What are Smelling Salts? Using Smelling Salts Bad for Health?

Smelling salts have been around for centuries — first as a Victorian-era remedy for fainting, and now, as a controversial stimulant in modern sports. From hockey benches to powerlifting platforms, these tiny capsules of ammonia are cracking open a conversation about performance, safety, and ritual.
But what exactly are smelling salts, and are they as harmless as they seem?

1. How Do Smelling Salts Work?

At their core, smelling salts are a simple chemical reaction. They typically contain ammonium carbonate or ammonia gas, sealed in a small container. When the container is cracked open, the gas mixes with moisture in the air to release ammonia vapor.

When inhaled, this vapor irritates the mucous membranes in your nose and lungs, triggering an involuntary inhalation reflex.
That sudden gasp of air increases oxygen flow to the brain, stimulating alertness, focus, and sometimes a jolt of aggression — exactly why athletes, especially in high-adrenaline sports, turn to them before competition.

In short: smelling salts don’t add energy; they shock your nervous system into waking up.

2. Ritual and the Use of Smelling Salts for Sports

Over the years, smelling salts have evolved from medical kits to locker room rituals. Powerlifters, football players, and combat athletes often crack one open before a heavy lift or a big play.
The ritual has become symbolic — part mental prep, part superstition. The sharp burn in the nose, the instant clarity — it’s like flipping a psychological switch from “calm” to “chaos mode.”

In sports psychology terms, it’s an anchor — a sensory trigger that signals “go-time.”
For some, it’s less about the chemical and more about the mental association with intensity.

But that line between ritual and reliance can get blurry fast.

3. Smelling Salts in Hockey: Ritual vs. Reason

No sport embodies this ritual quite like hockey. Watch any NHL bench, and you’ll see players snapping salts before faceoffs or penalty kills.
It’s not because they’re tired — it’s because the ritual has become ingrained in the sport’s culture.

Smelling salts offer that split-second adrenaline rush, helping players feel “awake” during the grind of a long game.
However, experts note that the effect is largely psychological, not performance-enhancing in any physiological sense.

The concern isn’t the occasional use — it’s when it becomes a dependency ritual, where athletes feel they can’t perform without it.
That’s when a simple whiff becomes a mental crutch.

4. Are There Any Dangers to Using Smelling Salts?

In moderation, smelling salts are not inherently dangerous.
However, misuse or overexposure can quickly cross the line from harmless to harmful.

Ammonia is a caustic irritant. Inhaling it too closely or too often can cause:

1. Burning of nasal passages and throat

2. Eye irritation

3. Coughing or shortness of breath

4. Headaches or nausea

In rare cases, direct exposure can even cause chemical burns on the mucous membranes.
The bigger concern is chronic exposure — athletes using them as routine pre-game stimulants without understanding the risks.

5. Side Effects of Smelling Salts

Let’s break down the side effects — both short and long-term — that athletes and users may face.

Short-Term Effects:

1. Rapid alertness and increased focus (temporary)

2. Nasal irritation or stinging sensation

3. Eye watering and coughing

4. Elevated heart rate or blood pressure

Long-Term or Repetitive Use Effects:

• Persistent irritation in the respiratory tract

• Reduced sensitivity to ammonia over time

• Psychological dependence on the “kick” for focus

• Dizziness or lightheadedness from improper inhalation distance

The irony? What starts as a focus enhancer can lead to reduced performance if the body becomes desensitized or dependent.

6. Do Smelling Salts Cause Injury?

Direct injuries from smelling salts are rare, but indirect risks exist.
For example, an athlete recovering from a concussion or fainting episode might use smelling salts to “wake up.”
That’s dangerous — because it masks symptoms that need medical attention.

Instead of resting or getting checked, athletes might push through injuries thinking they’re fine, when in fact, they’re worsening their condition.

Medically speaking, smelling salts should never be used as a replacement for proper evaluation or first aid.

7. Long-Term Effects of Smelling Salts

Long-term data is limited, but anecdotal and clinical reports suggest potential consequences from chronic exposure.

1. Respiratory damage: Repeated irritation can lead to inflammation or reduced nasal function.

2. Desensitization: Overuse dulls the reflex, requiring stronger exposure to get the same “kick.”

3. Mental reliance: Some athletes report feeling “off” or sluggish without the ritual, indicating psychological habituation.

While not addictive in a chemical sense, the ritualistic dependency mirrors the same behavioral loops seen with caffeine or pre-workout supplements — it’s about the need for the trigger, not the trigger itself.

8. Have Other Sports Organizations Banned Smelling Salts?

Currently, no major sports governing body — including the NHL, NFL, or IOC — has banned smelling salts.
However, several medical commissions and sports physicians have voiced concerns about their use, especially in youth and amateur sports.

Some teams have introduced guidelines discouraging players from routine use, particularly before every match or shift.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) does not classify smelling salts as a banned substance, but does list them as a substance of concern for future review.

As sports medicine evolves, we might see more structured regulation — not outright bans, but controlled awareness of how and when to use them.

Final Takeaway: A Whiff of Caution

Smelling salts walk the fine line between ritual and risk.
Used sparingly, they can sharpen focus and enhance readiness. But over time, what starts as a harmless habit can spiral into dependence, irritation, or injury.

So before you crack that capsule and take a whiff, remember:
Performance comes from preparation, not from ammonia.