Smelling salts, also referred to as fragrant ammonia, are a stimulant that’s inhaled by way of the nostril. They’re usually used to revive somebody who has fainted or is feeling faint. Smelling salts work by irritating the mucous membranes within the nostril, which triggers a reflex that stimulates the respiratory and circulatory techniques. This might help to extend coronary heart charge, blood stress, and respiration.
Smelling salts have been used for hundreds of years to deal with quite a lot of situations, together with fainting, shock, and nausea. They’re additionally typically utilized by athletes to enhance efficiency. Nonetheless, smelling salts must be used with warning, as they’ll trigger negative effects comparable to dizziness, headache, and seizures.