Olfactory Retraining Therapy

Olfactory Retraining Therapy

Most people take the existence of smell for granted, as the aromas of food and unpleasant odors are as natural as breathing, and thus do not see anything special about it. However, when a cold or flu temporarily robs them of their sense of smell, they truly realize its importance.

There are various causes of smell dysfunction, including accidents, injuries, sinus diseases, severe allergies, as well as neurodegeneration and chemotherapy, all of which can lead to a loss of smell. During the pandemic in 2020, loss of smell became one of its symptoms. In specific cases, olfactory training using aromatherapy at home is a viable option.

Olfactory Retraining Therapy is simply a matter of sniffing a wide variety of odor-generating elements. About six to 10 different types of scents will do. Continuous olfactory stimulation aids in the regeneration of olfactory neurons, especially for damage caused by viruses or injuries. The olfactory training method proposed by Thomas Hummel from Germany uses four essential oils—rose, clove, lemon, and eucalyptus—to stimulate patients morning and evening, effectively increasing the rate of olfactory improvement. Subsequent research has confirmed the efficacy of this method (28% to 68% of patients showed improvement after training).

In addition to lemon and eucalyptus, other essential oil such as geranium, peppermint, rosemary and true lavender also have similar effects. "Once or twice a day, smell each scent for 30 seconds to two minutes. As you do, think about what you're smelling, and try to recall moments when you've smelled this before. For example, cut open an orange, inhale its aroma, and think about another time when you savored a fresh, delicious orange," Dr. Bhattacharyya says. "That triggers odor particle recognition. It's deeply seated in the brain, but you have to stimulate it to re-establish function. You're retraining the brain." We also suggest the use of fragrance diffuser as an additional tool. If you can smell again, you'll be able to taste and enjoy food again, and restore your quality of life.

Home Assistance Methods
1. Olfactory Diary: Record the smells you encounter daily and their intensity to track progress.

2. Dietary Adjustments: Supplement with zinc, vitamin B12, etc., to prevent deficiencies that affect smell. 

3. Nasal Cleansing: Use saline solution to rinse the nasal cavity, improving blockages caused by sinusitis or allergies.

Nutritional Boost Methods
During the pandemic, some clients who lost their sense of smell and taste felt anxious but were able to successfully restore them through MORINOX super juices and M62 products.

Hope that this information will be helpful to everyone.

Reference :

Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter, Ways to regain your sense of smell, 1/9/2023, Harvard Health Publishing