An Anosmic Only Wishes They Could Smell the Coffee

How often were we metaphorically told by our parents to "Wake up and smell the coffee!!" when they were telling us to try and pay attention to what was going on around us.  However, for someone who has anosmia this is impossible to do.  Today we are going to shed some light on this smell disorder, which according to the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation affects almost 4 million people nationwide and 80,000 in the Chicago area alone (2014).

 

 

What is Anosmia?

     The American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) defines anosmia as the complete absence of smell which can be caused by sinusitis, viral infections, chronic inflammation, congenital,  aging, or a traumatic injury such as a blow to the head (2011).  A recent article in the Chicago Tribune (6/8/2014) stated that there are no preventative measures or treatment options for those with smell disorders and even less scientists who complete research in this field.  This article also noted that anosmics "report higher levels of depression, anxiety, and social isolation . . . They also describe themselves as being disconnected and missing out on something" (2014).  Let's take a look at the importance of the sense of smell.

What Smell Means to Us

     Throughout a given day we are exposed to aromas that are both pleasing as well as noxious to our overall wellbeing: the smells of chocolate, coffee, flowers, chlorine bleach, and smoke.  Those of us with a working olfactory system take these aromas for granted, but for the anosmic person the lack of smell can be emotionally as well as physically devastating.

     ACHS tells us that not only does our sense of smell offer us pleasant memories of days gone by such as the odor of fresh baked bread, it is a protective mechanism as well (2011).  It is noted that even while in a deep sleep our olfactory system is continuously monitoring the environment.  For example, many people have been awaken to the smell of smoke to find the early stages of a house fire.  Imagine that you have anosmia, no smoke detectors in the home, and the house catches on fire.  Needless to say, that individual may be put in harm's way.  The referenced Chicago Tribune article related the story of a woman with anosmia who was unable to detect the odor of natural gas when she accidentally left a stove burner partially open (2014)

 

     Another feature of the olfactory system is that it is tied closely together with our sense of taste.  Imagine inhaling the aroma of a well seasoned steak cooking slowly on the grill, and suddenly your mouth waters.  This is the important first step in the activation of our digestive system as the saliva (which breaks down carbohydrates), and the digestive juices (hydrochloric acid in the stomach and the pancreatic enzymes) await that all important first bite (ACHS, 2011).  If one is unable to smell, this cascade of events does not readily occur prior to consumption of food.

 

     Additionally,  the loss of smell affects the ability to detect flavors, although an anosmic can still respond to the five basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy.  All other flavors come from the catalog of aromas that we have collected in the library of our brains from the moment of birth.  To put this in perspective, think back to when you have had a nasty cold or sinus infection with mucus that blocks your nasal passages.  What do you remember about this experience?  Generally, both our sense of smell and taste has been diminished to the point that non-distinct flavors seem bland or taste the same.  This is especially disheartening when a well appointed meal that was crafted with labor and love is placed before you.  This is the life that an anosmic leads.

    For a person that was born with the sense of smell but lost it later in life,  the frustration level can be elevated.  He or she longs for the day where they can savor the flavor of chocolate ice cream or an ice cold beer as reported by one anosmic who was interviewed by the Tribune (2014).  After reading this article, I recalled research that I learned during my days as a student at ACHS.  Let's see what they had to say.

Can Aromatherapy Still Work?

     During my Introduction to Aromatherapy class, the topic of anosmia was discussed and included a study that showed promise concerning the pharmacological effects of essential oils.  The study conducted by Nasel, et. al, asked nine research participants (1 diagnosed with anosmia) to inhale 1,8 cineole (found in many essential oils such as eucalyptus) for 25 minutes.  Cerebral (brain) blood flow was measured both pre and post inhalation.  The measured results found an increase in blood flow for all subjects involved, including the anosmic (ACHS, 2011).  So what is the significance of this study?

     If you recall from a prior post, therapeutic grade essential oils contain active constituents (similar to active drug ingredients), which have specific pharmacological  effects on the body depending on the oil.  1, 8 cineole is a constituent found in the oil eucalyptus eucalyptus globulus, which has both decongestant and expectorant properties.  This constituent supports the body in clearing both the nasal and bronchial passages of mucus (remember the chest and head cold).  Basically, the research concluded that  regardless of one's ability to smell, the active constituent still produced the same measurable results in all study participants (1994).  Following this hypothesis, if an anosmic was exposed to eucalyptus during a head or chest cold, one could reason that he or she would still benefit from the decongestant or expectorant effects of this oil.

     The researchers stated that it was a "reasonable hypothesis".  Remember, this was one very small study conducted in 1994 and would need to be replicated on a much larger scale to prove or disprove the hypothesis.  What it does is offer hope for an anosmic who is looking for assistance in the realm of self care strategies.   The next time someone tells you to "Wake up and smell the coffee" do not take it for granted, as millions of others in this world wish they could do so.

Resources

American College of Healthcare Sciences. (2012). Anatomy and Physiology for Aroma 101. In Aroma 101 course e-textbook pp 162-163. Portland: American College of Healthcare Sciences.

Common Chemosensory Disorders: Smell Disorders. (2014, June 14). Retrieved from the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation: http://www.smellandtaste.org/?action=disorders&load_popup#popup4

Deardorff, J. (2014, June 8). Wake up, but you can't smell the bacon. The Chicago Tribune, p. 1.

Nasel C, Nasel B, Samec O, Shindler E, Buchbauer G. (1994). Functional imaging of effects of fragrances on the human brain after prolonged inhalation. Chem Senses 19 (4) 359-364.