Note 17
Are smelling salts bad for you?
A short inhale is the point. Lingering is the problem.
People ask if smelling salts are bad for you because ammonia is irritating. Yes. That is why they work. The useful version of the answer is about dose and distance, not a yes-or-no on the internet.
What a short inhale does
Ammonia inhalants trigger a reflex. Breathing rate goes up. You feel awake. The sensation passes. Used that way, on adult athletes, they have been on benches and platforms for a long time. Used as a toy — face in the bottle, back-to-back hits, kids in the room — they are a stupid way to burn a nose and a pair of lungs.
Do not drink them. Do not put them in a drink. Do not hold the bottle under your nose between sets for fun. If it bothers you, stop. If you have asthma, a sinus problem, or a doctor who already told you no, listen to the doctor.
The adult rules
- A few inches off the nose, not inside it.
- One short breath.
- Cap on immediately.
- Away from children.
- Not a medical treatment for a real emergency.
The longer caution lives on The Hit and the FAQ. The bottle, if you still want it, is here.