Acupuncture restores sense of smell post COVID

As an Acupuncturist, I have had a number of patients with “Long COVID.” What is unfortunate is that I often see people who have been suffering for months because they have no idea that Acupuncture is a beneficial intervention.

In my professional experience, I have had many more patients who have improved than who have experienced no change from an Acupuncture treatment protocol.

My greatest accomplishment was the nurse who hadn’t slept for three months because every time she would lay down she had a barking, chest rattling cough. After the first treatment she had a total abatement of symptoms - no more cough. I saw her for follow-up a handful of times to make sure she didn’t relapse and also because she enjoyed the treatment.

Then there was the barista who lost her sense of smell in December 2020. I knew it was a long shot that she could get any improvement with Acupuncture because of the length of time. She had minimal improvement after two treatments. Certainly, it would take more time and more treatments to understand if changes could be made, but then…

I GOT COVID! I’m Moderna vaccinated and Pfizer boosted. I got COVID from eating at a restaurant (it was worth it - if you’ve had the biscuits at Ruth’s Diner, then you know). Though my case was not severe, it was far from easy.

This experience afforded me the opportunity to use Acupuncture on myself to treat one of the more baffling symptoms - loss of sense of smell.

I figured that I would lose my sense of smell because after a few days of coughing and congestion, I began to experience a feeling like my nostrils were burnt - but a cold burnt. It’s hard to describe and now I understand the things patients have been reporting.

I was applying my favorite rose scented lotion when I realized it was happening. I sniffed my arm and it smelled like cardboard.

First, I reached for my phone and did what most people do - I googled. I found an article that stated 1 in 10 people have reported that their sense of smell has not returned. I panicked!

The needles went in lickety-split: DU 23, UB 5, YT, LI 4. I tried to needle Bi Tong but flinched too much. I relaxed for 20 minutes. Not really relaxed because every couple of minutes I tested my sniffer - can I smell rose? Soon I was able to smell Rose again. I did further tests. Oddly, it remained a challenge to smell Lavender, Thyme, Clove - anything with a “cleansing” property - for another day or so. But, it returned.

Some will say: well, who knows if the result was due to the Acupuncture or if it would’ve come back anyway. That is true. I cannot say for certain. I hope someone somewhere is studying this.

But here is the thing… I didn’t hurt myself. I didn’t have to subject myself to anything “experimental” because Acupuncture has been used for THOUSANDS of years. Though COVID is new to humans, Anosmia (loss of sense of smell) is not. And Acupuncture has been used to treat Anosmia and all of the symptoms that we are seeing now in COVID, for thousands of years.

So, don’t wait! Early intervention is best. Worst that can happen is you’ll have a lovely meditation and enjoy a cascade of dopamine, serotonin, and other “feel good” neurotransmitters while your body's immune system gets the opportunity to work more powerfully in a state of rest.