The coronavirus questions just keep coming.

Are hand sanitizers and surface disinfectants labelled alcohol-free effective?

These products mostly use benzalkonium chloride, also known as alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides, introduced in 1935 by the German bacteriologist Gerhard Domagk who received the 1939 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in recognition of his discovery of sulfonamides, the first truly effective antibiotic drugs. One of these, under the trade name Prontosil, was widely used until it was displaced in the 1940s by penicillin.

The alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides are actually a mixture of compounds that are collectively known as quaternary ammonium salts. The term alkyl refers to a chain of carbon atoms that vary in length from eight to 18, with the 12 and 14 derivatives having the highest activity against bacteria, viruses and fungi. Aside from being disinfectants, these compounds have properties that allow for use as fabric softeners, hair conditioners and preservatives for pharmaceutical products. As far as hand sanitizers and surface disinfectants go, benzalkonium chloride is used at low concentrations in the range of 0.03 to 0.1 per cent. They are approved by Health Canada for inactivating the SARS-CoV-2 virus based on what is known about similar viruses, but how they fare when compared with alcohol-based disinfectants is not clear.

Can the homeopathic remedy Bryonia prevent infection by the coronavirus?

Bryonia is a plant, an extremely diluted extract of which is added to a sugar pellet to produce a homeopathic remedy. That dilution is so extreme that the sugar pill doesnt contain a single molecule from the original plant. Since nonexistent molecules cannot prevent disease, homeopaths propose that the dilution and ritual shaking between dilutions leaves some sort of imprint on the solution that has a physiological effect. Based on what we know about chemistry and the workings of the body, this makes no sense.

Homeopathic products can, however, serve as useful placebos for certain conditions, but viral infections do not respond to placebo treatment. This is even recognized by Boiron, the largest manufacturer of homeopathic products in the world. To its credit, the company has released a statement that It is certain that no Boiron homeopathic medicine is specific for the prevention or symptomatic treatment of the Coronavirus 2019-nCoV.

Yet, there are individual homeopaths who claim that they have successfully treated coronavirus infections. One Montreal homeopath reported the following in a newsletter: A most remarkable case among my patients is a 71-year-old man who contracted the virus with a cough, fever and extreme weakness. He called me the following day and began taking the homeopathic remedy I prescribed for him immediately. Within four days he was symptom-free. Almost more impressive is that his wife, in her late 60s, took remedies preventatively against COVID during the whole time he was sick and has not gotten sick herself, despite being her husbands primary caregiver. This is what is known as anecdotal evidence. We dont know if the man had actually contracted the virus, or that the homeopathic remedy was responsible for his improvement. His wife not contracting the disease is meaningless because we dont know if there was any disease to be contracted.

The homeopath goes on to suggest that Bryonia should be taken once a week, but if you know you have been exposed, or are likely to be exposed based on your profession, take it once every three to five days. Needless to say, there is zero evidence for this recommendation, but is it possibly harmful? Not physiologically, since nonexistent molecules do not produce side effects. But believing that one is being protected by taking Bryonia may result in people being more cavalier about physical distancing. Homeopathic rhetoric about preventing or treating COVID-19 has about as much substance as is contained in a Bryonia pellet. None.

Can a humidifier reduce the chance of coronavirus transmission?

Maybe. The most significant mode of transmission for viruses is through droplets emitted by coughs or sneezes. When the weather is humid, these droplets absorb moisture, become heavier, and fall to the ground. In dry weather, as in winter, the droplets are smaller and stay airborne longer. It is therefore possible that increasing indoor humidity can reduce the transmission of the virus from an infected person. There is another reason to increase humidity. Dryness causes the mucous membranes in the nasal passages that act as a barrier against microbes to dry out. Without sufficient moisture they become less effective at keeping invaders at bay. Making sure one is hydrated by drinking enough fluids helps to keep the mucous membranes from drying out, but drinking every 20 minutes as some circulating instructions suggest is not necessary.

Is it true that we should avoid eating eggs because viruses love eggs?

That bit of absurdity comes from Anthony William, the Medical Medium who dispenses advice he gets from a spirit. It seems the spirit has come to this conclusion based on viruses being cultured in eggs for the production of some vaccines. This of course has nothing to do with eating eggs. In the spirit of science, it is best to ignore any offerings from the Medical Medium and his spirit guide.

joe.schwarcz@mcgill.ca

Joe Schwarcz is director of McGill Universitys Office for Science & Society (mcgill.ca/oss). He hosts The Dr. Joe Show on CJAD Radio 800 AM every Sunday from 3 to 4 p.m.

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The Right Chemistry: Hand sanitizers, homeopathy and humidifiers - London Free Press (Blogs)