Even before any covid, people often lost their scent. Almost every fifth adult and 80% of people over 75 years old have problems with this case.
There are two mechanisms for loss of smell:
- Obstruction of air entering the nose, such as polyps.
- Damage to the nerves themselves. This happens in people with parkinsonism or after a viral infection, or for example from metals like zinc.
So after covid, every second person's sense of smell deteriorates. In most cases, scent recovers after a month, but some are not very lucky.
If recovery is slow, the sense of smell is tested only after six months. So don't expect everything to be fine the day after tomorrow or in two weeks. Wait six months.
To some extent, you can train your scent.
For such an olfactory exercise, you need a set of smells. Usually they take essential oils of rose, lemon, clove and eucalyptus. You can take whatever you like.
It is better to train your scent several times a day. Place the scent set next to the sleeping area. So you are guaranteed to run into them in the morning and evening.
No need to sniff the entire bottle of oil. It is necessary to make separate jars in size, something like a jar of vitamins.
There you need to put a piece of watercolor paper soaked in essential oil. It is better not to use a cotton pad. Germs can easily grow on it and the smell can change. This will knock yourself out of sight. Better buy a sketchbook for watercolor and cut into pieces.
You don't need to pour a lot of oil on the paper. Drop a few drops, let it soak, and that's enough. Sign the jars.
Store the oil bottles themselves in the refrigerator.
Several times a day, take turns opening the jars, bring them to your nose (you don't need to poke your nose inside the jar) and gently sniff from the jar for about 20 seconds. Everyone smells differently. Start with light and short scents, and then you will see.
Imagine what is written on the jar. Think about how this lemon or rose should smell. Then close the jar. Inhale and exhale calmly several times through your nose and only then take the next jar.
Write down your progress in a journal. Don't expect a quick effect. After a couple of months, you can already compare.
Exercise even if you don't feel anything at all. The sooner you start, the better. The olfactory nerves need to be given an impetus to recover.
