Home Remedies for Loss of Smell and Taste
To smell and taste something are the strong means of senses. Smelling power gives the signal of warning against unwanted things that are harmful for health and life-threatening fires, toxic chemicals, poisonous substances or due to certain gases. Sometimes, a person in unable to taste anything and there are so many causes behind this situation from that, the one main cause is aging, in which the nerve cells are degenerate gradually that are responsible for controlling smell and taste buds.
Other usual causes are excessive smoking, nutritional deficiencies, nerve diseases, radiotherapy, blocked nasal passages, fever, flue, sinusitis, viral or respiratory tract infections, gum diseases, etc.
Loss of smell and taste can be highly influenced upon the quality of life because while eating food, you never know the smell and taste so it becomes readily less enjoyable. Thus it throws an upset impact on life which leads to the depressed moments and many other related health problems. If you are going through this intolerable case then you have to try these simple home remedies that are following to help yourself in order to restore the necessary senses.
1. Castor Oil
Castor oil plays an important role in restoring the senses as it contains antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Castor oil helps to clear the nasal path.
- Warm some amount of castor oil for few seconds in a microwave oven.
- Put one drop of this in each nostril.
- Do this remedy two times a day, in the morning and before sleeping.
- Repeat the process until you feel good at your sense of smell and taste.
2. Garlic
Garlic is also useful to get your sense of smell and taste again. It helps in eliminating the nasal congestion and opens up the blocked nostrils thus improves your smelling power.
- Chop at least 3 cloves of garlic.
- Put the chopped cloves in 1 cup of water then simmer it for 10 minutes.
- Strain the solution and drink while it is still warm.
- Repeat the process 3 times a day.
3. Ginger
Ginger is another effective remedy to clear out the nasal passages and get back to the taste. The pungent flavor of ginger helps to enhance the quality of your senses. It immediately activates the taste buds after when you do the remedy with this.
- Chew small pieces of raw ginger at regular intervals.
- Mix ½ tsp of finely chopped ginger with a pinch of rock salt. Consume it 30 minutes before you eat food and do this for a couple of weeks.
- You can make the ginger tea and drink 3 cups daily.
4. Steam Inhalation
While you inhale the steamed water, your nasal passages become clear and you can regain the smell and taste. The steam is moist so it helps in reducing the inflammation and blockage.
- Boil some water in a small pan.
- Add few drops of peppermint or eucalyptus oil in the water.
- Cover your head with a towel and inhale the steam for some minutes.
- Do this remedy for 2 times daily.
5. Cayenne Pepper
If you have sinusitis problem, the common cold or upper respiratory infections, that is the reason of losing the smell and taste. Try out the effective cayenne pepper as it is more comfortable in getting back your taste and smell. It has a component named as capsaicin which is great for reducing the nasal blocking. It also helps in stimulating the saliva production thus improves the taste buds.
- Mix 1 tsp of cayenne pepper and honey together and have this for few times a day in order to loosen up the mucus and stimulate secretion of saliva.
- Try to include cayenne pepper in your cooking that will stimulate the salivary glands. You can also use black pepper to stimulate the taste buds.
6. Lemon
Lemon is acidic in nature and it has a citrus smell which helps in restoring the strong power of smelling and tasting. It contains lots of vitamin C and antioxidant properties so enhances the immune system to help fight against the diseases.
- In a glass of warm water, squeeze the juice of 1 lemon then mix 2 tsp of raw honey. Drink this warm mixture two times daily.
- Eat a small piece of fresh or pickled lemon between the meals in order to stimulate the taste buds.
- You can also put few drops of lemon essential oil on your handkerchief and sniff in the morning and evening for few seconds at a time. Do this remedy for certain weeks.
Apple cider vinegar is best for all the problems related to your body. It has an acidic taste so it works to stimulate the taste buds. It kills the bacteria present in the mouth to help restoring the senses of smell and taste. It also improves the sinus problems.
- Take 1/2 glass of water and add 1 tbsp of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar and ¼ tsp of baking soda. Drink this solution for 2 times a day.
- Optionally, you can add 2 tsp of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar and a little raw honey to a glass of water and drink it before meals for 3 times a day.
8. Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is an ancient remedy which is an Ayurvedic practice that helps in restoring the sense of smelling and tasting quickly. It keeps your buds moist so that you can easily regain the power of tasting. It removes the toxic substances in your mouth and your body as well. Oil pulling can be done with coconut, sesame or any edible vegetable oil.
- Put 1 tbsp of extra-virgin coconut oil in your mouth.
- Swish the oil gradually around your mouth for at least 15 minutes.
- Now spit the oil and rinse your mouth using warm water.
- Finally, brush your teeth as usual.
- Follow the procedure daily in the morning before eating breakfast.
9. Cinnamon
According to the remedies found in Ayurveda, cinnamon is very helpful in treating the loss of smell and taste. It contains strong flavor that stimulate the taste buds.
- Mix equal amounts of cinnamon powder and raw honey.
- Rub this mixture on your tongue.
- Leave it for 10 minutes then rinse your mouth with warm water.
- Repeat the remedy for two times daily.
10. Eat Zinc-Rich Foods
Sometimes the loss of smell and taste is due to the deficiency of zinc. Try to eat more zinc in your foods or you can also take zinc supplements to clear up this problem. There are symptoms of zinc deficiency like white spots or deep horizontal ridges on your nails, hair loss and slow healing. If you find out these signs in your body, immediately seek for the doctor.
- Eat zinc-rich foods like oysters, nuts, beans, whole grains, cereals and dairy products.
- You can take a zinc supplements after consulting a doctor.
Additional Tips
- In a glass of water, add a handful of crushed curry leaves, let it sit for 30 minutes, strain the water and drink it twice daily.
- In 1 cup of water, add 1 tbsp of fresh mint leaves. Cover and steep for 30 minutes, strain the solution and drink it twice daily.
- Add spices to your foods to make them tastier.
- Avoid very hot foods as it can damage your taste buds.
- Use a humidifier to increase the moisture in the air.
- Walk at least for 10 minutes before taking a meal. Sense of smell is higher after exercise.
- Take all possible treatments for sinus infection.
- Maintain proper oral hygiene.