How do smelling salts work?
Asked by: Terry Jenkins, London
An incredibly pungent mix of ammonia, water and ethanol, smelling salts have been used since Roman times to revive people who have fainted. They’re also used in some sports in an attempt to boost performance: many American football players believe they’re an effective stimulant.
But a review published in the British Journal Of Sports Medicine in 2006 concluded that smelling salts work because the fumes irritate the membranes in the nose and lungs, triggering a sharp intake of breath – but there is no lasting benefit.
Read more:
- Where do smells go?
- I just bought a lovely new car, so why is the smell of it making me feel sick?
- What’s in a smell?
- Has our sense of smell evolved based on what is good and bad for us?
Authors
Robert is a science writer and visiting professor of science at Aston University. He likes maths, West End musicals and hamsters.
