Qiao X-F, Han L-Y, Li Y-F, Li H, Zhen H-M, Dang H-R, Chen Y, Li X
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shanxi Provincial People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China.
Graduate School, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China.
Rhinology. 2025 Feb 1;63(1):77-84. doi: 10.4193/Rhin24.035.
The aim of this study is to assess the clinical efficacy of olfactory training using aromatic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for addressing severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)-induced olfactory dysfunction, while also exploring the factors that influence the observed efficacy.
172 outpatients with SARS-CoV-2-related olfactory dysfunction were randomized into two groups. The experimental group received olfactory training with TCM aromatics (ginger, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Santali Albi Lignum, Styrax), while the control group used non-TCM aromatics (phenyl ethanol-rose, menthol-mint, citronellal-lemon, eugenol-clove) for 24 weeks. Olfactory function was assessed using the Sniffin' Sticks test and TDI (threshold-discrimination-identification) scores at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment.
Response rates at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment were 3.66%, 25.61%, and 43.90% in the experimental group, and 4.94%, 23.46%, and 43.21% in the control group. The TDI scores of the experimental group and the control group were statistically different before and after treatment. At 3 and 6 months post-treatment, TDI scores increased significantly, with enhanced odor discrimination and identification capabilities in both groups compared to pre-treatment, while the odor detection threshold was not improved compared with that before treatment. At the 3- and 6-month follow-ups, experimental group showed significantly higher self-rated sleep and anxiety scores than controls, indicating notable improvement in both after treatment.
Olfactory training with aromatic TCM offers an effective treatment for SARS-CoV-2-induced olfactory dysfunction, improving odor discrimination, identification without significant differences compared to conventional aromatics, besides, it may also improve anxiety and sleep quality.
本研究旨在评估使用芳香中药进行嗅觉训练对治疗严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）引起的嗅觉功能障碍的临床疗效，同时探讨影响观察到的疗效的因素。
将172例SARS-CoV-2相关嗅觉功能障碍门诊患者随机分为两组。实验组使用中药芳香剂（生姜、陈皮、檀香、苏合香）进行嗅觉训练，而对照组使用非中药芳香剂（苯乙醇-玫瑰、薄荷醇-薄荷、香茅醛-柠檬、丁香酚-丁香）进行24周训练。在基线、治疗后1、3和6个月使用嗅棒测试和TDI（阈值-辨别力-识别力）评分评估嗅觉功能。
治疗后1、3和6个月，实验组的有效率分别为3.66%、25.61%和43.90%，对照组分别为4.94%、23.46%和43.21%。实验组和对照组治疗前后的TDI评分有统计学差异。治疗后3个月和6个月，TDI评分显著增加，两组的气味辨别和识别能力均较治疗前增强，而气味检测阈值与治疗前相比未得到改善。在3个月和6个月的随访中，实验组的自评睡眠和焦虑评分显著高于对照组，表明治疗后两者均有显著改善。
使用芳香中药进行嗅觉训练为SARS-CoV-2引起的嗅觉功能障碍提供了一种有效的治疗方法，可改善气味辨别和识别能力，与传统芳香剂相比无显著差异，此外，还可能改善焦虑和睡眠质量。
