2026 Volume 76 Issue 1 Pages 30-37
[Introduction] The pathology of olfactory dysfunction remains largely unknown, and diagnostic and treatment methods have not been fully established. Idiopathic olfactory dysfunction is difficult to treat and has a poor prognosis. In this report, we describe a patient with prolonged idiopathic olfactory dysfunction whose symptoms improved following Kitasato-style meridian therapy and Chinetsu-kyu style moxibustion (a method where the burning moxa is extinguished when the patient feels the heat) applied to LI20 and other acupoints. The patient's symptoms were also evaluated using a card-type odor identification test called Open Essence (OE).[Case Presentation] A 68-year-old female with olfactory dysfunction visited our acupuncture clinic. Approximately 20 years earlier, she had experienced olfactory problems and was diagnosed with a deviated nasal septum. Her sense of smell had recovered following a surgical correction of the condition. However, 12 months prior to her visit to our clinic, she again experienced a loss of smell and was diagnosed with idiopathic olfactory dysfunction. She was prescribed steroids and shoseiryuto, which were ineffective. As a result, she visited our acupuncture clinic for further treatment. [Time course, Results] Acupuncture and moxibustion were performed once a week for olfactory dysfunction, and the outcome was evaluated using the OE. In addition to the main treatment based on Kitasato-style meridian therapy, which incorporates pulse diagnosis and basic acupoints selected based on pulse diagnosis, we applied acupuncture at LI20, LI4, and ST41, and warm-needle moxibustion at BL52. At the third visit, the OE score was 4 out of 12. We also applied three cones of Chinetsu-kyu at HN8, HN3, and GV20. At the sixth visit, the OE score was 5. We applied acupuncture and five cones of Chinetsu-kyu at GV24, HN3, LI20, LI4, and ST41. At the eleventh visit, the OE score was 6. The patient reported being able to perceive the odor immediately upon exposure to the test stimulus and expressed satisfaction with the outcome. This represented an improvement compared with the previous OE.[Discussion] We present a case in which Kitasato-style meridian therapy and Chinetsu-kyu style moxibustion to LI20 were provided to a patient with prolonged idiopathic olfactory dysfunction, and the improvements were objectively captured and evaluated using an olfactory discrimination ability survey card kit. Moving forward, we hope to continue accumulating cases of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment, while incorporating the use of safer electric moxibustion equipment and objective clinical evaluations such as OE.
The Journal of Auto-Nomic Nervous System
