Anosmia (Gandhras)
ANOSMIA comes from the Greek; an [no] -osmia
[smell]. Of the five senses, smell ranks fourth in importance for humans,
although it is much more pronounced in other animals. Taste, considered the
fifth sense, is mostly the smell of food in the mouth. The sense of smell
originates from the first cranial nerves (the olfactory nerves). A small area
on the mucous membrane that lines the nose (the olfactory epithelium) contains
specialized nerve cells called smell receptors. These receptors have hair like
projections (cilia) that detect odours. Airborne molecules entering the nasal
passage stimulate the cilia, triggering a nerve impulse in nearby nerve fibers.
The fibers extend upward through the bone that
forms the roof of the nasal cavity (cribriform plate) and connect to
enlargements of nerve cells (olfactory bulbs) that form the cranial nerves of
smell (olfactory nerves). The impulse travels through the olfactory bulbs,
along the olfactory nerves, to the brain. The brain interprets the impulse as a
distinct odour. Also the area of the brain where memories of odours are stored,
the middle part of the temporal lobe is stimulated. The memories enable a
person to distinguish and identify many different odours experienced over a
lifetime.
A reduced
ability to smell (hyposmia) and loss of smell (anosmia) are the most common
disorders of smell and taste. Because distinguishing one flavor from another is
based largely on smell, people often first notice that their ability to smell
is reduced when their food seems tasteless.
Ayurveda says that everything in this universe is
made up of 5 elements so is our body:
1. From Akasha (Ether) came the Shrotendriya (organ of hearing)
2. From Vayu (Air) came the Tvagindriya (organ of touch)
3. From Agni (Fire) came the Chakshrindriya (organ of vision)
4. From Jala ( Water) came the Jihvendriya (organ of taste)
5. From Prithvi (Earth) came the Ghranendriya (organ of smell)
It must be borne in mind that Indriya does not mean
the physical organ, these are the sense perception medias. Thus it carries
connotations of dominance or control. For example, the nose is an organ. In it
is situated a subtle Indriya called Nasa (nose). If this Indriya is defective,
the person will not be able to smell although his nostrils are normal. Just as
Prana is vital for the physical body, Indriyas are vital for the organs of
perception. It should therefore be understood that the subtle elements give
rise to the Indriyas and not the organs.
The Ayurvedic texts define the source of all disease and suffering as pragyaparadh, or “the mistake of the intellect.” This occurs when individuals (or even single cells) “forget” their connection with the wholeness of life and believe themselves to be isolated entities. Creating, and then eating, genetically engineered foods expose us to pragyaparadh. We are all threads in the fabric of creation, say ancient Ayurvedic texts. To believe ourselves as a weaver, capable of successfully manipulating nature’s intelligence, is a symptom of pragyaparadh.
It is our ignorance The genetic
program of a living organism is vastly more powerful and more complex than
limited human intelligence. To keep our nasal strength good we all must be very
careful for the smells. Be it in the form of perfumes, aromas, spices, cooking,
fumes, or smoke.
Causes and symptoms
Anosmia occurs from either an obstruction in the
nose or nerve damage. An obstruction prevents odours from reaching the delicate
nerve fibers of the nose. The most common cause of anosmia is nasal occlusion
caused by rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal membranes). If no air gets to the
olfactory nerves, smell will not happen. In turn, rhinitis and nasal polyps
(growths on nasal membranes) are caused by irritants. Anosmia can also follow a
head injury or an acute or chronic attack of allergies. Many medications may
change or decrease the ability to detect odours.
The sense of
smell is often lost with disorders like tumours, or surgery of the brain. It
may also be due to zinc deficiency. Tobacco smoking is the most concentrated
form of pollution that most people will ever be exposed to. It impairs the
ability to identify odors. Hormonal disturbances or dental problems are also a
cause. Anosmia can occur as a part of other loss of function of the brain. With
the loss of sense of smell there can also be a loss of taste. Distortion of
function-foods or odours that normally are pleasant may taste or smell odd or
distorted, perhaps with an unpleasant smell. Victims may not be able to
distinguish flavours.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause of a smell or taste
disorder. Nasal steams with essential oils offer relief of the blockage and
tonification of the membranes. Karpooradi oil, Eucalyp-tus oil can be used in
nasal steam.* Jala Neti– Blockages can sometimes be resolved through
naso-specific therapy – a way of realigning the nasal cavities.Neti can be
called a “nasal douche”. Take warm water, which is slightly above the body
temperature. Add salt to this water at the rate of half a teaspoon per glass of
300 ml. This is equal to the salinity of the mucous secretions in the
respiratory system. Saturated salt water has high osmotic pressure.
It is a law in physics that in Osmosis,fluid flows from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration through a semi-permeable membrane. In inflammatory conditions of nasal cavity including sinuses, there is congestion and oedema of nasal mucosa. Naturally during “Jalaneti” fluid from mucosal cells comes out which relieves the congestion and oedema very fast. This helps in better functioning of mucosal cells and also opens up closed openings of the sinuses in nasal cavity. In our nose there are nerve endings of olfactory nerve, which are responsible for our sense of smell. During “Jalaneti” these nerve endings are stimulated by saline that give us very pleasant sensations.
These pleasant sensations have a very beneficial effect on center of emotions
located in limbic systems of brain. Thus Neti improves sensitivity of the
olfactory nerves, helping to restore lost sense of smell, and thereby benefits
the relationship with taste and the digestive processes.
Nasya
It is a process by which drug is administered
through the nostrils. Nasyakarma enhance the activity of sense organs and
prevent the diseases of head (urdhwanga). The nose is the gateway to the brain
and to consciousness. Prana or vital energy enters the body through breath
taken in through the nose. Nasal administration of medication helps to correct
the disorders of prana affecting the higher cerebral, sensory and motor
functions. Nasya is indicated for dryness of the nose, sinus congestion,
hoarseness, migraine headache, neurodegenerative conditions , convulsions and
certain eye and ear problems. Oils that can be used for Nasa includes Anu tail,
Shadbindu tail, Ksheerbala tail.
Shiroabhyanga
The head massage serves to open the srotas in the
head, neck and shoulder regions. This treatment nourishes the five senses by
focusing on the ‘marma points’, many of which are located around the head.
These points, when gently massaged have a hugely calming and balancing effect
throughout the body and nervous system.
Herbs and
formulations
Tulsi, Ginger, Garlic, Cloves, Cinnamon, Licorice,
Vyoshadi vati, Agastya haritaki, Lavangadi churna, Panchamrit ras, Nardiya
Laxmivilas Ras are useful herbs and combinations in this disorder
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