title: The effect of auricular acupuncture on olfactory acuity.
abstract: The modulation of olfactory thresholds by auricular acupuncture at a specific auricular acupuncture point was examined. The Lung Point, supplied by the auricular branch of the vagus nerve, was employed in a controlled single blind study of a randomized population of 23 healthy volunteers. Two odorous substances, beta-Phenyl ethyl alcohol and Methyl cyclopentenolone were used to evaluate the modulation of olfactory thresholds after acupuncture. A significant decrease in the olfactory recognition threshold by acupuncture in comparison with controls (P < 0.05) for two standard odors was observed. Our findings suggest that auricular acupuncture stimulation can decrease the recognition threshold of olfactory sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Sports Medicine, Faculty of Physical Education, Fukuoka University, Japan.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mukaino
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D004056:Differential Threshold; D004431:Ear, External / Q000294:innervation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology