Anosmia is when a person can’t detect an odor, whether it comes from pies fresh from the oven or smelly socks piled in a corner or smell from a spoiled fish. It could be a temporary side effect of a cold or sinus infection.

Our sense of smell fades as we age, so people aged 50 and older may have long-lasting anosmia. In some cases, anosmia may be a symptom of other, more serious medical issues like a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

How does sense of smell work?

The process starts with substances that smell and give off tiny molecules. When we inhale, the molecules glide into our nose and land on a tiny patch of tissue high inside it.

The patch is home to olfactory sensory neurons. These specialized cells have a direct connection to our brain. When scent-bearing molecules attach to them, the cells notify our brain, which identifies the smell. Our brain then lets us know if something smells good or bad.

What are the symptoms of anosmia?

One can lose her/his sense of smell suddenly or over time. Early on, one may notice familiar scents are different, like a favorite cologne that seems to smell less potent than it did before.

What causes anosmia?

Anosmia may be a side effect of many common medical issues, including conditions that block our nose or interfere with signals sent from olfactory sensory neurons (scent cells) to our brain.

Conditions that block our nose are:

• Nasal polyps.
• Common cold.
• Influenza (flu).
• Nasal congestion.
• Sinus infection (Sinusitis).
• Deviated septum.
• Hay fever or other allergies.
• COVID-19.

Conditions that affect receptors in our nose include:

• Alzheimer’s disease.
• Brain tumors.
• Multiple sclerosis (MS).
• Hypertension.
• Kallmann syndrome.
• Parkinson’s disease.
• Sjogren’s syndrome.

Other causes may include:

• Taking certain allopathic medications, such as antibiotics and antihistamines.
• Smoking, tobacco chewing.
• Having obesity.
• Diabetes.
• Traumatic brain injury.

Rarely, people are born with anosmia (congenital anosmia), that means they’ll never be able to detect odors.

What are the complications of anosmia?

There’s more to anosmia than not being able to enjoy sweet or savory scents. Complications may include:

• Food poisoning Lack of smell and taste puts you at risk of food poisoning.
• Increased risk of being hurt by smoke or fire.
• Increased risk of inhaling harmful fumes, gases, chemicals etc.

How is anosmia diagnosed?

Otolaryngologists diagnose anosmia. Ask your patient: when you first noticed you can’t detect odors and if the issue developed over time or suddenly. Do an odor identification test, which involve sniffing and identifying different substances and telling the difference between substances. Also check patient’s ability to identify odors as they become increasingly faint because they dilute the substance making the smell.

Advise imaging tests like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan.

How is anosmia treated in allopathy?

The treatment of anosmia (loss of smell) in allopathy depends on the underlying cause. Here’s how it is managed:

1. Treating Underlying Causes

✔ Nasal Congestion (Cold, Sinusitis, Allergies, SARS, Avian Influenza, Bird flu, Corona virus etc):

• Nasal decongestants (e.g., oxymetazoline, but short-term use only due to its sever and long-lasting side effects),
• Antihistamines (e.g., loratadine, cetirizine etc for allergies),
• Nasal corticosteroids (e.g., fluticasone, mometasone etc for chronic sinus inflammation),
• Saline nasal irrigation/washing (Neti pot or saline spray).

🏴‍☠️ Post-Viral Anosmia (Corona virus, Flu, Avian influenza and other viral Infections):

• Smell training therapy (repeated exposure to scents like lemon, rose, clove, eucalyptus),
• Omega-3 supplements (may help nerve regeneration),
• Steroids (Oral and/or Nasal) – Prednisolone or budesonide in some cases.

🩺 Chronic Sinus Issues (Nasal Polyps, Deviated Septum):

• Corticosteroid nasal sprays or oral steroids,
• Surgery (polypectomy or septoplasty) if needed.

🤯 Neurological Causes (Head Trauma, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s):

• In allopathy there is no direct cure, but olfactory training, cognitive therapy, and treating the underlying disease helps sometimes.

✅ Deficiency-Related Anosmia (Vitamin B12, Zinc Deficiency):

• Zinc supplements (if deficiency is confirmed),
• Vitamin B12 injections or tablets.

2. Allopathic medications Used for Anosmia

• Theophylline (a bronchodilator) – Some studies suggest (still in experimental phases) it may improve smell function.
• Intranasal insulin – Also an experimental treatment for smell recovery.
• Steroids (oral/nasal) – Used if inflammation is the root cause.

3. Advanced allopathic therapies & research

• Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy – Still being studied for regenerating olfactory nerves.
• Olfactory implants & gene therapy – Future possibilities for anosmia cases.

How is anosmia treated in Homeopathy?

Homeopathy treats anosmia (loss of smell) by addressing the underlying cause and stimulating the body’s natural healing. Homeopathic medicines are chosen based on individual symptoms and causes (e.g., sinusitis, allergies, post-viral infection, head injury etc).

Here are very medicines in my experience for anosmia in Homeopathic practice:

Natrium Muriaticum

Violent, fluent coryza, lasting from one to three days, then changing into stoppage of nose, making breathing difficult. Discharge thin and watery, like raw white of egg. Violent sneezing coryza. Infallible for stopping a cold commencing with sneezing. Loss of smell and taste. Internal soreness of nose. Dryness.

Fagopyrum Esculentum

Sore, red, inflamed nose. Fluent coryza, with sneezing, followed by dryness and crust formation.

Sepia Oficianalis

Thick, greenish discharge; thick plugs and crusts. Yellowish saddle across nose. Atrophic catarrh with greenish crusts from anterior nose and pain at root of nose. Chronic nasal catarrh, especially post-nasal, dropping of heavy, lumpy discharges.

Thuja Occidentalis

Chronic catarrh; thick, green mucus; blood and pus. On blowing nose, pain in teeth. Ulceration within the nostrils. Dryness of nasal cavities.

Alumina

Pain at root of nose. Sense of smell diminished. Fluent coryza. Point of nose cracked, nostrils sore, red, worse touch. Scabs with thick yellow mucus. Tettery redness. Ozoena (the bacterial species Klebsiella pneumoniae ozaenae) atrophic sicca (mechanical as well as environmental irritations lead to crust formation). Membranes distended and boggy.

Pulsatilla Pratensis

Coryza; stoppage of right nostril, pressing pain at root of nose. Loss of smell. Large green fetid scales in nose. Stoppage in evening. Yellow mucus; abundant in morning. Bad smells, as of old catarrh. Nasal bones sore.

Iodium

Sneezing. Sudden violent influenza. Dry coryza becomes fluent in open air, also a fluent hot coryza with general heat of skin. Pain at root of nose and frontal sinus. Nose stopped up. Tendency to ulceration. Loss of smell. Acute nasal engorgement associated with high blood pressure.

Zincum Metallicum

Defective vitality. Impending brain paralysis. Period of depression in disease. Spinal affections. Chorea, from fright or suppressed eruption. Convulsions. Marked anemia with profound prostration. Decrease and destructive red blood corpuscles. Chronic diseases with brain and spinal symptoms, trembling, convulsive twitching and fidgety feet. Nose sore feeling high up; pressure upon root. Redness and itching eruption on chin. Tearing in facial bones. Nasal and throat dryness and rawness. Pain in muscles of throat, nose and face.

Helleborus Niger

Dirty, dry nostrils. Rubs nose. Smell diminished. Nose pointed.

Argentum Nitricum

Loss of smell. Itching. Ulcers in septum. Coryza, with chilliness, lachrymation, and headache.

Kali Bichromicum

Snuffles of children, especially fat, chubby babies. Pressure and pain at root of nose, and sticking pain in nose. Septum ulcerated, round ulcer. Fetid smell. Discharge thick, ropy, greenish yellow. Tough, elastic plugs from nose; leave a raw surface. Inflammation extends to frontal sinuses, with distress and fullness at root of nose. Dropping from posterior nares. Loss of smell. Much hawking. Inability to breathe through nose. Dryness. Coryza, with obstruction of nose. Violent sneezing. Profuse, watery nasal discharge. Chronic inflammation of frontal sinus with stopped-up sensation.

Heper Sulphuricum

Nose: Sore, ulcerated. Soreness of nostrils, with catarrhal troubles. Sneezes every time he goes into a cold, dry wind, with running from nose, later, thick, offensive discharge. Stopped up every time he goes out into cold air. Smell like old cheese. Hay-fever.

Tabacum

Burning sensation and tingling in the nose. Diminished power of smell, which, however, is very sensitive to odor of wine; fumes all but intoxicate her. Frequent sneezing. Dryness and obstruction of nose.

Silicea Tera

Itching at point of nose. Dry, hard crusts form, bleeding when loosened. Nasal bones sensitive. Sneezing in morning. Obstructed and loss of smell. Perforation of septum.

Arsenicum Album

Thin, watery, excoriating discharge. Nose feels stopped up. Sneezing without relief. Hay-fever and coryza; worse in open air; better indoors. Burning and bleeding. Acne of nose. Lupus.

Nux Vomica

Nose stuffed up. Stuffy colds, snuffles, after exposure to dry, cold atmosphere; worse, in warm room. Odors tend to produce fainting. Coryza: fluent in daytime; stuffed up at night and outdoors; or alternates between nostrils. Bleeding in morning. Acrid discharge, but with stuffed up feeling.

Lemna Minor

A catarrhal remedy. Acts especially upon the nostrils. Nasal polypi; swollen turbinate. Atrophic rhinitis. Asthma from nasal obstruction; worse in wet weather. Putrid smell form nose; loss of smell. Crusts and muco-purulent discharge very abundant. Post-nasal dropping. Pain like a string from nostrils to ear. Reduces nasal obstruction when it is an edematous condition. Dryness of Naso-pharynx.

P. S: This article is only for doctors having good knowledge about Homeopathy and allopathy, for learning purpose(s).

For proper consultation and treatment, please visit our clinic.

Dr. Sayyad Qaisar Ahmed (MD {Ukraine}, DHMS), Abdominal Surgeries, Oncological surgeries, Gastroenterologist, Specialist Homeopathic Medicines.

  Senior research officer at Dnepropetrovsk state medical academy Ukraine.

Location:  Al-Haytham clinic, Umer Farooq Chowk Risalpur Sadder (0923631023, 03119884588), K.P.K, Pakistan.

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