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Loss of Smell (Anosmia)

How Chinese medicine differentiates loss of smell, the six patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Acupuncture only — no herbs.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. Sudden loss of smell after a head injury, or alongside other neurological symptoms, needs medical evaluation before acupuncture is considered.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for loss of smell — 9 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
L.I.-20Expels exterior Wind, opens the nose, removes obstructions from the channel.
ST-36Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
BL-13Tonifies Lung-Qi and nourishes Lung-Yin, expels external Wind.
BL-20Tonifies Spleen and Stomach, resolves Dampness.
L.I.-4Expels exterior Wind, releases the Exterior, stops pain.
G.B.-20Expels exterior Wind, extinguishes interior Wind, clears Heat.
LU-7Releases the Exterior and expels exterior Wind, opens the nose.
BL-23Tonifies the Kidneys and nourishes Kidney-Essence.
HE-7Calms the Mind and opens the Mind's orifices, nourishes Heart-Blood.
SP-6Strengthens the Spleen, nourishes Blood and Yin.
The Six Patterns

↑ reinforcing   ↓ reducing   ⊥ even method.

1. Spleen and Lung Qi Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Gradual, persistent loss of smell (not sudden); fatigue that worsens with exertion; poor appetite with bloating after meals; thin, watery or white nasal discharge; a pale, puffy face without luster.
Tongue: Pale, puffy body with teeth marks on the edges, thin white coating. Pulse: Overall weak and forceless, especially soft and empty at the right Cun and Guan positions.
Treatment principle: Tonify Spleen and Lung-Qi, raise clear Yang toward the head and nose.
L.I.-20 ⊥ ST-36 ↑ BL-13 ↑ BL-20 ↑
Note: moxa applicable on the Tonify points. Direct match with Spleen- and Lung-Qi deficiency.

2. Lung Heat View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Yellow or green nasal discharge; a dry mouth and thirst; a hot sensation when breathing through the nose; cough with thick yellow phlegm.
Tongue: Red body with dry yellow coating, possibly prickly papillae on the front third. Pulse: Rapid, may be slippery or overflowing.
Treatment principle: Clear Lung-Heat, open the nasal passages, moisten inflamed membranes.
EX-HN-8 (Shangyingxiang) ↓ L.I.-4 ↓ G.B.-20 ↓ BL-13 ↓
Note: no moxa. Direct match with Lung-Heat — flaring of the nostrils and thirst are shared.

3. Wind-Cold Invading the Lungs View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Clear, watery nasal discharge; chills more prominent than fever; thin, white, watery phlegm; an itchy throat.
Tongue: Normal or slightly pale body, thin white moist coating. Pulse: Floating and tight.
Treatment principle: Expel Wind-Cold, restore free flow of Lung-Qi, open the nasal passages.
L.I.-20 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓ G.B.-20 ↓ LU-7 ↓
Note: no moxa. Direct match with Invasion of Lungs by Wind-Cold.

4. Wind-Heat Invading the Lungs View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Acute onset with fever and mild chills; a sore or painful throat; thick yellow nasal discharge; thirst or a dry mouth; headache and slight sweating.
Tongue: Red tip, thin yellow coating, body slightly red. Pulse: Floating and rapid.
Treatment principle: Expel Wind-Heat, clear Heat, moisten the nasal passages.
L.I.-20 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓ LU-7 ↓ G.B.-20 ↓
Note: no moxa. Direct match with Invasion of Lungs by Wind-Heat.

5. Spleen and Kidney Qi Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Cold hands and feet; soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees; chronic fatigue and low stamina; poor appetite with loose stools; frequent urination, especially at night.
Tongue: Pale, swollen body with tooth marks, white moist or slippery coating. Pulse: Deep, weak, fine, especially weak at the right Guan and both Chi positions.
Treatment principle: Tonify Spleen and Kidney Qi, warm Yang, raise clear Yang to nourish the nasal passages.
ST-36 ↑ BL-23 ↑ L.I.-20 ⊥
Note: moxa applicable on the Tonify points. No deck on this site combines Spleen and Kidney Qi deficiency into one slide, so no pattern link is given here.

6. Heart and Spleen Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Palpitations or awareness of the heartbeat; poor appetite with bloating after eating; fatigue and physical exhaustion; a sallow or pale complexion; insomnia with vivid or disturbing dreams.
Tongue: Pale, tender body with teeth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine and weak, possibly choppy.
Treatment principle: Strengthen Heart and Spleen, nourish Blood.
HE-7 ↑ SP-6 ↑ L.I.-20 ⊥
Note: moxa applicable on the Tonify points. Matches Spleen- and Heart-Blood deficiency — palpitations, poor appetite/bloating and a pale complexion are shared.
Related conditions
Allergic Rhinitis Sinusitis

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Acupuncture-only reference — structure adapted (not text) from how other condition-lookup sites organize this kind of content. Let us know what to add or change.