For those who have a weakened sense of smell, acupuncture can help you restore it and enjoy the smell of your favorite aroma.
Traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA), where very thin needles are used to stimulate specific points in the body, may be an effective treatment option for patients who suffer from loss of smell.
Persistent post-viral olfactory dysfunction (PVOD), resulting in loss of smell, can profoundly influence a patient’s quality of life. The sense of smell determines the flavor of foods and beverages and serves as an early warning system for the detection of environmental hazards, such as spoiled food, leaking natural gas, smoke or airborne pollutants. The loss or distortion of smell can adversely influence food preference, food intake, and appetite.
Approximately 2 million Americans experience some type of olfactory dysfunction. One of the most frequent causes is an upper respiratory tract infection (URI). Patients frequently complain of smell loss following a viral URI. The smell loss is usually partial, and reversible. Occasionally, however, patients may also suffer from parosmia, a distortion of the sense of smell, phantosmia, smelling things that are not there, or permanent damage of the olfactory system.
To date, there is no validated pharmacotherapy for PVOD, but attempts have been made to establish a standardized treatment using systemic and topical steroids, vitamin B supplements, caroverine, alpha lipoic acid and other drugs. Researchers point out that, in addition to these treatments, patients are seeking complementary and alternative medicines on their own, and they suggest that traditional Western medicine should explore and validate their usefulness.
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