- EPOTHEX Saline Nasal Spray with Iota Carrageenan | Powerful Moisturizing Nasal Cleanser | Helps Prevent Dry Sinuses | Long Lasting | 30 ml

Interestingly, it worked better than I thought if would. Did NOT catch anything and was exposed to people with “crud” most of the cold months. I was ok until my wife brought Upper Respiratory Infection home from little people and breathed on me (all night). I should have known better but I slept right next to her…. Boom! It’s MY turn. But it wasn’t AS bad as hers was.

I'm the only one in my house who doesn't get sick all the time thanks to this spray. Despite trying to convince family members it works, they would rather be sick than feel a brief sting in their nose. Their loss, but the good thing is that I run an experiment with a control group all the time. I use it, I don't get sick. They don't use it, they get sick. Enough said. The key is to use it at least 3+ times per day for it to be effective. An occasional spray or two won't cut it, unless perfectly timed for a brief high risk scenario. There's some data behind this active ingredient, although I don't know if it's the iota carrageenan or the combo with alcohol together that together works. But I've bought this over 5 times and it's gotten me through two tough seasons so far. Whenever I do sometimes come down with something it's usually mild if I'm using this. The only downside--this will give me a headache if I use it too much as it irritates my sinuses after a while. So I just do one spray a day for maintenance and take some days off, only ramping up to 3X per day if I'm around sick people or someone in the house comes down with something. Overall, it's not like wearing a hazmat suit and you still have to wash hands, avoid touching your eyes, and other good practices to avoid germs. But it's a good tool in my toolbox to avoid colds.

Iota carrageenan is well rated for helping prevent germ transmission, and this spray is working for me as well as Betadine (rip) used to. I did not like povidone iodine, which is the other best rated spray for helping prevent illness. Of course as with any preventive measure, it’s hard to know how well it’s working. But I use this daily during flu season, and regularly at times when I am going to be taking more risks or otherwise facing exposure. Make sure you clean the nozzle after every use. If you keep hand sanitizer around that’s an easy way. I have been using spray sanitizer since 2020 and a couple spritzes of that and a quick wipe does the job.

Iota carageenan has studies behind it showing that it helps reduce airborne viral infections. I've used the Betadine cold defense nasal spray for years, but it's becoming hard to buy. That's why I bought this spray. But then I get it and see that it has benzyl alcohol in it as a preservative! Benzyl alcohol damages nasal tissue and increases your chance of getting an airborne viral infection! I realize they wanted a preservative, but maybe don't use one that definitely undermines the reason for the nose spray in the first place. Really, really unfortunate.

Smells strongly like burning plastic.

Works great, bought it after I used a similar product I found while traveling in the UK. It stings the first few times until you get used to it. Really helps open up the sinuses.

I cant tell you whether it works as I can only assume there is more science than I understand but I will say what my experience using it has been. This has a nice quality to it as a nasal spray-- it is mild, not irritating at all, and I use it daily. If it does prevent illness that is nice but it also moistens the sinuses in cold dry winters, which is definitely a plus. It was worth it just for that.

came real fast