Aromatic salts are now banned in most boxing competitions. They are also used as a form of stimulant in athletic competitions (such as weightlifting, strongman, rugby, and ice hockey) to awaken competitors to perform better. Ammonia-smelling salts, while legal, are banned in most boxing competitions and organizations. To understand why you'll need a little bit of information about aromatic salts.
Aromatic salts have existed since the 13th century. They're available at nearly every major online retailer and at some brick-and-mortar pharmacies. They are affordable and not banned by major professional sports leagues, the NCAA, or high school sports associations. All of this might lead you to think that aromatic salts are perfectly safe, but that's not necessarily the case.
While no studies have shown them to be dangerous, they haven't shown them to be extremely safe either. Professional athletes may be able to get away with it, but they're probably not a good idea for younger athletes. Inhaling ammonia before lifting heavy objects and during competition is a widely accepted ritual among weightlifters and other athletes. Using a substance to override the body's natural defenses is simply not smart, which is why aromatic salts have been banned for decades in professional boxing.
At first, I never used salts with a lot of odor, and I've noticed that I use them less and less as time goes on. Thanks to their invigorating nature, aromatic salts were used for centuries to revive people who fainted or fainted. You may have some memories of learning about the toxic properties of ammonia at school, however, the dose does matter here, and it has been determined that trace amounts of the aromatic salts are safe for use and you will most likely even find ammonia in common household cleaning products. When it comes to the aromatic salts you see in the gym or at weight-lifting meetings, it's actually the same product and the contents of the bottles or capsules are what is called “aromatic ammonia liqueur”.
Next, I'll look at whether aromatic salts are safe to use and some organizations where their use is prohibited. You can also buy aromatic salts in bottles that you can use more than once; just open the top of the bottle, smell the contents and close the lid again. The amount of ammonia gas produced by aromatic salts is so minuscule that no adverse effects derived from their use have been described in the scientific literature. Aromatic salts are considered safe for adults and have been shown to have few or no adverse effects because the concentration of ammonia in a dose is too low to be toxic with occasional use.
If you're like me and the mere thought of increasing your excitement before waking up makes you sick, you might want to opt for some earplugs, time alone, and words of encouragement from your friends instead of smelling salts. Therefore, aromatic salts are not bottles filled with pure ammonia, since it would be too high a dose and could cause very serious side effects. When legal, fighters who could barely stand would sniff out aromatic salts between rounds and regain clarity. It is true that aromatic salts increase alertness and, potentially, gross motor strength, but they do so at the cost of losing fine motor skills and the ability to make decisions.
However, since aromatic salts irritate the nasal passages and lungs, you probably shouldn't use them every time you lift objects or play sports...
