How to quickly return the smell and taste with a cold

In the absence of smell and taste, the world seems dull, monotonous and boring. Despite the fact that the smell and taste can not be compared with such important sense organs as sight and hearing, it is very and very difficult to live without smell. You can not feel the favorite aroma of coffee in the morning, do not show anxiety, if suddenly the smell of burning, and do not appreciate the new perfume girlfriend. It is even worse to live without taste - do you like monotonous food, devoid of any flavor?

You can return the smell and taste, but first you need to decide, as a result, you can lose these important and much-needed senses.

Why smell and taste are lost

In the nose, a person has an olfactory cavity, the surface of which is different from the mucous membrane. On this cavity there is a huge number of receptors that send information to the brain about various odors. The brain, after processing this information, remembers and ties 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 painstaking work of the brain. However, sometimes extraneous smells simply cannot break through to the olfactory cavity due to swelling of the mucous membrane — that is, the smell simply does not move. There are several reasons that lead to the 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 gets on the mucous membrane, because of which mucus begins to develop, puffiness appears. When viral infection of the body and taste are lost.
2. Injuries, fractures and curvatures of the nasal septum also prevent the smell from penetrating inside.
3. Various growths, polyps, tumors also block the passage to the olfactory cavity.
4. Sometimes the loss of taste and smell is due to an allergic reaction. When dust, pollen, animal hair and other allergens get into the nose, the mucous membrane also begins to produce mucus and swell.
5. Sinusitis, sinusitis, sinusitis and other inflammations in the appendages of the nose, as well as chronic forms of these diseases often lead to loss of taste and olfactory qualities.
6. Often the loss of smell is due to an overdose of vasoconstrictor drops. Everyone knows that these drugs are aimed at alleviating the patient’s condition, but in no way have healing properties. Such drops can be used no more than 3-4 times a day, they can not be used for more than 5 days, otherwise there is addiction. With the constant use of vasoconstrictor drops, the vessels atrophy, they cannot contract and unclench themselves, their nutrition is disturbed, which leads to a loss of smell.
7. Sometimes the loss of smell and taste can occur due to hormonal changes in a woman's body. This is often observed during pregnancy, after the start of taking new oral contraceptives, during menstruation.
8. If your work involves constant inhalation of poisons, chemicals, and smells of paints and varnishes, the smell can suffer from this.
9. Smokers often complain about the lack of odors and taste, who year after year slowly kill their receptors. Often, to restore the ability to catch odors is simply impossible.

Surely you know the approximate reason for the loss of smell and taste.If you stop feeling smells and tastes suddenly, for no apparent reason, you need to consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

How to return the smell and taste

If you are not ready to put up with the status quo, you should try to get your feelings back in order to enjoy the flavors of the world around again.

1. Treatment. First you need to remove the swelling of the mucous, and for this you need to eliminate the very cause of a cold. If allergic rhinitis, take antihistamines, with a cold, start taking anti-inflammatory drugs. Use vasoconstrictor drops, but not if you have long been dependent on them.
2. Gymnastics. Very effective gymnastics for the nose. It improves blood circulation in the nasal cavity, which allows the receptors to be activated. Try to open the wings of the nose, while straining the muscles. Hold this position for a minute, repeat the exercise several times.
3. Massage. Massage the wings of the nose with your fingers several times a day. It promotes blood flow, improves receptor function.
4. Warming up You can warm the nasal cavity with an ultraviolet lamp, and if not, use an ordinary lamp. Direct light and heat rays to the nose, so that the lamp is at a distance of 25 cm 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, striking the virus. If you add the essential oils of mint and eucalyptus to the liquid for inhalation, it will help you to immediately get rid of the mucous edema. To restore the ability to catch odors and tastes, you can make the following composition for inhalation. Prepare a decoction of calendula, add lemon juice, mint essential oil and a little cumin to it. Inhale the vapors of cooked broth - they are very useful for restoring the sense of smell, as well as against the common cold.
6. Washing. It is very effective against the common cold and for restoring the taste buds. Rinse the nose with salty water using a small kettle - insert the nose into one nostril so that the liquid exits the second nostril. If this procedure is not possible for you, drip in the nose medication based on sea water - Aquamaris, Delphi, Humer.
7. Drops. If you feel that the mucous is 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 located. It is very important that the air in the room is moist and the nasal mucosa does not dry out.

Folk remedies to restore the smell and taste with a cold

1. Prepare small tampons from cotton wool that need to be wetted in honey and placed in the nose. Honey has antiseptic properties, it will help to restore the receptors.
2. The sharp smell of horseradish, onion, mustard and garlic will help restore the sense of smell. Inhale these aromas as often as possible.
3. You can restore the ability to catch odors by using smoke. Burn a sprig of wormwood, peeled onions or garlic and inhale the smoke. Very soon you will be able to re-enjoy foreign smells and tastes.
4. Apply a little eucalyptus oil or balm "Star" on the chest or clothing so that the menthol pairs constantly fall into the nasal passages.
5. Melt a small amount of lamb fat and mix it with a diluted mummy.Take a cotton swab and soak it in the prepared composition. Lubricate this means mucous nose - it is very effective against the common cold and colds.
6. You can restore the ability to smell and taste by warming your feet. Prepare the following 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 in the prepared composition to the ankle. Keep your feet in 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 overnight. In the morning you will forget about the common cold and all related problems.
7. Propolis is a very useful product that can get rid of many diseases. Propolis tincture can be prepared by yourself or bought at a pharmacy. Pieces of propolis must be poured with alcohol and kept in a dark, cool place for at least a week, shaking occasionally. Soak cotton turds in cooked tincture and place them in the nasal passages for 10-15 minutes. After 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 sense of smell and taste can be restored within 7-10 days. If smells and taste sensations did not return to your life after the specified time, a more serious malfunction may have occurred in the body. In this case, you need to contact a specialist. Take care of your health and do not start a runny nose, so as not to suffer from a dull and monotonous world.

Video: 3 causes of loss of smell