but this is based on a small study and needs more research.
Using saltwater nose rinses and gargling might cut down how often colds spread in families by about a third, which could help keep more people from getting sick.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.