Background cause of flu and colds.
Flu and colds have are caused by several different viruses. They generally enter any mucus membrane, like the sinus or throat, and start there. The mucus membranes are the primary defense against these viruses. In the dry winter air, the mucus membranes dry out and allow more viruses in to make it more likely a person will be sick. Thus flu and cold season peaks in the mid-winter months in the norther hemisphere, from December to February each winter.
Make your own nasal saline mix.
This is my recipe. Mix 1/16 to 1/8 teaspoon of salt (1/2 gram) in 8 oz warm water. Mix and dissolve. Put in your nasal spray bottle of choice, in a Neti pot, or in a nasal syringe.
If it burns use less salt, or add water. It should not burn.
Use twice a day.
Get nasal spray bottles.
(These do not include a reference code and I do not make money from these links.)
“Spritzer” types. It puts a fine mist of liquid in your sinuses. Similar to how allergy sinus meds are applied. 10 pack of 30ml here.
Second type holds more liquid. About $8usd.
Nasal syringe. 2 boxes for $11.54usd.
There are also electric types.
Ceramic Netipot. For $13usd.
NOTE: keep in mind that some products sold on Amazon actually ship from China which can take 2-8 weeks to get to the US. Look at the estimated arrival date carefully. This is especially true for products that seem unusually cheap.
Studies.
A simple nasal wash with a saline solution performed within 24 hours of symptoms done twice daily for 14 days can reduce the risk of being hospitalized for COVID by 8X. https://stevekirsch.substack.com/p/new-study-a-simple-nasal-wash-reduces Original article: https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/news/simple-nasal-wash-reduces-covid-19-severity/