Game World!: can vicks vaporub cause loss of smell?

Loss of smell with a SARS-CoV2 infection

A question we have been asked a lot lately is 'are there any natural remedies that can restore my sense of smell after COVID?'. To find an answer we have been digging into research to see what might work, how and when so that we can provide some suggestions.

Firstly, what causes a loss of smell? Well like most things COVID related we are still trying to find out the exact mechanisms, but researchers from Harvard University, found that the virus attacks cells that support the olfactory sensory neurons, which detect and transmit the sense of smell to the brain. In some people this loss of smell is temporary and lasts for a similar length of time to other symptoms of the virus, in other people however, it seems to go on for much longer.

So what can you do?

Olfactory (smell) training.

Smell training involves repeat and deliberate sniffing of a set of odorants (lemon, rose, cloves, and eucalyptus) for 20 seconds each at least twice a day. Studies have demonstrated that this has been effective in improving the sense of smell after COVID. Medical papers and journals are citing olfactory training as a low cost treatment with negligible adverse effects. Be aware however that it appears that this smell training needs to be done consistently for at least 3 months.

Smell training can be conducted using essential oils. At Amaranth we stock the Absolute Aromas and Booming Bob brands, each oil costs around £5 - £10 and they should last for the duration of the training.

Gingko?

A further study on post viral olfactory disfunction (not specific to COVID) tested the use of a ginkgo biloba extraction combined with glucocorticoids. This study concluded that the effect of the combination of extract of ginkgo biloba was better than the effect of the steroid alone. As far as we are aware, research has not been done on gingko in isolation so we cannot say whether it would help used in this way. Ginkgo is however a common herbal medicine which is most often suggested for cognitive function and blood flow. If you are interested in supplementing with ginkgo we would advise that you chat to one of the team so that we can advise further on form and dosage and always check with your GP so that they can assess against any medications or treatment.

How to cope with COVID loss of smell and taste

Loss of smell and taste remains to be one of the most befuddling and confusing symptoms associated with COVID-19.

First considered to be a rare symptom experienced by some, anosmia and impaired senses can quite commonly strike people diagnosed with the coronavirus.

02/8There's no medicine to fight this uncomfortable sensation

What's sadder is that of all symptoms, COVID-19 associated loss of smell and taste may take long to recover.

It's also something that can be hard to cope with and can stress a patient psychologically. Patient testimonies detail how annoying even the most regular of scents can smell, and make them go through appetite loss, which can slow down recovery.

Naturally, regaining sense of smell and taste is crucial, no matter how long it takes. While there is no proven remedy to deal with this symptom, we tell you about a few dietary swaps and food options which may help you regain your sense of taste and smell, and recover faster:

03/8Carom seeds

Using ajwain, or carom seeds is considered to be a trusted remedy for fighting colds and allergies. The Indian spice, which is bitter in taste is said to reduce congestion and at the same time, improve the functioning of the olfactory senses and a person's ability to smell. This may be a good hack to try if the impaired sense of smell and taste is making your COVID battle difficult.

One home remedy suggests wrapping a spoonful of carom seeds in a cloth or napkin and then inhaling the scent while taking a deep breath. This can be tried multiple times a day.

How Do I Get My Senses Back After a Cold? | This Morning

04/8Garlic

Garlic has emerged as a strong anti-viral and immunity-boosting remedy during the pandemic. Ayurveda suggests that the pungent garlic may also contain properties which soothe swelling and inflammation around the nasal passage, ease breathing and eventually, help restore the sense of smell and taste faster.

While garlic may not be inhaled, you can sip on a hot concoction of crushed garlic cloves and water. Lemon juice, which is also an anti-cold remedy may also be added to the drink for added benefits.

05/8Red chilli powder or cayenne pepper

Hot spices such as cayenne pepper or chilli powder may be helpful in regaining your lost sense of smell.

While this is not a science-backed remedy, the benefits lie in the powerful ingredient present in the spice- capsaicin, which is said to effectively "clean" a blocked nose, activate senses and improve the functioning of the olfactory senses. It is also super helpful in rooting away a cold.

Make sure you mix it with a cup of water or add a sweetening agent like honey before using.

06/8Smell on essential oils

Smell training is a powerful remedy to 'rewire' the brain to sniff scents and get your sense of smell and taste back on track. Many aromatherapy practitioners and specialists recommend COVID patients to try out olfactory training- i.e. smelling four different essential oils (rose, clove, lemon and eucalyptus oils) for 20-40 seconds each, twice or thrice a day. Even if some of the scents may seem distorted, don't be discouraged as this is not uncommon.

Routine smells, such as everyday products like shampoo, soaps, cooking spices can be sniffed too during the recovery- even if it doesn't work right away, it may just help you get back your olfactory loss sensation back earlier.

07/8Castor oil

Castor oil is a quite powerful agent. Full of anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory properties, it has been used by people who suffer from frequent sinusitis pain symptoms and allergies to reduce the growth of nasal polyps. It's also quite beneficial in alleviating symptoms of a cough, cold, re-establish a sense of smell, to an extent.

Depending on your preference, you can use castor oil regularly through your recovery period to see a difference. Warm up castor oil and put in a drop on your nostrils, practising deep inhalation. You can also add in drops of the oil in your steam regularly.

How to restore lost sense of taste? - Dr. Jayaprakash Ittigi

08/8Sniffing on a burnt orange

While it may not be a scientific remedy, sniffing on a burnt orange or consuming the flesh from a charred orange is a hack which helped some TikTok users gain their sense of smell and taste back. Videos emerged after some people cited a Jamaican remedy, which involved burning orange on an open flame and then consuming the flesh of the fruit, which can invigorate your senses to sniff on something as strong and ultimately, gain it back.

However, do remember that this is a social media hack and not a doctor-approved remedy, so practising discretion is advised.

DISCLAIMER:

The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for physician's advice. Please consult your treating physician for more details.

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Coronavirus: From Amitabh Bachchan to Malaika Arora, celebrities who opened up about their COVID-19 symptoms

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on -Aug 9, 2021, 15:44 ISTShare fbsharetwsharepinshareComments (1)

01/10Famous celebrities who fought COVID-19

Lost Your Sense of Smell? Here's How to Get it Back!

Coronavirus can be a deadly infection and it spares no one.

While celebrities have been often talking about the added precaution they have been taking to reduce COVID fear, several stars, in India and internationally caught the infection and opened up about their COVID experience. From mild, moderate or severe, everybody's COVID story and experience was somehow different, and there were lessons to be learnt everywhere.

Although most fought off the virus like champions, terming it to be a "scary ordeal", "emotionally exhaustive exhaustive", here's is a list of some celebrity COVID accounts which detail how coronavirus symptoms can be different and dreary for everyone.

02/10Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson

Tom Hanks was one of the first famous faces to have caught the virus and raising awareness, he talked of the many different symptoms and problems he faced, at a time when most of us were blissfully unaware of the predicaments of the infection. The celebrity couple caught the virus in the early days of the pandemic, spent days in recovery in Australia.

The couple’s experience was not just the first insight into the viral illness but also threw light on how COVID-19 symptoms could be different for two people. While Tom suffered from a mild bout of infection, flu-like symptoms, Rita said that her symptoms were slightly more severe, left her drained out to a point she did not want to “be touched”.

Strangely enough, the couple also made news about having lasting immunity against the infection. Reports suggested that the couple, who were diagnosed positive in March still had antibodies, which baffled experts who have otherwise suggested that COVID immunity post-infection may be short-lived.

03/10Varun Dhawan

Actor Varun Dhawan, who had been shooting for one of his upcoming films tested positive for the virus along with co-star Neetu Kapoor. The actor was put under home quarantine. While Varun was lucky enough to not undergo extreme symptoms, he said that he could have been more careful about avoiding the virus.

Varun, who said that good immunity and care got him through the tough days, did add that he experienced severe weakness, and will take time to be fully normal, terming the infection a really serious one. He also added that Amitabh Bachchan, a fellow COVID survivor checked on him every day.

04/10Malaika Arora

Malaika Arora, along with her alleged boyfriend Arjun Kapoor tested positive for COVID-19 some months ago. While the actress only suffered from "mild" symptoms and was put under home isolation, the two weeks isolation time was excruciatingly tough for her, mentally and physically.

In an interview, she said that COVID can be physically and emotionally exhaustive for even the young and healthy,

Possible causes of loss of smell - Dr. Harihara Murthy

“You are so unwell! If you’re asymptomatic, then it’s fine. But if you have symptoms, it’s a huge challenge because you have to take care, be vigilant... it’s not something you can deal within two to three days, the time period is 14 days, which is a long time. But it’s important to stay calm and be positive,”

The 47-year-old, who said that yoga and meditation helped the infection better, she also opened up about experiencing terrible post COVID symptoms, such as fatigue and hair loss, for which she turned to home remedies.

05/10Amitabh Bachchan

The months of July and August were gloomy for the Bachchans. Veteran star, Amitabh Bachchan caught COVID-19 in the middle of July and spent a long time, under isolation in a hospital facility. While the actor continued blogging regularly from his hospital bed, he often talked of the lesser-known consequences of prolonged isolation- loneliness and mental health.

Sr. Bachchan also had a prolonged COVID-19 battle, only testing negative for coronavirus weeks after being treated for the same. Amitabh's age, frail immunity and health may have been contributing factors to his long battle. Nonetheless, he emerged victorious, testing COVID negative with wishes from his fans and industry friends. One blog post read:

“The mental state sparks from the stark reality that the COVID patient, put in hospitalised isolation, never gets to see another human .. for weeks... There are the nurses and the doctors on visit and medicine care .. but they ever appear in PPE units .. you never get to know who they are, what are their features, expressions because they are forever covered in the units for protection .. all white beings about .. almost robotic in their presence .. they deliver what is prescribed and leave .. leave because longer stay has the fear of contamination.”

Apart from Amitabh, Abhishek Bachchan, wife Aishwarya and 6-year-old daughter Aaradhya also tested positive for the coronavirus days following the former's diagnosis.

While Abhishek, just like his father spent close to 29 days in the hospital, Aishwarya and Aaradhya recovered at home after suffering mild symptoms of the infection.

06/10Genelia Deshmukh

Genelia Deshmukh is yet another star who talked about the alarming effects of COVID-19 on a patient's mental state. The actress, who was diagnosed with the viral infection detailed how emotionally turbulent the 21 days of self-isolation were for her, away from her family. The actress and mother of two was tested positive in August. Since she was asymptomatic, she was asked to self-isolate and made a recovery. However, doing it all alone, away from her family was the toughest part of the disease.

Revealing the trauma of isolation on her mental health, the mother-of-two penned a note on Instagram, saying

"As much as I count my blessings that my battle with this disease has been much easier but at the same time I must admit that these 21 days in isolation have been the most challenging for me to deal with. No amount of Facetime and digital immersion can kill the evil of loneliness. I am happy to be back with my family and loved ones. Surround yourselves with love that's true strength and it's all one needs. Test early, eat healthy, stay fit- the only way to fight this monster."

07/10Arjun Kapoor

Smell Training to Recover From Smell Loss (Anosmia)

The 35-year-old actor, who tested positive for COVID-19 along with his girlfriend Malaika Arora back in September calls his battle with the virus a dreary experience. While Arjun was initially asymptomatic, but soon enough suffered from mild symptoms including cough, fever, body pain and exhaustion.

The actor's experience details how even mild, or asymptomatic bout of the virus can prove heavy for people. From emotional distress, stamina loss, sluggishness and health problems, there were a lot of difficulties Arjun faced:

"Emotionally, the recuperation is unique because nobody knows how to go about it. Even today, I am careful because the doctors have advised me to take it one day at a time. I don’t know how badly my lungs were affected, or how much of my stamina is affected, except that every once in a while, I feel like someone who has recovered from a virus because the fatigue factor is real. I am young, but the senior family members might not be able to cope with this as easily we can.”

08/10Harshvardhan Rane

36-year-old actor Harshvardhan Ranetested positive for coronavirus after undergoing a routine check. While his symptoms started off unusually, with a stomach bug and a headache, problems became worse when he suffered from oxygen deprivation, midway of his recovery. The actor had to be shifted to the hospital, put under ICU observation where he was provided constant oxygen support- yet another example of how symptoms can go from mild to worse in no time, and turn deadly even for people belonging to a younger age.

Harshvardhan's symptoms were also confused with that of a viral symptom earlier, which led to a late COVID diagnosis and delayed treatment.

09/10Ellen DeGeneres

Popular celebrity and talk show host Ellen is the latest celebrity to have been infected by the novel coronavirus. While the celebrity suffered from milder symptoms, she admitted to suffering from really terrible backaches during the illness, which zapped out her energy and made her feel very weak.

In a Twitter post, the host described experiencing 'bad, excruciating' back pain, which she didn't know was a typical symptom of COVID:

"One thing they don't tell you is you get, somehow, excruciating back pain," the talk show host said in the video. "Didn't know that was a symptom, but I talked to some other people—back pain."

10/10Pink

Popular English singer and popstar attested that COVID diagnosis was one of the most terrifying ordeals she and her family had to undergo. It was Pink's son who first caught the virus, and subsequently, Pink fell victim to it as well, who also suffers from asthma since a long while.

In a video interview, she said,

“There’s no rhyme or reason to this...this is the scariest thing I’ve ever, ever been through in my whole life.”

Adding that she did not have the typical symptoms, Pink said that it was only when she suffered from respiratory troubles she started to suspect something was bad.

How can I revive my sense of smell -Dr. Harihara Murthy

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Now Reading:Coronavirus: Your hair loss may be linked to COVIDShare fbsharetwsharepinshareComments (0)

Coronavirus: Your hair loss may be linked to COVID

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on -Dec 24, 2020, 14:00 ISTShare fbsharetwsharepinshareComments (0)

01/4Your hair loss may be linked to COVID

The novel coronavirus comes with various symptoms that can affect different parts of the body and can also range from mild problems to severe complications. While common symptoms include, fever, dry cough and fatigue, unusual and rare signs of COVID-19 may go from loss of sense of smell and taste to sore throat and digestive issues. Besides that, recent research has claimed loss of hair as a possible sign of COVID-19 too.

How 'smell training' is helping COVID-19 patients recover their olfactory sense

02/4Hair loss: Is it a coronavirus symptom?

While loss of hair may be a prevalent and a common issue faced by many people around the globe for various reasons, recent findings have suggested that it can be a possible coronavirus symptom. Earlier reports had suggested that problems of hair loss were identified amongst a group of Covid-infected groups known as the ‘long haulers’, who have suffered long term effects of the virus. According to a survey conducted by Dr Natalie Lambert from Indiana University School of Medicine and Survivor Corp Facebook group survey, it was found that hair loss was amongst the top 25 symptoms experienced by those diagnosed with the highly infectious disease.

03/4The link between hair loss and COVID

COVID-19 is a disease that cannot be taken for granted. Therefore the slightest indication of having contracted the virus is important for us to note. According to a study published in November which observed and investigated late-onset symptoms of COVID-19 in a small group of 63 participants, 14 individuals showed signs of hair loss. While the possible link between the two has not been confirmed up until now, many have suggested that it could be in relation to stress and anxiety prompted by the disease itself. Known as ‘Telogen effluvium’, this kind of temporary hair loss happens when your body experiences a lot of stress, in the form of trauma, shock or sickness.

04/4According to study

When it comes to hair loss, androgenetic alopecia is a common form of hair loss prevalent in both men and women whereby hair is lost in a particular manner and in specific areas, beginning above both temples.

A 2020 study published in May observed 175 people hospitalised with COVID-19 and reached the conclusion that a high number of participants had androgenetic alopecia.

Another study compared balding patterns in 336 men hospitalised for COVID-19 and other 1,605 men hospitalised for non-COVID conditions. The research found that the possibility of hair loss was much higher in COVID patients.

If you have got a cold or a cough, there is a possibility that you may also experience a loss of taste and smell. Based on the severity of your condition, it could be a partial or complete loss. Loss of taste and smell is also a typical problem among the elderly healing from terrible illnesses like cancer.

A variety of medical problems can cause a loss of taste and smell. This article will look at what causes it, what alternative treatments you have, and how natural treatments can help you control the symptoms. Continue reading.

In This Article

How Do Smell And Taste Work?

What Causes The Loss Of Taste And Smell?

Diagnosis Of Loss Of Taste And Smell

Medical Treatment Options

Home Remedies For Loss Of Taste And Smell

Diet Tips

Prevention Tips

How Do Smell And Taste Work?

Your senses of smell and taste are often connected. However, as you age, these senses can change, and you may experience a change or even loss of smell and taste (1).

The senses of smell and taste are a part of the chemosensory system. The ability to smell things around you comes from special sensory cells called the olfactory sensory neurons. These are found within the olfactory bulb inside the nose.

Each of these olfactory neurons has an odor receptor that is stimulated by microscopic molecules released by the substances around us. Smells reach the olfactory receptors via two pathways. The first is through the nostrils, and the second is via a channel that connects the roof of the throat to the nose. The aroma from food releases aromas through the second channel.

The ability to taste is also referred to as gustatory perception. The tongue has about 2,000 to 5,000 chemical receptors on its surface. These are also more commonly called taste buds.

How to Get Your Smell Back After Covid with Smell Training

The five major tastes that are perceived by your taste buds are sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami. You can perceive taste when water-soluble chemicals in your mouth come in contact with your taste buds (2).

The brain receives signals from the tongue and processes them into distinct tastes. The sense of taste can also be linked to other senses, like the sense of smell and brain functions.

In the next section, we will discuss some major factors that may cause a loss of taste and smell.

What Causes The Loss Of Taste And Smell?

As we have already mentioned, your sense of smell and taste are correlated. In fact, when you sense a loss in taste, it could actually be a result of impairment in the sense of smell.

Conditions like hyposmia, anosmia, parosmia, and phantosmia can cause impairment in perceiving smells. Similarly, some common taste disorders are ageusia, hypogeusia, dysgeusia, parageusia, and hypergeusia (3).

Both smell and taste disorders are often the results of similar conditions or factors. Loss of smell and taste can be triggered by sinus, respiratory conditions, aging, head trauma, dental issues like oral infection, placement of dental appliances (like dentures), and Bell’s palsy (4).

If your senses of smell and taste seem to have been impaired, it is best to get diagnosed to determine the underlying cause of your condition.

Diagnosis Of Loss Of Taste And Smell

Both smell and taste disorders are often diagnosed by an ENT specialist or otolaryngologist. Your doctor may test for the lowest concentration of taste that you can sense and odor you can smell. You may be asked to taste different substances of varying concentrations for the same.

You may also be asked to take a simple ‘sip, spit, and rinse’ test. Your doctor might conduct a physical examination of your ears, nose, or throat.

Once your condition is diagnosed accurately, the doctor will suggest the appropriate mode of treatment.

Medical Treatment Options

The method of treatment depends on the severity of symptoms, age, and general health. The treatment options may include:

If some medication is causing this condition, you will be asked to discontinue or stop taking it.

Zinc deficiency can hamper your sense of taste and smell (5). Zinc can help stimulate food intake by triggering the hypothalamus to enhance the sense of taste.

Quitting smoking can help regain a sense of taste over time.

If you are looking for natural alternatives to your problem, the home remedies listed below might help.

Home Remedies For Loss Of Taste And Smell

1. Castor Oil

The ricinoleic acid in castor oil imparts powerful anti-inflammatory properties to it (6). Using castor oil as nasal drops can help alleviate symptoms of swelling and inflammation associated with a cold or flu, thereby restoring your sense of smell and taste.

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You Will Need

1 teaspoon of warmed cold-pressed castor oil

What You Have To Do

Put a drop of warmed castor oil into each of your nostrils.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this twice daily – once in the morning, and once in the evening.

2. Garlic

Garlic compounds have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities (7). This can help treat a stuffy nose, relieving cold and flu-like symptoms. This, in turn, may help you breathe easier and restore your sense of smell and taste.

You Will Need

2-3 chopped garlic cloves

1 cup of water

What You Have To Do

Bring a cup of water to a boil in a saucepan.

Add the chopped garlic cloves and simmer for a few minutes.

Strain and drink the tea.

How Often You Should Do This

You can drink this twice daily.

3. Ginger

The warming properties of ginger can help treat cold (8). The strong aroma of ginger enhances your sense of smell, while its flavor stimulates your taste by activating your taste buds.

You Will Need

Small bits of peeled ginger

What You Have To Do

Chew small bits of peeled ginger at regular intervals.

Alternatively, you can consume ginger tea.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this daily.

Note: If you consume ginger in large quantities, it may cause heartburn, throat irritation, and, in some cases, diarrhea.

4. Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin that is known to clear nasal congestion (9), (10). This, in turn, can help restore your lost sense of taste and smell.

You Will Need

1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon of honey

1 cup of warm water

What You Have To Do

Millions affected by loss of smell

Mix a teaspoon each of honey and cayenne pepper powder in a glass of water.

Drink the concoction.

How Often You Should Do This

You can drink this at least once daily.

Note: Cayenne pepper can cause stomach ache if taken in large quantities. If you are taking medication for high blood pressure, you might have to consult your physician before using this remedy.

5. Lemon

Lemons are acidic and rich in vitamin C and exhibit antimicrobial activity (11). Its strong, characteristic odor, along with chemical composition, may help reduce infection that causes blocked/runny nose and enhance your sense of taste and smell.

You Will Need

½ lemon

1 glass of water

Honey (as required)

What You Have To Do

Add the juice of half a lemon to a glass of water.

Add some honey to it and mix well.

Drink the juice immediately.

How Often You Should Do This

Drink this twice daily, preferably before meals.

Note: Do not use this remedy if you have a throat infection as it may aggravate it.

6. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar exhibits antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties (12), (13). This may help fight off the microbes that cause infections and clear nasal congestion, thereby enhancing the senses of smell and taste.

You Will Need

1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar

1 cup of water

Honey (as required)

What You Have To Do

Add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water.

Add a little honey as needed.

Mix well and drink the mixture.

How Often You Should Do This

You can drink this once daily.

Note: Consuming unregulated amounts of undiluted ACV can cause tooth enamel erosion, digestive disorders, and increase potassium levels in your body.

7. Oil Pulling

Oil pulling helps promote oral health, thereby helping you get rid of the foul taste in your mouth (14). It may also help manage symptoms of sore throat and refresh the taste in your mouth.

You Will Need

1 tablespoon of coconut or sesame oil

What You Have To Do

Swish coconut or sesame oil in your mouth for 10 to 15 minutes.

Spit it out and brush your teeth.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this once daily (every morning).

How to treat your sense of smell after COVID? Home recipe with no medications

8. Carom Seeds

Carom seeds have anti-inflammatory properties that can help eliminate nasal congestion (15). This can help enhance the perception of smell and taste.

You Will Need

1 tablespoon of carom seeds

A small muslin cloth

What You Have To Do

Put a tablespoon of carom seeds in a small piece of muslin cloth.

Tie the cloth and inhale the strong aroma of carom seeds.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this multiple times daily.

9. Cinnamon

Cinnamon possesses anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties (16). This may help reduce any infection that causes nasal congestion, thereby enhancing your sense of smell and taste.

You Will Need

½ teaspoon of cinnamon powder

1 teaspoon of honey

What You Have To Do

Mix half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder with a teaspoon of honey.

Apply this paste to your tongue and leave it on for about 10 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this twice daily.

Note: Excessive consumption of cinnamon can cause mouth sores. Do not use this remedy more than the stipulated dose.

11. Peppermint

Menthol, the main constituent of peppermint leaves, possesses anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties (17), (18). These can help alleviate symptoms of cold and flu that might be suppressing your sense of smell and taste.

You Will Need

10-15 peppermint leaves

1 cup of water

Honey

What You Have To Do

Add 10 to 15 peppermint leaves to a cup of water.

Bring it to a boil in a saucepan.

Simmer and strain.

Once the tea cools down a bit, add some honey to it.

Drink it up.

How Often You Should Do This

You can drink mint tea twice daily.

12. Curry Leaves

Several studies show that curry leaves possess anti-inflammatory properties (19). This may help reduce inflammation associated with cold and flu that may be blocking your nasal passages, thereby restoring the senses of taste and smell.

You Will Need

10-15 curry leaves

1 glass of water

What You Have To Do

Loss of taste and small: Cause and cure?

Add 10 to 15 curry leaves into a glass of water.

Soak them for about 30 minutes or more.

Drink the mixture.

How Often You Should Do This

Drink this twice daily.

13. Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil contains eucalyptol (1,8-cineole). The anti-inflammatory and mucolytic properties of eucalyptol help relieve symptoms of upper respiratory diseases that could have triggered the loss of smell and taste (20).

You Will Need

1 drop of eucalyptus oil

1 bowl of water

A towel

What You Have To Do

Add a drop of eucalyptus oil to a bowl of hot water.

Inhale the steam and cover your head with a towel.

Continue for 10 to 15 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this 1 to 2 times daily.

Note: Excessive inhalation of undiluted vapors of eucalyptus oil can cause dizziness, stomach pain, nausea, weakness, etc. Hence, make sure you stick to the amounts specified above.

14. Vitamins

Deficiency in vitamin D is associated with loss of smell and taste (21). Vitamins A, B, and E help regulate chemosensory function, but there is very little medical evidence to prove the link of their deficiencies with loss of sense of smell or taste.

Consume foods rich in these vitamins like shellfish, cereals, cheese, and milk to combat the deficiencies. You can also take additional supplements for these nutrients after consulting your doctor.

You must be aware that your diet has a huge role to play in restoring your lost sense of taste and smell. While you are following the above remedies, also remember to alter your eating habits. Follow these diet tips to enhance your sense of smell and taste.

Diet Tips

Sources of protein like fish, chicken, or soy may enhance the sense of taste as they are savory (22). You can also have foods like eggs, cheese, and white meats.

Consume foods rich in zinc like legumes, nuts, whole grains, shellfish, and dark chocolate. Zinc has been known to stimulate food intake via neuropeptide (23). Therefore, zinc can potentially enhance the sense of taste.

You will have to alter your lifestyle choices to manage your condition. Here are a few tips that can help.

Prevention Tips

Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.

Try steam inhalation.

Maintain good oral hygiene.

Take the necessary precautions to avoid infections like cold and flu – one of the main factors responsible for the loss of taste and smell.

Loss of taste and smell is an issue that surfaces with age. Usually, in many cases, the cause is temporary, such as an infection that causes inflammation of the nasal passages. Treating the underlying condition with the help of the home remedies listed in this article can help in relieving the symptoms. However, in cases of aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and chemical exposure, loss of taste and smell may be permanent. Hence, it is important to consult a doctor to diagnose and treat the underlying issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for your taste buds to come back?

Usually, taste buds have a cycle that lasts between 10-15 days, and they should come back within this period. However, it may take longer, depending on the cause of your condition.

Can stress affect your sense of taste?

12 Effective Home Remedies For Anosmia | Healthspectra

Yes, longer and more severe cases of stress can cause an impaired sense of taste, which can make you consume more foods than you normally would. It may even cause a weird taste in your mouth and make foods taste foul.

The scents of so many things can bring joy. For some people, it may be the aroma of fresh cut grass or blooming flowers. For others, a newborn baby’s skin, or the scent of bread baking can bring feelings of calm and serenity.

Smells can also warn of danger, letting us know there’s a fire, or food has gone bad.

The inability to smell can greatly impact quality of life. This condition is known as anosmia. Anosmia, a full or partial loss of smell, came to the forefront as a COVID-19 symptom. But this condition has many causes.

Anosmia can be treated medically. There are also powerful strategies for combating it at home.

In this article we’ll discuss doctor-recommended, natural remedies for restoring loss of smell.

Four natural methods for regaining your sense of smell

Anosmia can be permanent or temporary. It often fades gradually over time, without treatment or intervention. However, not knowing when or if your sense of smell will return can be worrying. If you wish to speed up the process, there are multiple treatments you can try at home.

“The treatment for loss of smell depends on the cause. There are medical interventions which can help, as well as at-home treatments,” says Nicole Aaronson, MD, MBA, CPE, FAAP, FACS. Dr. Aaronson is a pediatric otolaryngologist at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital of Children and Assistant Clinical Professor of Otolaryngology and Pediatrics at Thomas Jefferson Sidney Kimmel School of Medicine. She is also a Healthline medical advisor.

Smell training

In addition to medical treatments, Dr. Aaronson recommends this at-home strategy. “Smell training is a mainstay of treatment. In smell training, the patient smells a series of four strong odors that can be found in one’s home, or in the form of essential oils. Each scent is gently sniffed for 20 seconds. This process is repeated three times daily for 6 weeks. Long-term commitment is typically required to see improvement,” she adds.

Smell training may be most effective if you work on the same four odors each day, rather than alternating. It’s also recommended that you concentrate on the scent fully, giving it your full attention, for the entire 20 seconds.

To try smell training, Dr. Aaronson recommends trying these scents:

ground coffee

rose

citrus

eucalyptus

vanilla

clove

mint

During smell training, you may experience odd aromas that don’t jive with what you should be smelling. This includes foul odors such as burning rubber or bodily waste. This is known as parosmia. Parosmia can last for several weeks or longer but is usually temporary.

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Castor oil

Dr. Sandra El Hajj, a naturopathic physician, recommends castor oil for anosmia. “Naturally, castor oil has been long used to restore smell loss, due to its active component, ricinoleic acid. Ricinoleic acid may help fight infections. It also helps reduce nasal passage swelling and inflammation caused by colds and allergies,” she says.

Castor oil comes from castor seeds. It is used as a nasya, or nasal passage treatment for restoring sense of smell by Ayurvedic practitioners.

To try castor oil for anosmia:

Gently warm castor oil on the stove or microwave. Make sure it is warm and not hot.

Place two drops of oil in each nostril twice a day: once upon waking and right before sleep.

Ginger

Ginger has a distinctive, pungent scent that makes it beneficial for use in smell training. You can use powdered or raw ginger for this purpose.

Dr. Hajj also recommends drinking ginger tea. “Naturopathically, drinking ginger tea tames down inflammation of the nasal airways, while reducing excess mucus formations that block nasal passages, causing loss of smell,” she says.

To try ginger tea for anosmia, try using readymade ginger teabags. You can also make tea from raw ginger:

Peel and slice raw ginger.

Steep one tablespoon of raw ginger in two cups of hot water for around 15 minutes.

Saline irrigation

If you lost your sense of smell due to allergies or sinus congestion, a saltwater wash may help. This remedy flushes out allergens and mucus from the nasal cavity.

You can buy ready-made sterile saline solution or make your own as follows:

Pour 1 cup of distilled water or boiled tap water into a freshly washed container.

Add ½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of baking soda to the water.

Fill a squeeze bottle or medical syringe with the mixture.

Tilt your head back.

Squirt the solution into one nostril, aiming for the back of the head, not the top of the head.

Let it drain out the other nostril or your mouth.

Repeat several times daily.

What are the possible causes of loss of smell?

In addition to COVID-19, other causes of loss of smell include:

Cause How it may affect your sense of smell

tumors and nasal polyps Nasal obstructions in soft tissue can block the nasal passages.

allergies, viruses, and sinusitis These can cause nasal congestion and swollen mucosa.

environmental irritants such as cigarette smoke and pesticides Toxins can cause swelling and congestion in the nasal passages.

neurologic conditions Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis have all been associated with loss of smell.

traumatic head injury Injuries caused by accidents or falls can damage the nasal tract and cause tearing or stretching of the olfactory nerves.

aging As people age, their senses tend to decline, although aging is more likely to cause a partial loss of smell, rather than complete loss of smell.

radiation Radiation treatment for head and neck cancers can adversely affect sense of smell.

medications Certain prescription drugs may cause temporary loss of smell as a side effect. These include blood pressure medication, some antibiotics, cholesterol drugs, and thyroid drugs. Over-the-counter nasal sprays may also have this effect.

How is loss of smell diagnosed?

There’s no medical test that specifically diagnoses loss of smell. A doctor will rely heavily on your own self-reporting of this symptom. They may also ask you to react to a series of fragrances or food and report on what you can and can’t smell.

An oral history can help your doctor assess past illnesses that may have gone undiagnosed, such as mild COVID-19. To make a diagnosis, your doctor will attempt to find an underlying cause. They’ll give you a physical exam to check for a virus, allergies, or sinus infection.

Your doctor will also look for other symptoms, such as tremors, which might indicate a neurological condition like Parkinson’s disease.

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When to seek medical help

Because loss of smell adversely affects the way food tastes, it can cause unwanted weight loss, vitamin deficiency, and malnutrition if left untreated.

Anosmia can also greatly decrease your quality of life, leading to depression.

If you’ve lost your sense of smell and can’t regain it with at-home treatment, talk to your doctor. They may recommend medical treatments to use alone or in combination with at-home smell therapy.

“Loss of smell due to nasal masses might be treated by surgical excision. Loss of smell due to allergies might be treated with saline irrigations and allergy medications. For post-viral anosmia, medications such as cis retinoic acid or alpha lipoic acid have been used with some success,” says Dr. Aaronson.

Takeaway

Anosmia (loss of the sense of smell) can be temporary or permanent. This condition has multiple causes, including COVID-19, allergies, and head trauma.

There are at-home treatments, such as smell training, which can help retrain your brain to recognize smells. Over -the-counter and medical treatments can also help.

What causes anosmia?

What is anosmia?

Anosmia is the loss of sense of smell. This condition affects your ability to detect odors.

What is the difference between ageusia and anosmia?

While anosmia refers to a total loss of smell, ageusia refers to a complete loss of taste. These two conditions sometimes occur together because sense of smell and sense of taste are closely related.

Are there other smell disorders?

Yes. In addition to anosmia, people can also develop phantosmia (smelling things that aren’t there), parosmia (a distorted sense of smell) and hyposmia (a reduced sense of smell).

Who does anosmia affect?

Temporary anosmia can affect people of all ages. But a long-lasting loss of sense of smell is more common among adults over the age of 50. In rare cases, people have congenital anosmia. In other words, they were born with the condition. Congenital anosmia affects roughly one in 10,000 people.

How common is anosmia?

Anosmia is a common side effect of many conditions, including colds, sinus infections and allergies. Most of the time, symptoms are temporary and resolve themselves in a short amount of time. Anosmia is also a common symptom of COVID-19.

Is anosmia dangerous?

While anosmia itself usually isn’t dangerous, it can be related to many concerning health issues. Additionally, it can reduce your ability to detect the smell of smoke, gas leaks or spoiled food. As a result, people with anosmia should take extra steps to ensure that their environment is safe. Change the batteries in your smoke detectors frequently and read food expiration dates carefully.

SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES

What are the symptoms of anosmia?

People with anosmia can lose their sense of smell gradually or suddenly. You may notice that familiar scents smell differently before you develop a complete loss of smell.

Loss of Smell (Anosmia): THE Solution

What causes anosmia?

There are many common conditions that can cause anosmia to develop. These may include:

Nasal polyps.

Common cold.

Influenza (flu).

Nasal congestion.

A deviated septum.

Sinus infection (sinusitis).

Hay fever or other allergies.

Anosmia has also be linked to:

Diabetes.

Smoking.

Obesity.

High blood pressure (hypertension).

Kallmann’s syndrome.

Alzheimer’s disease.

Certain medications, such as antibiotics and antihistamines.

Multiple sclerosis (MS).

Parkinson’s disease.

Sjogren’s syndrome.

Traumatic brain injury.

Brain tumors.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTS

How is anosmia diagnosed?

Anosmia is usually diagnosed by an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT). They’ll ask you about your symptoms, examine your nose and run tests to determine the extent of your loss of smell. In some cases, a CT (computed tomography) scan may be necessary to help your provider see what’s going on inside your body.

MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT

How is anosmia treated?

In most cases, treating the underlying condition can help restore your sense of smell. For example, if you have sinusitis, then antibiotics can help clear up the infection. If certain medications are affecting your sense of smell, then switching meds may help ease your anosmia symptoms. If you have nasal polyps or another type of blockage, surgery may be necessary. Your healthcare provider can help determine any underlying conditions and recommend appropriate treatment.

Can anosmia be cured?

It depends on the type of anosmia you have. There is currently no known cure for congenital anosmia. In most cases, however, anosmia goes away on its own. Generally, once the underlying problem is treated, your sense of smell is restored.

PREVENTION

Can anosmia be prevented?

Because anosmia is a symptom of many health-related conditions, it can’t always be prevented. However, there are certain things you can do to reduce your risk:

Avoid toxic chemicals and environments.

Don’t smoke.

Wear protective gear when playing contact sports, since anosmia can be caused by brain injuries.

Can anosmia be permanent following a COVID-19 infection?

Loss of sense of smell is a common side effect of COVID-19. However, current research has determined that coronavirus may cause smell dysfunction, but it doesn’t cause permanent anosmia.

OUTLOOK / PROGNOSIS

What can I expect if I have anosmia?

If you’ve been diagnosed with anosmia, your healthcare provider can help manage your symptoms until your sense of smell is restored.

How long can anosmia last?

It depends on the underlying cause of your anosmia. Most of the time, your sense of smell returns once treatment is complete.

How to regain your sense of smell (medical evidence)

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How long is anosmia after COVID?

People who have anosmia as a COVID-19 side effect usually regain their sense of smell in approximately two to three weeks. This is an estimate; recovery times can vary.

LIVING WITH

When should I see my healthcare provider?

Anosmia related to colds, flus and infections usually goes away within a few days. If you have lingering anosmia, schedule a consultation with your healthcare provider.

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?

If you have anosmia, understanding your condition can put your mind at ease and help you make decisions regarding treatment. Here are a few questions you may want to ask your provider:

Is my loss of smell due to a cold, flu or infection?

Do I have an underlying condition that needs to be treated?

Could any of my medications be causing anosmia?

Are there other things I can do to restore my sense of smell?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can you taste without smell?

Smell and taste are closely related. Your tongue can detect sweet, sour, salty and bitter tastes. But without your sense of smell, you wouldn’t be able to detect delicate, subtle flavors.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Most of the time, losing your sense of smell isn’t serious. But there are instances in which anosmia indicates other, more serious health conditions. If you develop sudden or prolonged loss of smell, contact your healthcare provider. They can find the underlying cause of your anosmia and recommend treatments to ease your symptoms.

what is anosmia

Anosmia (the inability to smell) and hyposmia (a decreased ability to smell) describe the range of olfactory dysfunction, or smell disorders.

The ability to smell is a complex process involving the nose and brain. When air passes into the nose, odor molecules bind to the receptors of olfactory nerves. These nerves are found in a specialized lining at the top of the nasal cavity called the olfactory epithelium. The stimulation of olfactory nerves causes them to transmit a signal to the brain, where it is processed into a scent that a person can recognize and identify.

Causes of Olfactory Dysfunction

Smell disorders such as anosmia affect about 15 of every 1000 people in the United States and are more common with older age. Some common causes include sinonasal disorders such as allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and nasal polyps, head trauma, and infections such as viral illnesses. Anosmia can also be congenital (present at birth), idiopathic (no known cause), or related to dementia such as Parkinson disease or Alzheimer disease.

There have also been reports of acute-onset (sudden) anosmia, sometimes in the absence of other symptoms, as a marker of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Diagnosis

Smell disorders can occur suddenly, such as after a viral illness or trauma, or gradually. Diagnosis usually starts with patient self-reporting, although not all patients who have measurable olfactory dysfunction realize it.

To determine the cause, a clinician may ask about recent illnesses or head or facial injury, when the decreased ability to smell was first noticed, and if there are any other symptoms. The examination may also include nasal endoscopy to look for obstructive causes such as polyps or swelling, or imaging such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. The patient may also be asked to take tests to identify common odors to determine the severity of olfactory dysfunction. Given that acute-onset olfactory dysfunction is included in the diagnostic criteria for COVID-19, the patient may undergo SARS-CoV-2 testing, and clinicians may wear personal protective equipment (PPE) during the examination.

Treatment and Management

Treatment of olfactory dysfunction depends on the cause. Up to two-thirds of cases associated with viral illness resolve on their own. During the COVID-19 pandemic, patients may be asked to self-isolate for about 2 weeks or until being tested for SARS-CoV-2 to protect others. Cases related to nasal obstruction (polyps, allergic rhinitis) require treatment of those underlying causes. Olfactory training, which involves daily exposure to a set of common odors, is another treatment option. Further research is being done on the ability of damaged olfactory neurons (nerve cells) to regenerate and the role of medications to support this.

Ways To Treat Anosmia

The ability to smell also contributes to one’s quality of life. If you feel your quality of life has been reduced because of a decreased ability to smell, talk to a health care practitioner. For safety, people who have lost their sense of smell should maintain fire and natural gas alarms and avoid eating foods past their expiration dates.

From across the apartment, my girlfriend smelled smoke. "Is something burning?" she called to me in the kitchen. No, everything's fine, I yelled back. A few minutes later, she came in to investigate. She found me washing dishes, oblivious to the smoking George Foreman grill beside me. "You're so dying in a fire," she said as she yanked the plug from the wall.

I don't know why I didn't see the smoke, but there was good reason I didn't smell it. Like an estimated 14 million Americans, I suffer from smell loss. Like a smaller number of them, I can't taste, either. I can occasionally appreciate a flower's aroma or food's flavor, but only vaguely and superficially. My imagination helps fill in the blanks; but when I'm blindfolded, I confuse mint ice cream and peanut butter ice cream. My girlfriend, who has the olfactory capabilities of a bloodhound, has run me through this test numerous times. She, like most everyone else I tell about this, simply cannot understand my experience.

I have a hard time explaining it myself. It's as if my tongue and nose can sense differences -- water tastes different from juice, say, and unscented air smells different from perfume -- but the differences are faint and forgettable, and I have no ability to identify them. Chocolate is strawberry is scrambled eggs.

I've known about this for years, but have no idea when it started. After all, I never had a basis for comparison. Unlike someone with vision problems, I couldn't simply put on glasses and see what I was missing.

In a way, I'm lucky. People who suddenly lose their sense of taste or smell after decades of trusting it can find the change so devastating that they fall into depression, lose weight or develop anorexia, according to Norman Mann, director of the Taste and Smell Center at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, Conn. I've experienced none of that. In fact, I'm untroubled by it -- except that after the smoking-grill incident, I'm determined not to die in a fire. So I signed up as a patient at Mann's center and went through a battery of tests during three appointments in September.

The center is one of a few specialized taste and smell clinics across the country, including one on MacArthur Boulevard in the District. Their task is not easy. Chemosensory disorders come in numerous forms, each with its distinctive Greek tag: absent ( anosmia for smell; ageusia for taste) , diminished ( hyposmia/hypogeusia ), distorted ( dysosmia/dysgeusia ), altered ( aliageusia ) and phantom smells and tastes ( phantosmia / phantogeusia ). And because malfunctions can be caused by a wide range of problems -- from chemical exposure to brain tumors to even seemingly unrelated things like Alzheimer's disease -- the clinics subject patients to a host of tests in search of the problem's origin.

In this multidisciplinary approach, a patient may see a dentist, neurologist and otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor), undergo a general physical examination and even receive an MRI scan. The tests run about $2,500 at UConn and are usually covered by major insurers.

Some patients are referred by doctors; others stumble across smell centers on the Internet after having had their problems shrugged off by clinicians who do not know how to treat them or do not believe they are serious.

"They don't know what to do, they don't know where to go," said Robert Henkin, director of the Taste and Smell Clinic in Washington. At UConn, Mann has had patients break down and hug him.

For some patients, though, sympathy is all they'll get. When smell and taste loss can be linked to a problem such as acid reflux or diabetes, treatment of that condition may restore the senses. However, if the loss resulted from olfactory-nerve damage caused by head trauma or a viral infection such as a cold, there is no reliable cure, said Barry Davis, director of the taste and smell program at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, part of the National Institutes of Health. Sometimes the nerves will regenerate and senses will be restored, and other times they won't.

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"I expect that taste and smell clinics are frustrated to a certain degree, in the sense that they see people they cannot help," Davis said. "They can't give them bypass surgery, they can't give them antibiotics, they can't give them some magic bullet. All they can do is tell them the extent of their problems and say, 'Sorry.' "

Sometimes, patients come in complaining of a loss of taste, but only suffer a loss of smell, according to Henkin. They confuse the two because taste is so dependent upon smell. Then, too, olfactory nerves do not regenerate as quickly or effectively as taste cells do, and they are more delicate and open to exposure. "You can close your mouth. You can't really close your nose," Henkin said.

When food is chewed, odors go to the back of the mouth, where a properly functioning olfactory system translates them into flavor. When the system malfunctions, taste often remains intact -- that is, the mouth can still distinguish among sweet, salty, sour and bitter. (It can also appreciate temperature and texture.) What's missing is flavor -- that sense that lets you savor a lemon drop as lemony, salsa as tangy, ice cream as not just sweet and cold but mint chocolate chip or pistachio. Many patients who complain of a loss of taste are really just experiencing a loss of flavor, and can sense the four categories of taste just fine, Henkin said.

This is what we established on my first visit to the UConn clinic, where I spent two hours smelling bottles of diluted alcohol, trying to identify canned scents, and swishing dozens of liquids around in my mouth to rank them by their taste. The scents were a failure: Of all those placed before me, I could recognize only Vicks VapoRub. Now, that's depressing. Imagine if everything you smelled could only be categorized as either "Vicks" or "not Vicks."

The liquids, however, were more promising. I could generally tell the difference among them, although they tasted weak and I continually confused bitter with sour. I was later told that one of my problems is hypogeusia (pronounced hypo-GOO-zee-uh)--or diminished taste. That may explain why, in college, I put melted M&Ms in my grilled cheese sandwiches.

Open Wide

When I'm at restaurants, friends sometimes ask me why I order what I do.

After all, if I can't really taste food, why do I care? There are a few reasons. For one, I have to order something . No waiter has ever said to me, "We'll make you a tasteless meal because you can't appreciate our menu." And although my preferences may be based on habit, they are real preferences. I enjoy food on my own terms -- the texture, the modicum of flavor I can mentally expand upon -- and never really focus on how I'm experiencing it differently from the people around me.

When people say they pity me, I tend to go lowbrow: At least I can't smell farts, I joke. But in fact, my loss of smell may have helped define who I am. I became a vegetarian at 13, long before anyone else I knew had done it, and never fell victim to the cravings that undo some others' resolve. I like to think my experience taught me to follow my convictions, although now I suspect success came too easily. A steak, to me, might as well have been soy.

On my second visit to UConn, I saw dentist Joseph D'Ambrosio, who checked for signs that my problem was mouth-based. Abnormal saliva production, such as saliva that is too thick or in short supply, can trigger taste loss because saliva is needed to disperse taste stimulants to the taste buds. Inflammation or infection inside the mouth can also be to blame, reducing blood flow to the tongue and thereby damaging cell receptors. My mouth was fine, though.

D'Ambrosio said visible signs of trouble in the mouth are often linked to more aggravating chemosensory problems, such as burning mouth syndrome or distorted taste. Patients may complain of smelling or tasting metal even when they're not sniffing or eating anything. Washington's Henkin said he recently treated a woman who described her experience as like having a dead mouse in her nose.

With an oral problem ruled out, my third visit began with the nose. I saw otolaryngologist Denis Lafreniere, who checked for any abnormalities that could lead to smell problems. Common causes include tumors or inflammations in the nasal canal, which can obstruct the flow of odors. They can be treated with corticosteroids, after which smell commonly returns. Lafreniere stuck a long, fiber optic telescope up my nose -- a uniquely unpleasant sensation -- but reported nothing overly troublesome. He did find that I have a deviated septum -- meaning the cartilage dividing my nostrils is off-center -- but he said that by itself does not cause smell loss.

So it was on to the final stop: Norman Mann, the director of the clinic. He gave me a full physical exam, because he said he sometimes discovers undiagnosed problems that cause taste and smell loss. He's found diabetes in patients, and some who come to him learn their loss of senses is the first symptom of oncoming Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease, he said. (For other elderly patients, the sensory loss is more natural. Smell and taste diminish with age.) With me, though, there was nothing noteworthy.

That leaves two possible diagnoses, he said. I have a slight loss of taste and a significant loss of smell, and that's either because of a long-gone viral infection or because I was born with a defective olfactory system. The latter is unlikely, he said, because congenital loss is usually absolute, and I still have some semblance of smell. If it was a virus, he said, there's only a minuscule chance the senses will return. Damaged olfactory nerves can regenerate, but they usually do so within a year of the smell loss. "If we see a patient who has loss of smell for two or three years, the prognosis is poor," he said.

COVID-19 Anosmia | Loss of Smell

Looking Ahead

There is some hope: "We see strange things once in a while," Mann said, including a man who regained his senses after seven years. Instead of holding out for that, he said, my best bet is to buy a gas detector and make sure the batteries in my smoke alarm are good. I may not smell things, but I still can avoid a fiery death.

As I went through this process, my friends joked about all the unfortunate outcomes that could result from a renewed sense of taste. What if I discovered I hate the foods I thought I like? Or what if I become so enamored with food that I ballooned in weight? (Mann said he's heard of the second happening, but not the first.) Instead, though, all this talk made me consider for the first time what it would be like to really smell and taste -- only to be more aware of what I'll always be missing.

But then again, it's not so bad. I can always go to a concert and not smell the sweaty people around me. I don't mind talking to someone who has bad breath. And if I still wanted to put chocolate in grilled cheese sandwiches, nothing would stop me.

I’ve heard that putting Vicks VapoRub under your nostrils helps to keep germs out. Is this something that might help to keep someone from getting infected with COVID19?

Illustration of a person applying Vick's Vapo-rub on their face in the shape of a handlebar mustache

This is a great question! Alas, like so many things in life, there’s a kernel of truth in this rumor, but it won’t work in practice and could actually make you very sick.

The active ingredients in Vick’s VapoRub are camphor, eucalyptus oil, and menthol, which work together to suppress coughs and produce a warming sensation on the skin that is soothing when you’re sick. In fact, VapoRub catapulted to popularity during the pandemic flu of 1918 and has been a popular over-the-counter remedy for respiratory illnesses ever since.

Camphor, eucalyptus oil, and menthol all have antibacterial properties, so using them to create a protective barrier between your own nose and the respiratory secretions that cause COVID-19 may seem like a no-brainer. Unfortunately, besides being extremely uncomfortable, using VapoRub in your nostrils puts you at risk of developing an extremely ominous-sounding illness called exogenous lipoid pneumonia (ELP), which results from the aspiration or inhalation of fat-like material of animal, vegetable or mineral origin. Long story short, the petrolatum base of VapoRub, when inhaled, can travel to the lungs, where it collects and causes ground-glass opacities — a type of damage also associated with COVID-19.

If you’re feeling ill from any respiratory ailment, using VapoRub on your chest or in a vaporizer may soothe your symptoms. Your healthcare provider can also advise you on other methods to soothe congestion and body aches. But if you’re looking for good ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we would suggest that you put down the Vick’s, and reach for the hand soap instead.

Anosmia or Loss of Smell and Taste

Does something smell funny in here? Well, how would you know? You have anosmia!

If you’re suffering from a loss of taste or smell then you may be experiencing anosmia, but why does it happen and what can you do about it? Keep reading to find out.

What does anosmia mean?

Anosmia is the medical term for loss of smell.

When you have anosmia, you won’t be able to smell anything at all, which is pretty great if that member of your family has eaten a load of sprouts and is making your living room smell worse than an explosion at a manure factory.

Home remedies for loss of smell/taste in COVID Era? Always Visit your Doctor-Dr.Sanjay Panicker

On the other hand, though, it can mean that you’ll struggle to smell potential hazards, like gas leaks, fire, or out of date food, so you may need to take some precautions to keep yourself safe.

Anosmia and hyposmia are very similar in that they both affect your sense of smell, but they are a little different.

When you have anosmia you’ll experience a complete loss of smell, whereas with hyposmia you’ll experience a reduced sense of smell.

So, if you can still smell a little bit you’ve got hyposmia, not anosmia, but the causes and treatments are the same so don’t worry too much about the difference.

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What are the symptoms of anosmia?

Anosmia has one main symptom, and that, of course, is the loss of smell.

However, you may also experience a change in how things taste when you have anosmia.

You may find that you can’t taste things as well as usual, you have a metallic taste in your mouth, or that your food tastes different.

This happens because your senses of taste and smell are closely linked, so a loss of one can cause problems with the other, as if you weren’t annoyed enough already!

What are the causes of anosmia or loss of smell?

There are a couple of common causes of anosmia, and most of them are relatively harmless and will clear up in time.

For example, you can experience loss of smell as a symptom of a cold, the flu, sinusitis, or an allergy such as hay fever.

These can all cause a blocked nose and congestion, which naturally affects your sense of smell.

Another common cause is nasal polyps, which are growths on the inside of your nose.

They’re usually painless and harmless but will need treatment to clear them up so you can breathe again.

Some people may also notice that they lose their sense of smell as they grow older, which is perfectly normal and just one of those things that happen as you age.

Loss of taste and smell after a cold

Losing your senses of taste and smell when you have a cold is very common, but you could also find that you lose these senses after having a cold too.

In fact, this is common with lots of viruses that cause the common cold or upper respiratory tract infections.

This is called post-infectious loss and it will normally clear up within a few weeks, just as your other cold and flu symptoms do.

Anosmia, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.

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Can I experience loss of smell after COVID-19 (Coronavirus)?

As we’ve just discussed, it’s common to lose your sense of smell after having a virus or upper respiratory tract infection, and as COVID-19 (also known as Coronavirus) is a viral infection it may also cause post-infectious loss of smell.

A recent press release from ENT UK and the British Rhinological Society tells us that,

“Post-viral anosmia is one of the leading causes of loss of sense of smell in adults, accounting for up to 40% cases of anosmia.

Viruses that give rise to the common cold are well known to cause post-infectious loss, and over 200 different viruses are known to cause upper respiratory tract infections.”

It goes on to state,

“Previously described coronaviruses are thought to account for 10-15% cases.

It is therefore perhaps no surprise that the novel COVID-19 virus would also cause anosmia in infected patients.”

At the time of writing this guide, there has been no information from the government to suggest that those with anosmia should self-isolate, but we’ll add an update here if this changes.

Congenital anosmia

Congenital anosmia means that you’re born without a sense of smell, and unfortunately, there’s no way to cure this at the moment.

Congenital anosmia is normally caused by a genetic condition or a faulty gene, and it can happen on its own or can be a symptom of a wider condition.

For example, congenital anosmia is a symptom of a condition called Kallman syndrome, which keeps you from starting or finishing puberty and can also cause infertility and osteoporosis.

Another condition that causes congenital anosmia is Klinefelter syndrome, which happens when boys are born with an extra X chromosome, and can also cause infertility as well as a low sex drive.

How to treat anosmia

The treatment for your anosmia will differ depending on its cause. If your anosmia is caused by a cold, the flu, an allergy, or something similar then you often won’t need to treat your anosmia at all, as it will go away by itself with your other symptoms.

However, you may find that decongestants used for cold and flu or allergy symptoms help to treat your anosmia as they help to unblock your nose.

What is Anosmia & its causes? - Dr. Gayatri S Pandit

If the cause of your anosmia is nasal polyps, your doctor may recommend steroids to shrink the growths in your nose.

This will usually begin with steroid nasal drops or sprays and may progress to steroid tablets if your polyps are particularly large or if the drops and sprays don’t work.

However, sometimes anosmia can be permanent if it’s caused by another underlying condition, so make sure to speak to your doctor if you’re concerned about your loss of smell.

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Are there any natural treatments for anosmia

You may find that cleaning the inside with of your nose with homemade saltwater solution works as a natural treatment for your anosmia.

To make some for yourself, just boil some water, let it cool and measure out a pint or 568ml.

Mix a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of baking soda into the water and then sniff a small amount of the cooled solution into one nostril.

Let the solution run out of your nose, clearing away some of the mucous blocking your nose. Repeat the process a few more times in both nostrils.

If you don’t want to make your own solution, you can buy some from your pharmacy instead, and some of them come in nasal sprays that can make the whole process easier.

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What Is Anosmia? Are There People Who Can't Smell?

When should I see the doctor?

You usually won’t need to see a doctor if you have anosmia, but if your sense of smell doesn’t go back to normal after a few weeks you should make an appointment with your GP.

They’ll be able to work out the cause of your anosmia and recommend a suitable treatment that will help to clear it up.

They may also refer you for some testing which could help to determine what caused the problem in the first place, so you can tackle it at its source.

Well now you know what it is that’s keeping you from stopping to smell the roses, or making that delicious bacon sandwich taste so boring.

Remember, if you’re worried about your sense of smell, make sure to speak to your doctor so they can check what’s going on in your nose and help to clear it up.

Vicks VapoRub is a topical ointment that contains the active ingredients:

menthol

camphor

eucalyptus oil

This topical ointment is available over-the-counter and typically applied to your throat or chest to relieve cold- and flu-related symptoms, such as congestion.

Does Vicks VapoRub work and is it safe to use everywhere, including in your nose? Keep reading to find out what current research says.

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What are the benefits of using Vicks VapoRub?

Vicks VapoRub (VVR) is not a decongestant. In other words, it doesn’t actually relieve nasal or chest congestion. However, it might make you feel less congested.

When applied to your skin, VVR releases a strong minty odor due to the menthol that’s included in the ointment.

Menthol doesn’t appear to actually improve respiration. However, researchTrusted Source suggests that inhaling menthol is associated with the perception of easier breathing. This might be due to the cooling sensation you feel when you inhale menthol.

WHAT IS ANOSMIA? | WHAT IS OLFACTORY FATIGUE | WHAT IS NOSE BLINDNESS? SENSITIVITY TO SMELLS

Camphor is also an active ingredient in VVR. It may relieve muscle pain, according to a small 2015 studyTrusted Source.

Eucalyptus oilTrusted Source, the third active ingredient in VVR, is also associated with pain relief.

According to a 2013 studyTrusted Source among people who were recovering from knee surgery, inhaling eucalyptus oil lowered both blood pressure and subjective pain ratings.

A few studies have reported benefits unique to VVR.

For example, a 2010 studyTrusted Source found that parents who applied vapor rub on their children before bed reported reduced nighttime cold symptoms in their children. This included reduced coughing, congestion, and difficulty sleeping.

Similarly, a 2017 study evaluated VVR use and sleep among adults.

While it isn’t clear whether VVR actually improves sleep, people who took it for cold symptoms before bed reported better quality sleep than those who took a placebo.

SUMMARY

Vicks VapoRub is not a decongestant. However, the menthol in the ointment might make you feel less congested. Research has shown that both camphor and eucalyptus oil, the other two ingredients in VVR, are associated with pain relief.

Studies among both children and adults have shown that VVR may improve sleep quality.