Losing your sense of smell can be frustrating and distressing. It can affect your ability to enjoy food, detect danger, and recall memories. It can also reduce your quality of life and well-being. Many people experience a loss of smell due to COVID-19, but other causes include allergies, sinus infections, nasal polyps, head injuries, aging, and certain medications. Fortunately, there are ways to naturally and medically regain your sense of smell. This article will explore How to Regain Sense of Smell.

How to Regain Sense of Smell

Smell Training

Smell training is one of the most effective and widely used natural methods for regaining your sense of smell. It involves sniffing different strong odors regularly to stimulate and retrain your brain and olfactory nerves. According to Dr. Nicole Aaronson, a pediatric otolaryngologist and a Healthline medical advisor, smell training requires a long-term commitment and patience to see improvement.

You will need four scents or essential oils to try smell training in your home. Some examples are coffee, rose, citrus, eucalyptus, vanilla, clove, and mint. You should sniff each scent for 20 seconds, three times a day, for at least six weeks. You should also focus on the scent and try to recall what it smells like or associate it with a memory or emotion.

Smell training may not work for everyone, and you may experience unpleasant or distorted smells. This is known as parosmia, which usually indicates that your sense of smell is recovering. Parosmia can last several weeks or longer, but it is usually temporary.

Castor Oil

Castor oil is another natural remedy that may help you regain your sense of smell. Castor oil has ricinoleic acid. Ricinoleic acid may help reduce swelling and infection in the nasal passages that can impair your sense of smell.

To use castor oil for smell loss, you will need to apply a few drops of the oil into each nostril using a dropper or a cotton swab. You should do this twice daily, preferably in the morning and before bedtime. You should also massage your nose gently after applying the oil to enhance its absorption.

Medications

If natural remedies do not work for you or you have an underlying condition that causes your smell loss, you may need to consult a doctor for medical treatment. Depending on the cause and severity of your smell loss, your doctor may prescribe you one or more of the following medications:

Steroid nasal sprays or drops: These can help reduce inflammation in the nasal passages. They can also help shrink nasal polyps if you have them.

Antibiotics: These can help treat bacterial infections such as sinusitis that can cause inflammation and mucus buildup in the nasal passages that can affect your sense of smell.

Zinc supplements: These can help boost your immune system and promote wound healing in the nasal passages, improving your sense of smell. Zinc deficiency has also been linked to smell loss in some cases.

Conclusion

Losing your sense of smell can be a challenging and frustrating experience, but it is not hopeless. We told you how to regain sense of smell, naturally and medically. You should start treatment as soon as possible to increase your chances of recovery. You should also consult a doctor if your smell loss persists or worsens or if you have other symptoms that may indicate a serious condition. With proper care and patience, you may enjoy the smells of life again.