Arnaud Pontin (Image : AI / Gay Globe)
Who would have thought it? Certainly not me. Yet an old chemical product once used to revive unconscious people in the 1950s, often seen in classic cinema, has over time become a substance sometimes associated with dependence. I am referring to ammonia salts.
Ammonia salts, also known as “smelling salts,” were primarily used to wake or revive a person who had fainted or was on the verge of losing consciousness.
When held near the nose, ammonia releases an extremely strong and irritating odor that stimulates the nasal mucous membranes and triggers an inhalation reflex. This reaction temporarily increases alertness and can help someone regain consciousness after a mild fainting episode.
Very popular throughout the 19th century and much of the 20th century, ammonia salts were part of the standard medical toolkit. Doctors, nurses, and first responders frequently used them to assist people who had fainted. They were also commonly found in first aid kits and were sometimes given to women experiencing what was then called “fainting spells” or “vapors,” according to the terminology of the time. Some athletes and combat sports practitioners also used them to gain a brief boost in alertness.
Ammonia salts also left a strong mark on popular culture through cinema. In many films from the 1940s and 1950s, a classic scene would show a character holding a small bottle under the nose of an unconscious person to bring them back to consciousness.
Over time, their medical use declined, but they did not disappear. They were gradually adopted in certain sports environments—boxing, American football, weightlifting—to briefly enhance alertness before intense physical effort. This is where their image began to shift: they became associated not only with medical care but also with performance enhancement.
In some cases, repeated use may create the impression of a psychological “need,” particularly among athletes who rely on them before competition. However, this is not a chemical addiction: there is no mechanism of tolerance or withdrawal comparable to that of real drugs.
Ammonia salts are not listed as doping substances by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). To date, no solid scientific evidence demonstrates that they significantly improve long-term physical performance or athletic ability.
Nevertheless, their use remains controversial. While these substances do not cause chemical addiction like classical drugs, some experts suggest a possible psychological habituation among athletes who believe they need them to perform. This perceived dependence can become part of pre-performance rituals, even though no biological addiction mechanism has been established.
The health risks, however, are very real. Frequent use or exposure too close to the nose or eyes can cause severe irritation, chemical burns, and damage to the respiratory tract.
In response to these risks, some sports organizations have taken action. Hockey Québec, for example, prohibits the use of these products among young athletes. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also issued warnings against the unregulated marketing of ammonia salts as energy “boosters.”
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