Waking Up and Literally Smelling the Coffee: Inducing Olfactory Function with 3-Phase Auricular Therapy

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Neurology
• Integrative Medicine

Background:

• Olfactory dysfunction, or loss of smell, often proves resistant to conventional treatments.
• Cases of anosmia unrelated to trauma or infection are frequently overlooked and deemed untreatable.

Observation:

• A 20-year-old male patient presented with congenital anosmia (lifelong absence of smell).
• The patient underwent a single session of 3-phase auricular therapy (3PAT), involving electrical stimulation and semipermanent ear acupuncture needle insertion.

Findings:

• Following 3PAT, the patient regained a sense of smell approximately one month after needle insertion.
• The acquired sense of smell was sustained naturally in response to the 3PAT intervention.

Implications:

• 3-phase auricular therapy (3PAT) presents a potential treatment option for olfactory dysfunction, especially when the cause is unknown.
• This case highlights the need to consider 3PAT for patients with refractory or idiopathic anosmia.