Q My doctor said there was not much they could do at a conventional clinic. Is Korean medicine effective for smell disorders?
A Conventional medicine uses steroids, antivirals and other agents depending on the cause, but established drug therapies for chronic smell disorders are limited. Korean medicine approaches the problem by improving the environment for mucosal regeneration and promoting blood flow in the nasal cavity to support nerve recovery. In particular, when an underlying qi deficiency (giheo) is present, as in post-COVID conditions, qi-tonifying (bogi) plus passage-opening (tonggyu) prescriptions can be helpful.
Detailed Answer
For chronic smell disorders, Western medicine sometimes uses oral steroids, but these carry concerns about side effects, and approved drugs for post-viral smell loss are limited. Amid this unmet need, zinc supplements, omega-3, and olfactory training are tried as adjunctive measures.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang, we use tailored prescriptions centered on lung-tonifying (bopye) and passage-opening (tonggyu) to improve blood flow and the regeneration environment of the nasal mucosa. When lung qi deficiency (pyegiheo) and phlegm-fluid are the main background, we apply formulas in the Bojung-ikgi-tang family and Changi-san, and directly relieve congestion with nasal bloodletting. In cases such as post-COVID conditions where vital energy is severely depleted, we manage heat-clearing detoxification and recovery of vital energy in stages. Many patients come for adjunctive care when recovery remains incomplete even after finishing conventional treatment.
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