Losing sense of smell is a medical condition often known as Anosmia. This condition can emerge in anyone, but people between the ages of 36-50 are more likely to experience it, according to few studies.
However, losing your sense of smell is no joke. It brings along dozens of problems into your daily life. For example, you can’t experience the smell and taste of your favorite food, sniffing fresh flowers becomes useless, heck, you can’t even perceive dangers like fire, gas leak, or bad food–making you prone to the dangers.
That’s why this condition requires optimal solutions.
If you or your close one have lost their smelling powers, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to find out how to regain sense of smell.
Common Causes Of Losing Sense Of Smell
Loss of smell indicates dysfunction in olfactory perception. It is a process that begins from the nose and stimulates specific neurons, which aids in making us aware of the scents around us. But, when affected by some infection, it loses its ability and causes us to experience loss of smell.
According to Penn Medicine News, over 43 million Americans suffer from loss of smell or taste. But what exactly causes it to happen?
Many conditions can cause an individual to experience loss of smell, including:
- Cold
- Allergies like hay fever
- Influenza
- COVID-19
- Aging
Loss of smell can also occur as a side effect of your medication; in that case, reach out to your doctor to find a solution.
Medical conditions that may cause anosmia include:
- Gum disease or any other dental issues
- Radiation Treatments
- Tumour
- Cancer
- Neurological Disease
- Diabetes
- Lack of vitaminB12 or zinc
- Nasal polyps
- Head Injuries
Destructive habits like excessive smoking, drinking, bad diet, or abuse of drugs like cocaine can also cause losing the sense of smell.
How To Regain Sense Of Smell: 5 Most Effective Solutions You Can Try
Here are the top 5 ways to help you regain your sense of smell and return to everyday happy life.
Teach Your Nose To Smell
If you have lost your sense of smell, start training your nose to get back to normal.
Firstly, collect a few foods or products consisting of strong aromas. You can choose from the following:
- Ground Coffee
- Mint Leaves
- Garlic Cloves
- Citrus Fruit
- Essential Oils
Start your exercise by firmly smelling scents for a few seconds, take a pause in between, and continue the process for a few minutes. Repeat this exercise every day for the next few weeks.
Chances are high that your olfactory perception will get back to normal, and you will be able to start smelling again.
Some explanations: These exercises trigger the trigeminal nerve that goes through the mouth and nose. When you sniff different smells from time to time, those nerves get stimulated, and you spontaneously start to sense certain smells again.
Opt For a Nutritious Diet
Yes, nutrition also helps in regaining your sense of smell. According to experts, a person suffering from Anosmia should consume foods high in vitamin B12 and zinc. The food list includes:
- Eggs
- Beans
- Yogurt or low-fat milk
- Nuts
- Salmon
- Tuna
Always remember that a well-balanced diet plays a significant role in curing any disease. But, if your lifestyle doesn’t allow that, contact your doctor and ask if any multivitamins can help.
Practice Awareness
Awareness? Are we going to discuss spirituality now?
No. We won’t advise you to sit down, close your eyes and put your attention on one specific thing. Instead, a pretty simple task that can be done anywhere.
Let’s say you are going on a walk or just sitting in your room. Become aware from time to time and try to smell things around you or recall how certain things smell, including anything like your favorite food, drink, or even shampoo.
These exercises can help improve the olfactory system and bring your smell to life again.
Avoid Smoking And Alcohol
Smokers are at higher risk of losing their sense of smell in comparison to non-smokers.
If you smoke cigarettes or consume alcohol regularly, now it’s time to take a break. Consumption of these substances may have caused damage to your olfactory system. Thus, removing or at least limiting them from your life for a few weeks can accelerate regaining the sense of smell.
Engage In Physical Activities
If you have found yourself stagnant in the past few weeks, it might be one of the reasons for losing your smell.
Bring back exercise into your life again. No, you don’t have to join the gym and lift heavy weights. Simple physical movements like walking, yoga, or playing any sport can help you regain your sense of smell.
Research states that any kind of physical movement is good for overall health. Therefore, it may also penetrate your stuffy nose, affect your olfactory system positively, and bring back your smell.
Home Remedies To Regain Sense OfSmell
Before using any of the remedies mentioned below, consult your doctor to know if a remedy is optimal for you or not.
Here are some simplest home remedies you can try at home:
Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is an ancient practice that removes bacteria from the mouth, and keeps the oral health in check. Therefore, it may also help in getting your smell back.
Take 15 ml (one tablespoon) of sesame or coconut oil, swish it into your mouth for 10-15 minutes, and spit it out.
Do not forget to brush your teeth after the activity.
It’s recommended to perform the activity in the morning on an empty stomach. Also, keep in mind that oil contains toxins, swallowing it can cause harm to your body.
Ginger
Ginger brings a strong aroma that can trigger your olfactory perception to level up.
Take 3-4 small pieces of peeled ginger, and chew one at a time. Wait for a couple of minutes before hopping on the next one.
If chewing ginger is hard, go for green tea as it will provide the same benefits.
In general, Gingers are safe to eat. But, do not consume them in large quantities, otherwise, it can lead to heartburn, stomach ache, or even diarrhea.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) brings along anti-inflammatory properties, which can help clean nasal blockage and kill bacteria from the mouth, ultimately improving sense of smell.
Add a glass of warm water, one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, and a bit of honey. Mix it thoroughly and drink the mixture once a day.
Make sure you use apple cider vinegar in the right amount. Overconsumption can lead to health conditions like loss of tooth enamel and nausea.
Peppermint
Peppermint brings multiple benefits to an individual’s health. But, the leading property that helps in the case of Anosmia is – menthol.
Menthol brings along anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties which contribute to olfactory perception – ultimately improving your sense of smell.
Add 10-15 mint leaves in 250 mL of water, boil them for 5-10 minutes, and let it cool.
Strain the solution, put a little bit of honey in it and drink.
Drink it at least once or twice a day to see improvements in your smell.
Clean-up Your Nose From Inside
If your olfactory perception has been affected by any infection, then cleaning your nose from the inside can be an effective way to get back your smell, suggests Southern California Sinus Institute. The steps you need to take are the following:
Step 1 – Boil two cups of water and leave it to be cool.
Step 2 – Add one tablespoon of salt, a teaspoon of baking soda and mix them thoroughly.
Step 3 – Wash your hands.
Step 4 – Now, make a cup of your palm and pour some solution into it.
Step 5 – Start sniffing the solution into one nostril, and close the other one with your finger, if possible. After that, allow the solution to come out on its own. Perform the activity with one nostril at a time.
Step 6 – Repeat the process multiple times.
Once you are done, throw the rest over solution. Prepare the fresh solution the next day when you decide to perform the activity.
Additional Tips
Here are some tips that you can follow to sustain your sense of smell.
- Keep yourself hydrated
- Maintain your oral hygiene
- Limit smoking and drinking
- Improve your diet – consume foods high in zinc, such as nuts, fish, legumes, shellfish, or even dark chocolate.
Final Verdict
Losing a sense of smell can be disturbing, but the condition disappears naturally for most people.
Your sense of smell is also likely to come back naturally if you persistently use the solutions in the above sections. It will probably take around 5-6 weeks to witness your smell recover entirely.
However, if you do not regain your sense of smell after a few weeks, visit your doctor. Some underlying health conditions might have caused Anosmia, which can only be treated with a proper prescription.
So, that was all about how to regain a sense of smell? We hope this article was helpful to you.
