Coconut oil is known to have anti-microbial properties. Would it's smearing of insides of nostrils and hands and other exposed body parts help in reducing the spread of COVID-19 virus...
https://vivapinas.com/2020/04/22/watch-dost-to-study-benefits-of-virgin-coconut-oil-on-covid-19-patients/
Please follow this link you may get your answer, although it is only a theoretical knowledge but it may provide you a basic concept.
Interesting topic!
Coconut-oil mitigates several bacterial, fungal & viral infections. The articles below show a review on which infections coconut-oil has an effect, and a possible effect on enveloped RNA/DNA viruses.
Article A Review of Monolaurin and Lauric Acid: Natural Virucidal an...
Article In vitro effects of monolaurin compounds on enveloped RNA an...
Thank you very much for sharing the important literature on anit-viral properties of coconut oil.
Hope it helps in furthering the use of coconut oil as a prophylactic measure to counter the transmission of covid-19 and other respiratory viruses...
Are you working on covid management?
I would think it would have very little effect at all, even if it was viable as an antimicrobial it would loose potency quickly on the hands I imagine and may even make the nostrils more slick allowing for access. On top of this it likely wont have an effect on inhalation. or other routes of transmission. Hand hygiene and social distancing remains the best preventative measures.
Also papers on efficacy in cell cultures do not translate to clinical efficacy and shouldn't be taken as an ok move this into a preventative measure. I would also think that the article from the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine which touts acupuncture should be a dubious source at best as well as old research from 1981 (when you chase the DOI (link below), not 2007). These are not good references in any stretch of the imagination and dont back up the premise.
Article In vitro effects of monolaurin compounds on enveloped RNA an...
Thank you Stephen Reynolds for your analytical comments. Such thoughts did not occur to me.
Stephen,
Just wondering if there will be any possibility of an electro static interaction between the oil and virus....
Murali Gopal I wouldn't imagine there would be any relevant interaction as the evidence shown wouldn't support it. Though N95 masks utilise electrostatic filters they also have micro level meshes. Even if the coconut oil was electrostatic enough the biological openings like the nostrils etc are too wide and I do not think coconut oil has any electrostatic interaction sufficient to warrant its use in masks like N30's. Again, social distancing and hand washing are the best preventative measures
Thank you Stephen. Thought use of coconut oil could be a cheap local remedy along with distancing and washing hands for many farm and other workers. Was not at all thinking of integrating with N-90/30 masks. The oil smearing could probably coat the goblet and ciliated cells within nostrils which appears to be the main site for virus binding......all conjecture at present until proved.
Murali Gopal, I would still not recommend this as it is unknown if it will work and can increase the risk of a false sense of security and lead to more risky day to day behaviour as has been linked with mask and glove wear in people who are not trained and understand the limitations.
This false security can be quite dangerous even with approaches that can aid in reducing spread, in something unproven it is more risky.
Fully agree to your caution, Stephen Reynolds. It is still an unknown and only after any scientific evidence it can be recommended...if found effective. Thank you!
Interesting topic!
Coconut oil softens some bacterial, fungal and viral infections. In addition, I found that clove oil also contributes to the death of viruses within 1 hour. In general, natural antiseptics are much more effective than chemicals. Regards, Pushkin Sergey Viktorovich
Yes, people use clove oil to treat teeth and gum problems...thanks Pushkin Sergey Viktorovich....
Do you research in these lines?
https://vivapinas.com/2020/04/22/watch-dost-to-study-benefits-of-virgin-coconut-oil-on-covid-19-patients/
Please follow this link you may get your answer, although it is only a theoretical knowledge but it may provide you a basic concept.
Thank you Umber Nawaz......you are right. Evidence is required....and research is going on.
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