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Kayla (Beaverton) on 01/03/2023:
Regaining Taste and Smell
My naturopathic doctor told me to use castor oil to regain smell.
I did some research and found some instructions. Never warm any oil too hot it will destroy the healing properties. I think lukewarm is the key or don't warm it at all.
Gently warm castor oil on the stove or microwave. Make sure it is warm and not hot.
Place two drops of oil in each nostril twice a day: once upon waking and right before sleep.
After using saline rinse and prescribed medication, I am happy to report today I can smell. I lost that sense for a couple of months. Castor oil is the remedy. I can smell again. I know it will improve with time. I'm sold, I feel like pressure is lifted from my sinuses. Remember its only day one and Im estatic.
Castor oil is beginning to work for me, lost smell and taste for many months, Growth in my left lower cavity on MRI, I used Qtip to swath entire nostril cavities twice a day basically one drop each side months without taste or smell, taste and smell are returning after a week.
If the loss of sense of smell is caused by a brain injury, castor oil will probably not help.
If the lost of sense of smell is caused by polyps or infection or scar tissue in the nose, the castor oil may heal those conditions over time, restoring the sense of smell.
Castor oil is a surprisingly powerful healing oil.
I used the castor oil once in the morning and once at night. I warmed it and put it in each nostril with an eye dropper. I did this for three weeks and my sense of smell and taste is returning; however, how long do I need to do this for and if I stop will I lose smell again?
All of the post that I've read, both here and other sites, says to use a drop or two in every nostril morning and night. I've made myself a 60-40% Castor oil and tea tree oil mixture. I've been putting this on a Q-tip ( Cotton bud in UK, I understand), But have not had much luck bringing back my sense of smell. But I'm going to try tilting my head back over the side of my bed. And applying the oil this way. I really hope it works, I'll try to keep up on here, and let everyone know. I'm suffering from Nasal Polyps, they're not very big, but located where they block my Olfactory glands. Good Luck, and God Bless!
If using castor oil internally for the nose, get one marked "Hexane Free". Hexane is a bad chemical to turn loose in the body. Health Food Stores usually carry the Hexane Free and yes it costs a bit more but so worth it.
I lost my sense of taste and smell after taking about 6 zinc lozenges over a 2 day period - only noticed it after the cold ended and I still had no taste or smell. I regained it by using castor oil one drop in each nostril morning and evening in addition to smelling raw garlic and onion several times per day.
I have had a diminished sense of taste and smell for over a month, following a bad bout with the flu and pretty bad congestion. I have spent hours searching for cures online. I have been irrigating my sinuses with warm saline for about 2-1/2 weeks and it seems to have helped somewhat. Then I read an article about "re-training" your brain by smelling things with strong odors (coffee, cloves, pine, etc). That helped a bit but not substantially becuase I could only smell those things in a diminished way.
I finally came across the posts about castor oil a couple of days ago and just went out and bought some today.
After trying it just once this afternoon I noticed a big improvement in being able to smell things more. I am thrilled that this seems to have helped. Tonight it was chilly in the house and I put the heat on (gas heat) and for the first time in ages I could actually SMELL the heat! My food already has more flavor and I am looking forward to more improvements as I continue the castor oil treatment (one drop in each nostril; head hanging over the bed).
By all means, give it a try! The castor oil was less than $2 and really seems to be working like a charm. Thanks so much for posting this information!!
I lost my sense of smell & taste almost a year and a half ago. I had a head injury where I had broken my jaws and when the wires were removed I was physically sick every day for 3 weeks until they finally hospitalized me. During this time I lost both my smell and taste & vertigo set in.
I read, on the net, that if you swab your nose with castor oil, a thin coating, it will help & it has! I can't smell in full or properly, but it's there & that is HUGE for me!! I don't do it everyday, nor every week or month, but plan to do it more often now that I've realized just helpful this is.
Unfortunately, I cannot find that article that made the suggestion.
Since I use such a small amount of castor oil I'd think there is no risk or harm involved, but I am not a doctor and if anyone reads this and finds that statement to be inaccurate, I'd like to know.
Tanderson (St. Louis, Missouri, Usa) on 07/09/2010:
I tried it but I didn't warm it. IT WORKED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY! Thank you SO much for the castor oil suggestion! Since the smell returned, so did my lack of taste. What a great, safe remedy! I love this site. It's provided me so many wonderful suggestions and this is one of the best!
Gautam Desai (Vadara, Gujarat, India) on 03/17/2009:
I had severe problem of sinus coupled with loss of smell. Doctors suggested this is due to polyps and i had them removed about 5 years. This surgery has given temporary relief but the loss of smell continued.
Some of my friend suggested use of castor oil. I put one drop of lukewarm castor oil in morning and one drop before I sleep.
This I am doing for last 10 days and to my surprise, I got rid of my sinus problem and smelling sense is gradually coming back!