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COVID-NOSE
The CDC added
anosmia as an official clinical symptom
of COVID-19 in April, along with the
loss of taste, or hypogeusia. The most
common cause of acute or temporary loss
of smell is a viral infection, like the
common cold or influenza. When this
infection occurs, the olfactory cleft in
the nose is inflamed and blocks or
prevents aroma molecules from reaching
the olfactory receptors in the nose.
Under normal conditions, once the
swelling and mucus in the nose return to
a normal level, smell is regained.
COVID-nose appears to be different. The
sense of smell does not gradually get
blocked, but rather, the symptoms with
COVID-nose are sudden and takes much
longer to return function. Major
inflammation targets only the area
of the olfactory cleft causing
nerve damage and the return to normal
may take weeks to months as the
olfactory neurons regenerate.
SMELL
THERAPY
Treatment for
anosmia can include smell therapy,
decongestants, antihistamines, steroid
nasal sprays, and reducing exposure to
nasal irritants like smoking. Smell
therapy is a form of physical therapy
that can help someone get their sense of
smell back faster. It includes using
smells to stimulate the olfactory nerves
and rehabilitate the sense of smell,
just like strength training can increase
muscle strength.
Smell therapy
uses four essential oils for
training:
-
Eucalyptus
(eucalyptol)
-
Lemon
(citronellal)
-
Rose
(phenyl ethyl alcohol)
-
Clove
(eugenol)
Rehabilitation
includes using these intense
odors twice daily for a
minimum of 12 weeks to return the sense
of smell.1 The essential oils
are smelled using inhalers or a
cotton-soaked pad for 10-20 seconds at a
time. The key is to be very mindful of
the scents while inhaling and breathing,
so that the brain and nervous system can
“reconfigure” the pathways of smelling
due to the neural plasticity of the
olfactory system. The research indicates
that individuals who performed
smell therapy showed improved sense of
smell and were able to identify and
discriminate between smells better than
people who did
not.2
Research:
-
K Pekala, RK CHandra, JH Turner.
Efficacy of olfactory training in
patients with olfactory loss: a systemic
review and meta-analysis. International
Forum of Allergy & Rhinology. Volume
6, Issue 3; March 2016; pages 299-307.
-
T Hummel, K RIssom, J Reden et al.
Effects of olfactory training in
patients with olfactory loss. The
Laryngoscope. Volume 119, Issue 3;
February 2009.
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