Smelling Salts or Ammonia Inhalants – Composition, Uses, Risks

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Smelling Salts or Ammonia Inhalants
(photo credit: Killerlimpet, CC 4.0)

Smelling salts or ammonia inhalants are chemical compounds that stimulate consciousness and revive individuals feeling faint, dizzy, or unresponsive. For alert individuals, they may offer a brief performance boost. People primarily use smelling salts in medical, athletic, and emergency settings to provoke a rapid respiratory response. Ammonium carbonate, the main component of smelling salts, releases ammonia gas when activated, irritating the mucous membranes of the nose and lungs, producing an involuntary reflex that increases respiration and alertness.

Key Concepts

  • Smelling salts stimulate consciousness and alertness using ammonia gas to irritate the nasal mucosa and stimulate respiratory and sympathetic nervous responses.
  • They are a crystalline solid or aqueous solution in sealed container.
  • The product has a strong, pungent ammonia scent similar to cleaning products.
  • Smelling salts are effective for immediate, short-term alertness boosts.
  • While safe with responsible use, chronic or inappropriate use poses health concerns.

What Are Smelling Salts?

Smelling salts are solid ammonium carbonate, while modern ammonia inhalants are water-based ammonia solutions. In both cases, they release ammonia into the air. The scent irritates the nose and lungs, triggering an inhalation reflex.

  • Appearance and Construction: Smelling salts typically come in small packets, capsules, or ampoules containing a white crystalline solid or an aqueous solution. Manufacturers seal these to prevent the escape of ammonia gas until use. Modern smelling salts are usually in breakable vials that release the pungent vapor when cracked open, whereas traditional forms consist of a solid in a small container that can be sniffed directly.
  • Composition: Historically, smelling salts consisted of solid ammonium carbonate ((NH4)2CO3) mixed with aromatic substances like lavender or rose oils. Modern formulations use a mixture of ammonium carbonate and water, stabilized with ammonia (NH₃) in an aqueous solution. This combination produces ammonia gas, the active agent that stimulates the nasal passages.
  • Usage: To use smelling salts, you open or break the container, releasing the ammonia gas. You then hold the salts a short distance from the nostrils (10–15 cm or 4–6 in) and inhale the pungent vapor. This provokes almost immediate stimulation of the respiratory system.
  • Odor Description: Smelling salts emit a sharp, pungent, and acrid smell, often compared to glass cleaner, old urine, or household ammonia. The odor is overpowering and unpleasant but effectively revives someone from lightheadedness or unconsciousness.

Historical vs. Modern Smelling Salts

  • Historical Smelling Salts: Traditional smelling salts were solid ammonium carbonate, which sublimates to release ammonia gas when exposed to air. People stored these in ornate containers or small bottles. These “vinaigrettes” were common in Victorian times.
  • Modern Smelling Salts: Today, smelling salts are more often aqueous solutions, where ammonium carbonate dissolves in water. This modern form allows for controlled usage and is popular in sports. Athletes use them to quickly regain focus or alertness.

History of Smelling Salts Usage

  • Origins and Early Use: People have used smelling salts since ancient times. References date back to the Roman Empire. They gained popularity during the Victorian era (1837–1901), where women used them to counteract fainting from tight corsets and warm environments.
  • Application Over Time: Over time, smelling salts found use among soldiers, sailors, and workers in various professions to maintain alertness or recover from fainting. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, they were a staple in first aid kits and hospitals to revive unconscious patients.
  • Modern Uses: Today, athletes in sports like football, hockey, and weightlifting use smelling salts to enhance focus and alertness. For a while, they were popular in boxing, but most fights now prohibit their use. Emergency responders also use them to quickly assess consciousness levels in unresponsive individuals.

How Smelling Salts Work

  • Mechanism of Action: When someone inhales ammonia gas, the irritant stimulates the nasal mucosa and the trigeminal nerve, sending signals to the brain that trigger an involuntary reflex. This action results in sudden inhalation, increased heart rate, and heightened alertness, effectively activating the sympathetic nervous system and boosting blood flow and overall arousal.
  • Effectiveness: Smelling salts effectively revive consciousness and provide a quick boost of alertness, though they do not address the underlying causes of fainting or dizziness. They serve as an immediate, temporary intervention rather than a cure.

Are Smelling Salts Safe? Risks and Safety

Inhaling ammonia is not a great idea overall, but the limited use and low concentrations in smelling salts generally offer a safe experience.

  • Side Effects and Risks: While smelling salts can revive someone quickly, their use comes with risks:
    • Respiratory Irritation: Inhaling concentrated ammonia gas causes burning sensations in the nose, throat, and lungs.
    • Eye Irritation: The vapor irritates the eyes, causing tearing and discomfort.
    • Aggravation of Respiratory Conditions: People with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or other respiratory conditions may experience worsened symptoms.
    • Misuse in Sports: Regular use in sports may lead to reliance on smelling salts for focus or performance.
    • Aggravation of Cervical Injury: While the inhalation response doesn’t provoke neck movement, if a person turns away from the odor, there is a potential risk of aggravating a neck or spinal injury.
  • Safety Concerns: Smelling salts are generally safe when used as intended—in brief, controlled inhalations during emergencies. However, chronic or inappropriate use poses health risks. Prolonged exposure to ammonia gas or brief exposure to high concentrations is potentially fatal.
  • Validity of Concerns: Concerns over smelling salts in sports are valid, considering the potential for respiratory irritation or misuse. Nonetheless, occasional and responsible use carries minimal risk.

References