How to quickly return the smell and taste with a cold

In the absence of odors and taste, the world seems dull, monotonous and boring. Despite the fact that the smell and taste can not be compared with such important sensory organs as vision and hearing, living without smell is very, very difficult. You can’t feel the favorite aroma of coffee in the morning, don’t show concern if you suddenly smell a burn, and don’t appreciate the new perfumes of your girlfriend. Living without taste is even worse — would you like a monotonous meal without any flavor?

It is possible to return the sense of smell and taste, but first you need to decide, as a result of which you can lose these important and much-needed sense organs.

Why smell and taste are lost

In the nose, a person has an olfactory cavity, the surface of which is different from the mucosa. On this cavity there are a huge number of receptors that send the brain information about various odors. After processing this information, the brain recalls and attaches the smell to a specific event. We all know how fresh strawberries or oranges smell. Sometimes the smell can be associated with something unpleasant - all this is painstaking work of the brain. However, sometimes extraneous odors simply cannot make their way to the olfactory cavity due to swelling of the mucosa - that is, the smell simply does not move. There are several reasons that lead to a loss of smell and taste, consider the main ones.

1. The most common and common cause is a runny nose. This is especially true if rhinitis is not treated for a long time. The virus enters the mucosa, due to which mucus begins to be produced, swelling appears. With viral infection of the body, taste sensations are also lost.
2. Injuries, fractures and curvatures of the nasal septum also prevent the smell from entering.
3. Various growths, polyps, tumors also close the passage to the olfactory cavity.
4. Sometimes the loss of taste and smell is caused by an allergic reaction. When dust, pollen of plants, animal hair and other allergens get into the nose, the mucous membrane also begins to produce mucus and swell.
5. Sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, sinusitis and other inflammations in the nasal appendages, as well as chronic forms of these diseases, often lead to a loss of taste and olfactory qualities.
6. Often the loss of smell occurs due to an overdose of vasoconstrictor drops. Everyone knows that these drugs are aimed at alleviating the condition of the patient, but do not have healing properties. You can use such drops no more often 3-4 times a day, they can not be used for more than 5 days, otherwise addiction occurs. With the constant use of vasoconstrictive drops, the vessels atrophy, they cannot compress and expand independently, their nutrition is disrupted, which leads to a loss of smell.
7. Sometimes the loss of smell and taste can occur due to hormonal changes in the body of a woman. This is often observed during pregnancy, after the start of taking new oral contraceptives, during menstruation.
8. If your work involves the constant inhalation of poisons, chemicals, smells of paint and varnish products, your sense of smell can suffer from this.
9. Smokers who slowly kill their receptors from year to year often complain of the lack of smell and taste. Often it’s simply impossible to regain the ability to smell.

Surely you know the approximate reason for the loss of smell and taste. If you stop smelling and tasting suddenly, for no apparent reason, you need to see a doctor to make an accurate diagnosis.

How to return the smell and taste

If you are not ready to put up with the current state of things, you need to try to regain your feelings in order to again enjoy the aromas of the world.

1. Treatment. First you need to remove the swelling of the mucosa, and for this you need to eliminate the very cause of the common cold. If the common cold is allergic, take antihistamines; if you have a cold, start taking anti-inflammatory drugs. Use vasoconstrictive drops, but not if you have been addicted to them for a long time.
2. Gymnastics. Gymnastics for the nose is very effective. It improves blood circulation in the nasal cavity, which allows receptors to become more active. Try to open the wings of the nose, while straining the muscles. Hold in this position for a minute, repeat the exercise several times.
3. Massage. Massage your nose wings with your fingers several times a day. This contributes to a rush of blood, improves the functioning of receptors.
4. Warming up. You can warm the nasal cavity with an ultraviolet lamp, and if it is not, use a normal lamp. Direct light and heat rays to your nose so that the lamp is 25 cm away from your face. Warming up should be daily for a week.
5. Inhalation. It is very effective to breathe hot air, which disinfects the nasal cavity from the inside, affecting the virus. If you add essential oils of peppermint and eucalyptus to the inhalation liquid, this will help you get rid of swelling of the mucous membrane right away. To restore the ability to capture odors and tastes, you can make the following composition for inhalation. Prepare a decoction of calendula, add lemon juice, peppermint essential oil and a little cumin to it. Inhale the fumes of the prepared broth - they are very useful both for restoring the sense of smell and against the common cold.
6. Washing. It is very effective against the common cold and to restore the taste buds. Rinse your nose with salt water using a small teapot - insert the nose into one nostril so that the liquid comes out of the second nostril. If such a procedure is not for you, drip in your nose medications based on sea water - Aquamaris, Delphi, Humer.
7. Drops. If you feel that the mucous membrane is too dry, use nasal drops based on medicinal oils, for example, Pinosol.

Do not forget about the air quality in the room in which you are. It is very important that the air in the room is moist and the nasal mucosa does not dry out.

Folk remedies for the restoration of smell and taste with a cold

1. Prepare small swabs from cotton wool that need to be moistened in honey and placed in the nose. Honey has antiseptic properties, it will help restore the functioning of receptors.
2. The pungent smell of horseradish, onion, mustard and garlic will help restore your sense of smell. Inhale these aromas as often as possible.
3. Restore the ability to capture odors using smoke. Burn a twig of wormwood, the husks of onions or garlic and inhale the smoke. Soon you will be able to enjoy extraneous odors and tastes again.
4. Apply a little eucalyptus oil or Zvezdochka balm to your chest or clothes so that the menthol vapor constantly gets into the nasal passages.
5. Melt a small amount of lamb fat and mix it with a diluted mummy. Take a cotton swab and moisten it in the prepared composition. Lubricate the nasal mucosa with this product - it is very effective against the common cold and colds.
6. You can restore the ability to smell and taste by warming your legs. Prepare the next solution - in hot water (45-50 degrees) add a tablespoon of salt, the same amount of soda and two teaspoons of mustard. Dip your legs into the prepared composition to the ankles. Keep your feet in the water for at least 10 minutes, then wipe your feet dry. Lubricate your feet with iodine and put on cotton socks and woolen ones on top. The procedure is usually done at night.In the morning you will forget about a runny nose and all the associated problems.
7. Propolis is a very useful product that can get rid of many diseases. Propolis tincture can be prepared independently or purchased at a pharmacy. Pieces of propolis must be filled with alcohol and kept in a dark, cool place for at least a week, periodically shaking. Soak cotton turundochki in the prepared tincture and place them in the nasal passages for 10-15 minutes. In a week you can enjoy your favorite smells.

These simple rules will help you quickly and safely get rid of a cold.

After the runny nose is completely cured, the smell and taste can be restored within 7-10 days. If the smells and tastes did not return to your life after the specified time, there may be a more serious malfunction in the body. In this case, you need to contact a specialist. Take care of your health and do not run a runny nose so as not to suffer from a dull and monotonous world.

Video: 3 reasons for the loss of smell