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When it comes to food, we tend to smell it first and then get the taste. But, have you ever wondered what could happen if you lose both of these senses? Sounds terrifying, right? But, don’t worry, because there are remedies to restore loss of taste and smell, depending on what the causes are.
But, when it comes to the reasons of loss of taste and smell, the options are quite extensive. It is also quite important that you look through the possible causes and the symptoms before you opt for any of these natural remedies.
In here, we are going to be discussing about the ways by which you can regain loss of taste and smell in no time at all.
What does it mean if you lose your sense of taste and smell?
There is no better way to explain it than saying that it is exactly what it sounds like. When we talk about loss of taste and smell, the same could be because of a cold that you are struggling with or even because of any other underlying health condition.
Impaired taste is characterized by the complete or temporary loss of taste. The complete loss of taste is often very rare but nerve damage has the capability to contribute to that as well. Often times, the same can also be correlated with the presence of a metallic taste in the mouth.
The condition of loss of taste is also quite a common occurrence with aging. It is believed that over 75% of the people above the age of 80 tend to experience loss of taste.
On the other hand, the condition of loss of smell, otherwise known as anosmia is a condition that can happen because of a number of factors. Apart from cold and allergies, aging can also often contribute to the condition further.
Both the senses of taste and smell are closely related. If you end up losing one, chances are that it hampers the functioning of the other as well. The kind of flavours that you get to taste in the food often promotes with your sense of smell. So, when you lose one, it is likely that the same will affect the other sense too.
What causes loss of taste and smell?
When it comes round to the reasons of loss of taste and smell, there is quite a good amount that you can consider. To help you understand this little better, we are going to separate them both into sections for better understanding.
Causes of loss of smell
Some of the causes behind the loss of smell include:
- Constant irritation in the mucus lining of the nasal pathway
- Blocked nasal passages
- Possible nerve damage
- Aging
Causes of loss of taste
Some of the causes behind the loss of taste include:
- Cold and flu
- Infections in the upper respiratory tract
- Smoking
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Nutritional deficiency
- Aging
Diagnosis of loss of taste and smell
If you have been consistently experiencing a loss of taste and smell and have been wondering why the same is happening, it is best suggest that you get the situation diagnosed first.
For diagnosis, your general physician is going to refer to an ear, nose and throat doctor who are often termed as Otolaryngologists.
They will run some standard tests to check the symptoms and then come to a conclusion of why the same could be happening.
Home remedies for loss of taste and smell
When it comes round to the remedies to restore loss of taste and smell, there are quite a number of factors that you need to look into.
Given the fact that there are so many possible causes behind the loss of taste and smell, there are a number of home remedies that work like magic to help restore the problem effectively.
Some of the best natural remedies for loss of taste and smell senses include:
1. Castor Oil
The very first and possibly one of the best home remedies to restore loss of taste and smell is castor oil. The active compound in castor oil, ricinoleic acid, has been found to have amazing benefits in reducing the risks of infection.
Aside from that, it also does have beneficial anti-inflammatory (R) properties which further help improve the condition for the better. It also helps in reducing the swelling that could be propagated because of the cold and flu.
Read: Usage And Skin Benefits Of Castor Oil
What to do?
- Take a few drops of warmed castor oil and pour them inside the nostrils
- Massage the nostrils from outside so the oil settles in well in the nasal pathway
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
Get castor oil here
2. Drink herbal tea
Yet another amazing way to cure loss of taste and smell is by drinking herbal tea. Several types of herbal teas like turmeric and even ginger have beneficial impacts in helping reduce the inflammation and even get rid of the infection that you could be struggling with.
Not just that, it has also been found that the herbal tea helps in reducing the excess mucus deposition that could be blocking the air pathway, making the condition worse.
Make sure that you are always drinking the tea warm, because that is what makes all the difference.
Read: 12 Lesser Known Benefits Of Tulsi Tea
What to do?
- Boil some water in a pot
- Once done, pour the hot water into a cup
- Add a turmeric tea bag to the water and let it steep
- Steep for 3-4 minutes
- Add 1 tsp of honey and mix it through
- Drink it warm
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
Get Herbal tea here
3. Garlic
Yet another one of the best remedies to regain loss of taste and smell is garlic, mainly because of the amazing benefits it has on the overall well being.
The active compound in garlic, Allicin, has been found to have amazing benefits in helping improve the overall impacts in getting rid of the risks of infection (R) and allergies as well.
Not just that, it also has beneficial anti-inflammatory properties (R) which further have amazing benefits in helping improve the swelling and the blockage around the nasal pathway that could be causing the discomfort that you are experiencing.
What to do?
- Chop a few cloves of garlic into a fine mince
- Boil some water and add the garlic to it
- Let it steep for 5 minutes
- Strain the liquid into a cup
- Drink that with some honey mixed in
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
Yet another one of the amazing natural remedies for loss of taste and smell senses that work like magic is the apple cider vinegar. The most important factor about the apple cider vinegar that stands out is the fact that it has the combination of anti-inflammatory (R) and antimicrobial (R) properties which have potent benefits in reducing the discomfort and the causes that could be behind the loss of taste and smell.
The properties of this help in reducing the risks of infections and get rid of the symptoms of cold and flu that could be contributing to the constant discomfort that you are experiencing.
In addition to that, the sour and acidic taste of the apple cider vinegar has been found to have beneficial impacts in boosting the taste buds as well. It is an amazing remedy if you are struggling with sinus infection that is causing the loss of smell and taste.
What to do?
- Take a glass of water
- Add 1 tbsp of unfiltered apple cider vinegar to it
- Add 1 tsp of honey and stir to mix completely
- Drink this completely in the morning on an empty stomach
How often?
- Once daily
Get Apple Cider Vinegar here
5. Ginger
If you have been looking for the treatment for loss of taste and smell induced by cold and cough, the best way to do so is with some ginger tea.
Ginger has been found to help in reducing the excess accumulation of the phlegm and even helps in getting rid of the issues associated with the discomfort and the constant cough (R) that you have been struggling with.
The ginger also does have a very pungent flavour to it which has amazing benefits in restoring the sense of taste in no time. It stimulates the taste buds so you can get it back without any issues.
What to do?
- Boil some water in a pot
- Add some crushed ginger to it and let it boil
- Once done, let it steep for 5 minutes
- Strain the liquid into a cup
- Add some honey if you need
- Drink this warm
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
6. Cayenne pepper
The use of cayenne pepper powder for restoring the loss of taste and smell has been in practice for quite some time now, mainly because of the kind of benefits it has.
If you have been struggling with the issues of cold and flu, cayenne pepper has anti-inflammatory properties as well as the pungency that helps in easing the discomfort that you are likely experiencing.
The active compound in the cayenne pepper, Capsaicin (R), has beneficial impacts in clearing out any kind of nasal congestion that you are likely experiencing.
The spicy taste and the pungent smell of the cayenne pepper have been found to help in restoring the sense of taste and smell in no time.
What to do?
- Boil some water and pour some out into a cup
- To that, add 1 tsp of cayenne pepper
- Add 1 tsp of honey as well
- Mix everything till it has all dissolved
- Drink this warm
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
Read : 23 Incredible Benefits of Black Pepper for Skin, Hair and Overall Health
7. Inhale steam
Yet another one of the effective remedies to restore loss of taste and smell is with steam inhalation. The warm water has been found to have amazing benefits in helping get rid of the excess congestion and the discomfort that you might be experiencing.
It helps reduce the symptoms of the cold and flu, thereby helping improve the overall condition as well. If possible, add in some essential oil to the mix as well for better impacts and recovery.
Eucalyptus and peppermint essential oil has amazing benefits in clearing out your nasal pathway and helps in restoring your sense of smell and taste.
Read: 10 Best Steam Inhalers – Clear Your Blocked Sinuses!
What to do?
- Start by adding boiling water in a deep vessel
- Add a few drops of the essential oils
- Take a towel and cover your head with it
- Inhale the steam through your nose
- Do this for 10-15 minutes till the water cools down
How often?
- Twice daily
Get Inhale Steam here
8. Lemon water
Drinking lemon water in the morning is not just beneficial for weight loss but also helps in getting rid of the signs of cold and flu, thus helping regain loss of taste and smell.
The combination of the sour and the acidic taste of the lemon have been found to have beneficial impacts in helping stimulate the taste buds for better results.
Not just that, the antioxidative properties (R) in the lemon because of the Vitamin C in it has further been found to have proven benefits in helping boost the immune system.
What to do?
- Start by filling a glass with some lukewarm water
- To that, squeeze the juice of a lemon and add it
- Drink that in the morning or anytime in the day
- Drink it warm for better benefits
How often?
- 2-3 times in a day
9. Cinnamon
Yet another one of the remedies to restore loss of taste and smell that works wonders is cinnamon. Apart from the fact that it helps boost the immunity from within, the pungent taste and smell of this spice has been found to be quite beneficial in helping improve the condition.
The strong taste of the cinnamon helps trigger your taste buds and prevents you from feeling the discomfort that you have been experiencing. Not just that, it also helps in clearing out the blocked nose, thus restoring the sense of smell.
Read: 5 Important Health Benefits Of Cinnamon
What to do?
- Start by taking 1 tbsp of cinnamon powder in a bowl
- Add 1 tsp of honey to it
- Make a thick paste
- Apply the paste on the tongue and leave it on
- Leave for 10 minutes
- Once done, rinse with some warm water
How often?
- Once daily
10. Oil Pulling
The use of oil pulling doesn’t necessarily have a lot of benefits for the lack of smell but helps in restoring the taste effectively. Using coconut oil has been found to have beneficial impacts, mainly because of the antimicrobial and the anti-inflammatory properties that it has.
The oil pulling has beneficial impacts in moistening the taste buds and helps restore the sense of taste effectively.
It also does help regain the sense of smell in some cases too.
Read: 18 Effective Natural Remedies For Treatment Of Bad Breath That You Might Be Unaware Of
What to do?
- Take 1 tbsp of coconut oil and swallow it
- Use that oil to rinse your mouth
- Do that for 10 minutes straight
- Once done, rinse your mouth with some warm water
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
Get Coconut Oil here
11. Carom seeds
The use of carom seeds in the treatment for loss of taste and smell has been found to be quite beneficial in helping get rid of the discomfort that you are likely going to experience because of the nasal congestion. This is a very common remedy that is used in the Indian households.
The seeds have been found to have amazing anti-inflammatory (R) properties which help in getting rid of the discomfort that you are likely going to experience. The spicy and pungent flavour of this further helps improve the prospects of smell and taste.
Read: 20 Benefits Of Sesame Seeds You Didn’t Know Of
What to do?
- Fill a muslin cloth with some carom seeds to make a pouch
- Use that to smell that
How often?
- Keep the cloth with you all the time
12. Eat foods enriched with zinc
Yet another one of the common reasons behind the loss of taste and smell is caused because of the zinc deficiency in the body.
If you do want to regain the senses, one of the best ways to do so is by consuming foods that are enriched with zinc naturally. Zinc isn’t stored in our body for a long time which is the reason why it is necessary that you consume it constantly.
Read: 9 Healthiest Seeds To Eat For Better Nutrition
What to do?
- Include more zinc rich foods in the diet including oysters, dark chocolate, crab etc.
How often?
- Every other day
13. Curry leaves
Curry leaves are yet another one of the home remedies to restore loss of taste and smell that you wouldn’t regret indulging in.
Not only does have a wide range of nutrients, it has also been found to have amazing benefits in helping boost the overall sense of taste and smell with consistent usage.
What to do?
- Boil some water
- Add a handful of crushed curry leaves into the water
- Steep for 10 minutes
- Strain the liquid
- Drink this warm
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
14. Peppermint
The use of peppermint tea has been used to cure loss of taste and smell. The active compound in the peppermint, menthol, has been found to have beneficial anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits which help in getting rid of the cold and congestion that you might be experiencing.
The pungent smell and the taste further help in impacting the taste buds and clears out the nasal pathway to let you breathe better.
Read: Peppermint As A Potent Treatment For Oesophageal Disorders, Study Suggests
What to do?
- Boil some water
- Add a handful of peppermint leaves to it
- Let it steep for 10 minutes
- Strain the liquid and drink that
- Drink it warm
How often?
- 1-2 times daily
How long can loss of taste and smell last?
If you have been experiencing constant discomfort with the lack of smell and taste, chances are that the same will last for a week or so, depending on how long the symptoms of the cold last.
For the most part, if you practice the natural remedies and the main cause is cured, chances are that the sense of taste and smell are also restored in no time.
The remedies to restore loss of taste and smell are not just effective for that but help in working at the roots, getting rid of the discomfort for good. It is important that you do see a doctor in case the symptoms don’t come back in a matter of week because there could be something severe otherwise.
