Smelling salts are a type of chemical compound used to stimulate the senses and restore consciousness after fainting. They have been used for hundreds of years as a medicinal tool to prevent or remedy fainting, but have gone out of style in most medicinal circles. Smelling salts are made of a chemical, usually ammonia, that has a very strong smell. When the smelling salts are put under the nose of someone who has fainted, the sharp smell causes them to wake up again. The fumes from smelling salts are harsh and irritate the interior of the nose, causing the lungs to quickly breathe deeply to clear the nasal passage.
Smelling salts are typically used to revive people who have fainted or who feel lightheaded and dizzy. They are also used on athletes, particularly boxers, who have been dazed or knocked unconscious to restore consciousness and mental alertness. The usual active compound in smelling salts is ammonia, which irritates a person’s nasal and lung membranes when they sniff it. The result is that the person involuntarily inhales and starts to breathe faster, which sends more oxygen to the brain.
While smelling salts are generally safe when used as directed, prolonged inhalation may result in permanent lung damage or death. Ammonia is a corrosive chemical that can irritate and burn what it comes in contact with, so it is important to avoid contact with skin and eyes. If smelling salts get into your eyes, rinse your eyes gently with water and contact poison control, your doctor, or an emergency room. If the salts come in contact with your skin, rinse the affected area with water.
