Patients affected with Covid 19 often present with loss of smell which may be complete or partial. It is frequently accompanied by a decrease in taste for some flavors. Most cases recover their sense of smell in 8-10 days, but a percentage of them do not recover it.
Loss of smell following upper tract respiratory viral infection has been reported previously with other viruses. It appears more frequently in women and in people over 40 years of age.
The usual medical treatment consists of the administration of corticosteroids and B vitamins, but no efficacy has been demonstrated for the recovery of the sense of smell.
In contrast, acupuncture has shown efficacy in treating loss of smell following viral infection.
Acupuncture has shown efficacy in treating loss of smell following viral infection.
Recent studies show that acupuncture regulates the microcirculation of the nasal mucosa, improving olfaction.
Over the past few months, I have been treating patients with Covid loss of smell with acupuncture and a high percentage regain almost full smell. Acupuncture is combined with olfactory training exercises
The earlier the acupuncture treatment is performed, the more quickly the sense of smell is restored.
Scientific studies on post-viral smell loss and acupuncture:
- Hunter JE, Phillips ME, Walker FDL, Busby D. (2021)Post-viral olfactory dysfunction treated with acupuncture. Acupunct Med. 2021 Dec;39(6):738-739. doi: 10.1177/09645284211026315. Epub 2021 Jul 20. PMID: 34284636.
- Qi Dai, Zhihui Pang et al. (2016). Recovery of Olfactory Function in Postviral Olfactory Dysfunction Patients after Acupuncture Treatment. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Volume 2016, Article ID 4986034. dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/4986034
- Julia Vent, MD, PhD, Djin-Wue Wang, MD et al. (2010). Effects of traditional Chinese acupuncture in post-viral olfactory dysfunction. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (2010) 142, 505-509. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2010.01.012
