Many people recovering from COVID-19 have reported prolonged loss of smell and some even taste. For some, the symptom may last weeks to several months after other symptoms resolve. For the record a few different viruses cause the same symptoms and doctors still do not have hard facts why but it happens.
So this is why we are about to discuss your sense of smell and taste in relationship to your Central Nervous System. Which affects your olfactory nerves and can also affect your branch of facial nerves – with three specific branches. innervates the anterior two thirds of the tongue, the glossopharyngeal nerve innervates the posterior one third of the tongue, and the vagal nerve which carries taste information from the back part of the mouth, including the upper third of the esophagus. As well how a simple technique can help and CBD can help alleviate all we are going to discuss and more.
The technique below, also known as therapy is also used for allergies or inflammatory sinus disease which also impedes your smell baseline not just certain viruses, like covid. Recovering smell may not mean returning to the same level of smell as before the infection so keep this in mind.
Let’s call it: physical therapy for your nose. I instruct clients to gently smell different essential oils or herbs with familiar scents for 20 seconds while focusing on their memories and experiences with that scent. Some of the essential oils (singles- meaning not a blend I have created) Commonly used scents are rose, lemon, clove, eucalyptus, and two of my favorites, bergamot, and thyme but patients can choose scents based on their preference. I do suggest switching up the scents if you are training for an extended length of time. The oils listed here are the start-up scents then there are others to use as well which I will discuss in the Technique used below.
Technique: A,B,C
A. The training consists of smelling four different oils or herbs: rose, eucalyptus, lemon, and clove, two to three times a day and every day for a several weeks, to three to four months, some may need to use this therapy longer which is fine, it will have no negative affects by doing so, you will actually benefit more by doing for a longer period of time. I do it every day consistently regardless of loss of smell or taste, just because it helps keep your senses in top mode and I work with oils and herbs everyday so they are available. I can help you with sample scents if you are in need-just reach out. Even combo ones if you want to go that route. I make blends all the time for medicinal values. So here is the therapy you want to follow:
1. Choose one odor and smell it for approximately 15 seconds while trying to remember what it once smelled like or what the particular scent would remind you of. 2. Rest for about 10 seconds. 3. Smell the next odor for approximately 15 seconds. 4. Repeat until all 4 odors have been sampled.
B. After two weeks to a month switch to a new set of odors: menthol, thyme, tangerine, and jasmine (don't have jasmine you can always try replacing it with grapefruit, ylang ylang, or patchouli) train with them as described above.
C. After 3 months switch to another new set of odors: green tea, bergamot, rosemary, and gardenia and train with them again as described above.
You can use whichever scents appeal to you but try to start with the initial four then second round with more citrus and or spicy scents and third with more floral notes.
Many doctors would prescribe nasal steroids or rinses to address inflammation – there are side effects and this is not a natural process to reclaiming the sense of smell. Personally, I do not promote the above mentioned because steroids can cause other health issues in the long run. I will say however if you have other symptoms and or the loss of smell is not due to covid or any other virus I would recommend seeing your primary care to rule out possible health issues.
As far as taste, well... I recommend CBD Oil to clients including the therapy above. Why? Neuroimaging studies have shown that acute CBD induces significant alterations in brain activity and connectivity patterns during resting state and performance of cognitive tasks in both healthy volunteers and patients with health issues. CBD can enhance your sense of smell.
How? From THC to CBD, cannabis contains over eighty cannabinoids that have different effects on the body. CBD's interaction with the endocannabinoid system heightens the senses, but it also alters the way we perceive the environment. Instead of going on and on about the benefits here are a few great reads: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33551817/
It is said that up to 80 % of people who test positive for COVID-19have subjectove complaints of smell or taste loss. That percentage rises when these patients are yested using objective methods that measure smell function. In fact, both the common cold, and influenza (the flu) can cause temporary loss of the sense of smell and taste, either total or partial. Scientists have also identified a loss of taste among the symptoms associated with COVID-19.
Most patients first notice problems with their sense of smell, but because smell is necessary to taste flavor, the symptoms are often connected. SO maybe you really haven't lost both it's just there is a connection between the two.
Regardless, I will still hit some target points to the issue.
First I'd like to share a hypothesis from a study in regards to what is being discussed:
They hypothesize that a viral replication process is present in the protein secreting glands in the nose and the mouth which is sustained by a dynamic process involving continuous rounds of de novo virus infection and replication. We hypothesize that with the initial systemic viral infection the viral RNA enters into specific protein secreting glands in the nose and mouth, replicating their genomes. These are commonly single stranded RNAs which may generate viral factories which can direct the products of proteins and construction of new viral particles which can continue to infect these glands. While the systemic viral infection is eliminated this local process can continue to generate viral RNA which is toxic to the protein secretions generated by these protein secreting glands. This toxicity can inhibit secretion of some of the endogenously secreted proteins [so-called growth factors produced by these glands. These endogenous proteins consist of multiple chemical moieties including cAMP, cGMP and sonic hedgehog. Stem cells, which maintain the receptors of both olfactory epithelial cells for smell and taste bud receptor cells for taste, require continual stimulation by these secreted proteins for these receptors to function. Since these receptors turnover as rapidly as every 24 hours, inhibition of these secretions inhibits receptor growth causing loss of smell and taste. Here are a few links to read in reference to their hypothesis.
Okay enough science; (studies), lets get back to the basics...
Your sense of taste should come back to what extent is an individual thing and differs for each of us but know the most common cause of permanent hyposmia and anosmia are upper respiratory infections. Hyposmia is when the ability to detect odor is reduced. Anosmia is when a person can't detect odor at all. Some people experience change in the perception of odors, or notice that familiar odors become distorted, or may perceive a smell that is not present at all. Such dysfunctions may show no change over time and can sometimes reflect damage not only to the olfactory epithelium, but also to the central olfactory structures as a result of viral invasions into the brain. Among these virus-related disorders are the common cold, hepatitis, influenza and influenza-like illness. Notably, COVID-19 is associated with olfactory disturbance. Most viral infections are unrecognizable because they are so mild almost like the common cold. You may even find a sensitivity... Some foods may seem heightened and others lessoned in flavor. Salt seems to be a heightened taste for many while spicy lessoned. No rhyme or reason except how your taste buds are being or have been affected. Same as your smells may do the same; heightened or lessoned. Your taste and smell are connected by your olfactory system.
Here are a few Interesting reads for anyone interested in reading or learning more:
The Olfactory Cortex is the portion of the cerebral cortex (hence your central nervous system) concerned with the sense of smell. It is part of the Cerebrum. It is a structurally distinct cortical region on the ventral surface of the forebrain, composed of several areas. This is why CBD Oil is a help with recovering your senses at a faster pace as I mention above and below in the following link:
Some more great reads:
How can nanomedicine help? https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32589080/
Cannabidiol from the cannabis plant has potential to prevent and inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7987002/
CBD helps reduce CV lung damage: https://scitechdaily.com/cbd-helps-reduce-covid-19-lung-damage-by-increasing-levels-of-protective-peptide/
In closing, just know there are natural ways to combat any virus including cv-19 AND Without any residual negative side effects.
Any questions on the technique I suggest or any info within this write up feel free to reach out by emailing me and also Check out my CBD Education page on FB to learn more on Cannabis and CBD Oil: @ CBD for the Healthy Life