Posted on 04/10/2024 9:41:14 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Research suggests that a cup of tea can help in the fight against COVID-19.
Findings demonstrate how certain teas inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in saliva—in some cases by up to 99.9%. This is important because the virus infects and replicates inside the oral cavity, passing through the oropharynx before reaching the lungs.
"Inactivating SARS-CoV-2 in the mouth and the throat matters because that potentially reduces the introduction of the virus to the lower respiratory system," Esseili said.
Esseili and Julianna Morris studied 24 different types of commercially available teas, some of which claim to aid in respiratory health. Of those, they found five that significantly reduced the virus in saliva: raspberry zinger, eucalyptus mint, mint medley, green tea and black tea, with black tea showing the greatest reduction. All testing was done in the laboratory in simulated conditions.
The team tested the efficacy of tea both as a drink and as a gargle to provide an option for those do not want to drink tea but want a highly concentrated rinse that would provide the same benefits.
Researchers prepared a drinkable infusion concentration using one tea bag per cup steeped for 10 minutes, with no additions such as milk or sugar. All five teas reduced the virus by at least 96% within 10 seconds in the mouth. Black tea was the most effective, reducing the virus by 99.9%. When tested as a gargle, they brewed the tea at four times the concentration of the drinkable infusion, finding that all five varieties of tea reduced the virus by 99.9% within 10 seconds when gargled.
"At this stage, we are not suggesting tea as a stand-alone intervention against SARS-CoV-2, because the virus also replicates in the nose and may have already reached the lung by the time a person tests positive," Esseili said.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
No, it didn’t.
It’s just to get rid of what is in your mouth, each time, but it might help your body in other areas, but not likely your nasal passages.
Thanks for the ping,.
I drink tea by the pot full. Best way to start the morning.
It has been shown in other studies that black tea does have antioxidant properties which helps with keeping the immune system healthy and reduces inflammation.
They also come in handy to stop bleeding after you have a tooth pulled. Helps prevent dry socket too.
I hate to confess this, but I have allowed Darjeeling to steep for longer than 3 minutes. And I did not die.
You bought it up so I must post a link to
The Reluctant Cannibal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjAHw2DEBgw
Done !
LOL. I usually do, too...
I wonder how tea would work as part of a nasal wash recipe.
I’ll vote for that.
I wondered the exact same thing! Especially since I read about a woman who died using a neti pot because germs from the water got into her brain— so boiling the water used for this should be done, right? Adding tea would be easy.
I can’t do it but I know someone who is a big proponent of using a neti pot.
Sponsored by the Celestial Seasonings Foundation?
Special grant from the Tetley Fund to put black tea back on top?
Yeah, boiling for sure, or at least pastuerizing, after the tea has steeped in case of contamination from the tea itself, but then does that “turn off” whatever benefit the black tea supposedly has?
Drink it myself but not everyday. Be well!!
Sir, I kept this as one of our COVID options, after you posted it.
Other studies continue to talk to this:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10701621/
I’d missed that study. Interesting.
THANKS!
You too. I think studies are what’s bad for our health.
I am sorry, I wasn’t clear.
Apparently tap water has germs in it, so should be boiled (and cooled!) before using in a neti pot.
Since one already has to boil the water, one can make the neti pot water into tea at the same time as boiling the water.
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