Smell training after COVID-19 accelerates the recovery of the failed sense of smell
Berlin – The loss of the sense of smell in the case of a SARS-CoV2 infection is not uncommon, but in most cases it recovers and this can also be accelerated by exercises with a few scents.
"Almost ten percent of COVID-19 infections can make themselves felt in this way"
Overall, about 50 to 60 percent of all corona patients are affected. The observation that 80 to 95 percent of them can smell like before after a few weeks or two months at the latest is reassuring for this proportion of COVID-19 patients.
For the others, who make up about two and a half to eight percent of COVID patients, the olfactory failure lasts longer. From other illnesses it is concluded that in around two thirds of the few who cannot smell again for a long time, the sense of smell regenerates after months or even years, but in one third not.
According to Hummel, it is not yet understood in detail how the acquired damage caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus comes about. However, the fact that most people's olfactory function recovers relatively quickly within weeks speaks against real nerve damage.
It is assumed that the viruses attach themselves to the cells of the olfactory epithelium and damage them. Even if these sensory cells die as a result of the damage, they can regenerate with the help of the basal cells.
"But regrowth takes time," is the scent specialist's appeal to the patients' patience. From the olfactory epithelium of the nose, the cell extensions have to cover a certain distance to reach their connection in the brain.
Smelling can be practiced again
"However, this recovery can be accelerated," explained Hummel. The well-established smell training can double to triple the speed of recovery. All you have to do is train your sense of smell regularly with four different fragrances.
Established here are strong odors that should address as many different classes of olfactory receptors as possible. Hummel named the scents "rose", "lemon", "eucalyptus" and "clove".
More than 400 are known, but these four are enough, because otherwise the practice times would end up being too long and then possibly not kept. The ENT doctor emphasized the importance of regular smelling for a sufficiently long period of time: patients should practice half a minute with each scent every morning and every evening.