Smelling salts for fainting ladies, was a great prop for the movies in the past. You can always expect a lady to faint, when the pitch of the scene changes to emotional or when a scene gears up to deliver a shocking news. And there goes a cry of, "Smelling salts, does anyone have the smelling salts for a fainting lady?". Such incidents come as no surprise to us. Try imagining Arnold Schwarzenegger needing smelling salts for a fainting act… of course, in a movie scene. Well, you are out of luck, it is always a lady who faints!
What Are Smelling Salts?
Smelling salt, which is also known as sal volatile and salt of hartshorn, is a combination of ammonium carbonate and perfume. Ammonium carbonate acts as the base for the smelling salt for fainting. It looks like plain salt, and is white in color. One common query that is most encountered is, "Do smelling salts work if someone faints?" and the other is "How to use smelling salts in such a situation?" The answer to the first question is, "Yes", it does work.
Smelling Salts and Fainting
It is known that the chemical reaction of ammonium carbonate salt, when it is mixed with the water or the perfume, produces fumes. When the smelling salt container is held under the nose, these fumes, which are strong enough to irritate the mucus membrane lining the nose, throat and lungs, revives someone from a faint. The body responds to the irritation, caused by smelling salt fumes, by increasing the rate of breathing which in turn increases the oxygen level in the blood. This works on the brain of the fainted person, making him more alert and ultimately, revives him, sorry her.
The smelling salt overdose has never been reported so far. Smelling salt dangers may come along while disposing it. It is harmful to fish in waters polluted with smelling salts. If you have accumulated large quantity of ’smelling salt for fainting’, it is good idea to store them in airy place. Accumulation of ammonia gas can create respiratory and other disorders.
Smelling Salt Recipe
The following is a smelling salt recipe:
- You start by making a mixture of salt - 1/4 cup. It will be useful to use a big container to mix these things.
- Next step involves adding 6 to 8 drops of essential oils to the above mixture. The number of drops added influences how strong the scent of the mixture will be.
- Adding 2 drops of peppermint or lemongrass or eucalyptus oil will give the mixture a sinus clearing scent. Stir the mixture thoroughly.
- Store the finished product in an airtight container for later use.
- If you want to start using it as smelling salts, sew a small pouch out of porous cloth material such as fine lace.
- Add the salts to the pouch and sew it shut.
Smelling Salts Side Effects
Ammonia gas, if inhaled in high concentration, can damage the lungs severely. However, it is not the case with smelling salts for fainting. It is advisable not to use smelling salt to revive children below 3 months of age.
Smelling Salts Formula
The chemical formula of the ammonium carbonate, which is an active ingredient of smelling salt, is ((NH4)2CO3 H2O). It is used as the smelling salt and releases ammonia gas when mixed with the water or perfumes.
Reviving someone who has fainted isn’t the only use, smelling salts are put to. It is also used to revive punched out, or knocked out boxers. Sometimes, athletes use smelling salts for fainting, as a stimulant to give themselves a wake up call. I hope by now you definitely have more than just a faint idea about smelling salts for fainting.
