Colds, influenza, and the benefits of iodine nasal spray

Inexpensive & easy-to-use!

Heading into fall and winter means that we’re heading into cold and flu season. And, of course, back-to-school also means that some bugs, both old and new, are in circulation for many of us.

One of my favorite ways to help patients prevent and manage their viral infections is with a 1% Iodine Nasal Spray. Iodine is well-known for its ability to kill viruses and bacteria. It can be used to purify water, is used to clean wounds, and is also used as a surgical scrub. Iodine kills viruses and bacteria by damaging certain proteins on the surface of those bugs. For the purposes of wound cleaning and surgery, an iodine concentration of 7.5-10% is used.

However, iodine has to be at a lower concentration when we are using it as a nasal spray. A 1% solution can protect against viruses and reduce viral load, while being comfortable to use. A stronger concentration than 1% will often burn and cause irritation of the tissues of the nasal cavity.

What research shows us about the use of Iodine Nasal Spray is promising. When viruses such as influenza and COVID enter the nasal and oral cavity, they stick there for a while and multiply. After multiplying, symptoms begin to manifest and the viral load can continue to rise.

Before the COVID outbreak was widely recognized in 2020, there was research performed that looked at influenza and the evidence points toward iodine being an effective virus killer when applied to the nasal cavity when it comes to influenza (particularly influenza A) and even avian influenza viruses (bird flu!!).

And, of course, we know that iodine is also regularly used to swab the nasal cavities of surgical candidates to prevent infection post-surgery.

During and after the COVID outbreak in 2019 and early 2020, more research emerged demonstrating the antiviral effect of iodine nasal spray specifically in regard to COVID. An article in the Indian Journal of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery (PMID below) points out these benefits of iodine nasal spray in regard to COVID-19 at a 0.6% strength:

• Effective virucidal agent against all coronaviruses, including SARS- COV-2.

• Effective in case of both pre and post exposure.

• Effective for healthy individual (for protection) as well as COVID-19 patient also ( for reduction of viral load and SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility for close contacts/ family members).

• Almost no side effect (mucosal irritation, thyroid dysfunction, teeth staining).

In the article, the author also points out that the nasal spray can easily be sprayed in the back of the throat, too, for an additional layer of protection. I have certainly used my 1% Iodine Nasal Spray as a throat spray and it’s very simple! It doesn’t even taste gross.

There have been more studies showing largely positive results with preventing infection and reducing COIVD viral load and I have clinically seen no evidence of negative effects with the use of an iodine nasal spray. 

Clinically, I have observed in patients and myself, the use of 1% iodine nasal spray to prevent upper respiratory viral infections in both a preventative capacity, as well as during illness. If the potential to harm is low and the potential benefit is high, I believe an intervention is worth trying to prevent illness.

I have been asked a few questions about using iodine nasal spray that I’d like to address briefly. 

One question is if a baby or toddler can use the spray. I wouldn’t recommend the spray for someone of that age. It would be extremely difficult to apply and someone that young is at very low risk for poor outcomes with COVID. Keeping the mucus membranes of a baby or toddler moist so that viruses can’t stick well, in addition to maintaining good general nutrient status is something I would choose for my own child rather than attempting a nasal spray.

Second, I am also often asked if the iodine nasal spray will impact thyroid function. For folks with normal thyroid function, it doesn’t look like the use of the spray impacts thyroid function. I would, however, use caution in my patients who have an overactive thyroid. An overactive thyroid is fairly rare and most people with thyroid issues have an issue with low thyroid function, rather than elevated thyroid function. I have seen some studies that demonstrate a small change in TSH (thyroid stimulating function) with prolonged use of iodine nasal spray. I don’t recommend prolonged use of the nasal spray, so I generally don’t have concerns with my patients who have issues with their thyroid but I will advise them of hyperthyroid symptoms (feeling racy, hot, rapid heart rate, etc.) as part of informed consent.

I hope this information about this easy-to-use and inexpensive application of iodine is useful to you. We truly are disempowered and in the dark about many interventions that will keep us out of the Sickcare System during cold and flu season. 

As a side note, I think it’s sad that it’s difficult for simple, low cost interventions such as iodine to gain much press. I saw this throughout the pandemic. Low-cost, simple interventions just don’t generate the income that a drug like a high-tech vaccine or a brand new drug like Paxlovid will generate. Labeling low-risk, yet effective, interventions as quackery or misinformation can cost people their health and, worst case scenario, their lives.

Disclaimers: Remember that this information is not medical advice! I’m A doctor, but I’m not YOUR doctor and I don’t know your medical history or any other details about your condition.

I own Sage Sirona, LLC, which sells a 1% Iodine Nasal Spray for purchase. Rest assured, I would not sell a product that I didn’t believe will benefit people’s health.

Here are just a few references that I used when writing this article:

PMID: 33846691

PMID: 34724213

PMID: 36225128

PMID: 36399104

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.863917/full

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1386653222001809

https://www.peertechzpublications.com/articles/ACMPH-6-193.php

https://virologyj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1743-422X-6-124

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0145561320932318