There are many ways you can lose or alter your sense of smell. The most frequent causes are...
- Upper respiratory tract infection: cold, flu, coronavirus
- Allergies, medications, and cancer treatment
- Smoking
- Cocaine
- Head trauma
- Neurodegenerative disease: Parkinson's, Alzheimer's
For more information refer to "What is Smell Loss" page
For the vast majority, smell loss is temporary. However, recovery can be a timely and unpredictable process and can take up to years to regenerate. We suggest to start the process of smell training as soon as possible, to help expedite recovery time.
One's sense of smell is directly related to the limbic system for one's brain, and the limbic system plays the function of behavioral and emotional motives. Unfortunately, dealing with anosmia or parasomia also plays a factor in the malfunctioning of the limbic system and thus the malfunctioning of processing one's emotions. Feelings of distress, depression, wanting social isolation, and anxiety have been found among smell loss patients.
When people lose their sense of smell, they often find that they are not able to taste. However, it is usually just the sense of smell that is absent. To understand this, it is crucial to recognize the difference between true taste and smell.
- True Taste: The salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and savory experiences that we feel in our mouth when we eat. The tongue has receptors for these 5 tastes meaning that even without smell, we can experience these. Even with smell loss, people can typically tell the difference between salt and sugar.
- Smell: Occurs when we sniff (ortho-nasal olfaction) or chew food (retro-nasal olfaction). When we chew food, the molecules travel up the back of the throat and deliver a smell.
It is the combined effort of true taste (salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and savory) and smell that create flavor. Flavor is what disappears during smell loss and because flavor is identified in the mouth, people wrongly conclude their taste is gone. Unless if a predisposed ailment in the taste buds are present, smell goes hand in hand with taste.
Smell training is a technique to trigger your sense of smell and prompt regeneration of the olfactory nerve. The first published research regarding smell training was released in 2009.
Smell training is repeatedly sniffing the same 4 scents (essential oils) twice a day. This is done by spending 20-30 seconds on each scent in the morning and night and actively focusing on a time and place when you could remember that specific fragrance. Since smell is so strongly emotionally based, these specific memories will help regenerate the broken link between the olfactory nerves in the nose and the central nervous system in the brain It is simple, safe, easy, and anyone can do it.
It is important to be consistent with smell training, so sticking to the same 4 essential oils or scents throughout the process is crucial. We recommend our Elixir Kits which include Rose, Eucalyptus, Clove, and Lemon. These four specific oils have been scientifically tested in the past producing promising results. They fulfill the four important pieces of the odour prism that include floral, resinous, aromatic, and fruity respectively.
During the process of smell training, you must concentrate and focus on what you are doing. Limiting outside distractions or closing your eyes can help you focus on the task at hand. Take note of what you experience, what you smell, and what you feel. Do not get discouraged if you can not smell as strongly as you wish, rather accept and be curious. The goal is to increase your awareness of the experiences and sensations around you. Be with your smell training
Concentrating like this during smell training is "smelling mindfully", and has shown to boost overall effectiveness of the training.
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils or other aromas to improve physical and physiological well-being, and different oils and plants have varying therapeutic effects on the body.
Smell training targets the distinct aromas of the oils rather than the therapeutic effects. Smell training is not a "cure", but considered physiotherapy or a "workout" for your nose.
If you have any further questions, please contact us at info@elixiroils.com