Aromatic salts became popular in boxing, where their use was eventually banned. Trauma patients often suffer from neck injuries that may go unnoticed. The first response to the noxious smell is to suddenly take your head away from the stimulus. This can lead to dislocation of an injured spine and possible paralysis.
In the 1970s, aromatic salts were finally banned from boxing because they could hide the symptoms of a concussion. This is not due to the inherent dangers of ammonia gas. Ammonia gas isn't inherently dangerous, as our body even produces it, but its use in boxing can mask more serious injuries. Fragrant salts are often used by athletes (especially boxers) who have become stunned or unconscious to regain consciousness and mental alertness.
Today, aromatic salts are banned in most boxing competitions. Later, the formulation of these ammonia solutions from horns and hooves chips in the 17th century gave rise to the alternative name for aromatic salts, schnapps or roe deer salt. Basically, aromatic salts serve to reactivate the respiratory system because the brain receives a strong stimulus (the smell) that it thinks is bad. The use of aromatic ammonia salts to revive people injured during sports is not recommended, as they can inhibit or delay adequate and thorough neurological evaluation by a health professional, for example, after a concussion, when hospitalization may be advisable, and some government bodies specifically recommend not using them.
Despite numerous testimonials from athletes supporting aromatic salts and their benefits, there is no scientific evidence to validate this argument. Not surprisingly, hockey players use aromatic salts to give them the energy and focus they need to process everything that happens on the field in a matter of seconds. Weightlifters and other athletes use fragrant salts to go to the gym to prepare for a hard lift or intense mental exercise. In the National Football League, aromatic salts are especially popular with defensive linemen and linemen in similar positions, who experience a lot of physical contact during the game.
When I played for the Steelers and they rang my bell, I would pick up aromatic salts and come out again. As aromatic salts spread across Europe, they became famous as a treatment for fainting and other forms of syncope, headaches, fatigue, and other symptoms. Therefore, aromatic salts are also used in the NHL to regain consciousness, recover and quickly return to the game. Aromatic salts have been used since Roman times and are mentioned in Pliny's writings as Hammoniacus sal.
Although aromatic salts have been banned in boxing for years, they are still legal and are used in many sports. The use of aromatic salts in American sports was first popularized in boxing, as trainers used it to revive wrestlers who had been stunned or left unconscious.
