Last Updated on July 18, 2024 by Nivedita
Quick Take
Social media users on Facebook and TikTok has been claiming that inhaling vinegar can cure COVID-19 naturally. We fact-checked and found that the claim is false.
The Claim
If you get severe COVID, do not go to the hospital. Inhale vinegar and you will be cured – this is the short summary of a number of posts that have been put up as texts in multiple languages or videos.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
Fact Check
Can vinegar act as a viricidal agent i.e. can it kill viruses?
There is very limited research on this matter. One research done in 2010 found that vinegar can kill Influenza A virus. However, vinegar is not considered as a disinfectant and cannot be considered as an effective viricidal in most cases.
Can nasal rinse with vinegar kill Coronavirus?
The HealthDesk notes, “While there can be some health benefits to using a nasal rinses (also called nasal irrigation) or mouthwash, there is no scientific evidence that rinsing with vinegar can prevent or treat COVID-19.”
There were earlier claims about gargling with vinegar to get rid of Coronavirus. This had also been refuted by experts.