A Case of Olfactory Dysfunction Treated with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine

Olfactory dysfunction causes diminished quality of life and safety concerns for millions of patients, especially the elderly. The causes and types of olfactory dysfunction are not well understood by clinicians. Treatment for olfactory dysfunction is not standardised by cause, pharmaceutical treatment is not reliably effective and surgical treatment presents risks. This article describes the case of a 61-year-old man with olfactory dysfunction who was treated with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine after unsuccessful treatment with antibiotics and steroid sprays. The patient subsequently experienced improvement in subjectively evaluated olfaction. The author concludes that acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine may offer an effective alternative treatment for olfactory dysfunction.