Re: Anosmia

[Guest guest]

Stop the steroid spray asap

Majoram I think used to be used for lack of smell but I'm not sure how

it was applies

I'd go see an acupuncturist!

[Guest guest]

>

.....Towards the end of September I lost my sense of smell and taste. I cannot

smell a thing. I can taste the four flavors of salt, sweet, hot and sour.

>

> I use a Neti pot and a steroid nasal spray twice a day. About 8 days ago I

started placing twice daily a warmed drop of castor oil in each nostril.

>

> Nothing, nada ... very sad and disheartened.

>

> So, healers, aromatherapists, anyone who has experience or knowledge of " loss

of smell " disorders ... can you offer any help, knowledge, working solutions?

>

> Thank you ... Liz R-S

>

Hi Liz, I trimmed your post a little.

Anosmia...gosh, what a thing to be experiencing.

When biomedicine 'fails' I suggest a trip to the acupuncturist for an appraisal

- I am one

I belong to a big acupuncture /TCM Yahoo group... if you'd like to message me

privately with your country/state/city/suburb, I could put the word out and see

if there's anyone in your area who can help you.

Not sure if I still have a Yahoo email address... so you can contact me via the

contact page on my blog if you like. Here's the link

http://margihealing.wordpress.com/about/comments-contact-policies/

Hope things turn around for you soon.

Margi

[Guest guest]

I hope you find a way to get your sense of smell back. Healing blessings!

Interestingly enough, Now Smell This just posted about a book dealing with this

very issue...

http://www.nstperfume.com/2010/10/18/book-club-remembering-smell-by-bonnie-blodg\

ett/

Good luck, Liz!

Peace, W.

[Guest guest]

>>When one has injured ones muscles (or other anatomy) one is often sent to

physical therapy, where one does repetitious often gentle strengthening

exercises. This makes sense. Has anyone ever heard of doing the same thing

for a loss of smell (NOT with loss of smell do to head trauma, for as to

date that is irreversible.)? <<

Hi Liz -- so sorry this is happening--what a bumpy road to travel! Often with

anosmia, there is something going on with the nervous system; depending on what

it is, analogies to strengthening are not always workable. I would look for

anyone to help that I could find if it were me -- definitely acupuncture or

homeopathy, but esp. someone with experience in what has happened as there is

not a simple and direct answer. As an herbalist, I'd be " feeling " my way as

I've never worked with this before. But here's what I think about given the few

tidbits you have shared -- 1st, I'd be investigating the steroid spray and any

other meds you were taking; I might consider using things for inflammation (yes,

even this far post-surgery) and immune response (your sinus are still

responding, your immune system is certainly still engaged and perhaps in

overdrive), and herbs for nerves (the tissue and also the state as this can be

pretty upsetting). Sometimes with the kind of sinusitis you describe there is a

fungal infection -- if that is the case, you might still need to work to get rid

of it. Sometimes it relates to a food intolerance -- defiantly work with

someone on that possibility. Sometimes, it's environmental; sometimes it's a

combination ..... So, long story short: it's about getting the full picture of

what is going on in the body and putting together the right path and the set of

herbs to help the body heal (in the herbal traditions I study)--think of it like

making a customer perfume, you might want florals in your blend, but there are a

lot of options; the right selection will vary with the energetics of the person

and the herbs. With herbs it would likely be some combo of tea, tincture,

steams, nasal douche and diet. I'm also happy to email some herbal lists to try

to find you someone who has worked with this before if you want; just zip me a

private email.

--

[Guest guest]

liz, that is sad...sorry to hear that

i can remember as a chef if i would loose my taste due to a head cold

i would panic, thankfully that only happened twice over the years, but my

biggest fear is losing my sense of smell, i have MS and

it has affected both of my eyes, my left eye has been attacked twice

and is just about useless.

i wouldn't know what would i would do if my olfactory nerve would become

affected....

i wonder if any of the other optional medical treatments would help that?

[Guest guest]

Hello Liz,

Did you ask your doctor to check you in for a MRI (brain scanner)? When my Dad

was in hospital after his stroke, his room mate has had a minor stroke that gave

him anosmia. He had lost both the senses of smell and taste... Better to

check...

I cannot imagine what you are going through but I wish you to recover from this.

Best

Isabelle

[Guest guest]

> Here is my problem. For about a year I have had terrible sinusitis. In July

I had Fess (functional endoscopic sinus surgery). It lasted for four hours.

Towards the end of September I lost my sense of smell and taste. I cannot smell

a thing. I can taste the four flavors of salt, sweet, hot and sour.

>

> Thank you ... Liz R-S

>

Hi, Liz!

I didn't see this answer pop up, and yesterday when I first saw this, I thought

" It's one of the s… " but wasn't sure which.

Gennari Cooksley, RN wrote " Aromatherapy: Soothing Remedies to Restore,

Rejuvenate, and Heal " , Prentice Hall Press/Penguin Putnam, Inc., New York;

c2002.

Pages 74-75: " After exploring and making the necessary changes, both lifestyle

and dietary, use the following nasal oil to nourish the delicate nasal mucous

membrane lining and protect nerve endings in this area. … They are gentle in

nature and will have a positive effect with long-term use. "

" Sense-able Nasal Oil: as an aid for increasing ability to smell

5 teaspoons natural sesame oil

1 teaspoon wheatgerm oil

¼ teaspoon hypericum infusion oil (St. 's Wort)

¼ teaspoon mullein infusion oil

1 drop incense essential oil

Combine all oils, including the one drop of incense, into a clean amber

glass bottle. Shake well and label contents. Use daily. Refer to directions

for inhaling nasal oil on page 68. "

Page 68: " …Warm the oil in a hot water bath or use at room temperature. Every

morning upon waking, and several times per day as needed, sniff the oil by

dipping your little finger in the oil and inserting it into one nostril. Close

the other nostril with your index finger, and sniff or inhale the oil from your

finger. Repeat the same procedure for the other nostril. The further you can

insert your little finger the better. You will want to do this in the privacy

of your bathroom for obvious reasons! "

I tend to serious sinusitis and this has helped me a lot. Whenever I seem to be

losing my sense of smell, I go back to this recipe.

Greyson Stoehr

Manna Oils

[Guest guest]

> > Here is my problem. For about a year I have had terrible sinusitis. In

July I had Fess (functional endoscopic sinus surgery). It lasted for four

hours. Towards the end of September I lost my sense of smell and taste. I

cannot smell a thing. I can taste the four flavors of salt, sweet, hot and

sour.

> >

> > Thank you ... Liz R-S

>

Hi Liz,

I have been thinking of you since you first posted and my heart goes out to you.

I hope you are doing ok...I'm glad you posted and I see lots of great

suggestions and loving concern for you.

My background is in general primary care, I'm a nurse practitioner and don't

have any real experience in ENT.

A few things I can share: I was at a conference last year on Allergies. I

asked the Presenter/Allergist about the risk of long term use of nasal

sprays...specifically on the olfactory cells. His reply was that long term

inflammation causes more harm to the delicate tissues.

I can't really assume to know why you where given the spray in the first place

but it's usually for treating inflammation, usually from allergies. I'd go off

it for sure with your current situation.

Treatment for allergies/inflammation with quercitin and whatever is being touted

by healthfood stores. Herbalist recommendations as well.

It would be a good idea to make sure you don't have a low grade infection going

on.

You are aleady doing nasal rinses and I would continue and add some hydrosols to

the rinse. Helichrysum and/or frankinsense comes to mind. I would avoid

inhaling intensely aromatic oils (coniferous)

I think you mentioned energy work...or someone did. Reiki or healing touch.

If I were you I would definitely do the above AND acupuncture~

I wish you the best of success with your healing journey.

Best,

Ragna