How to Restore Smell? A New Painless Method from South Korea

How to Restore Smell? Koreans Used Radio Waves

There is new hope for seniors, patients recovering from injuries, and those who lost their sense of smell after COVID-19. Researchers from Hanyang University and Kwangwoon University designed an antenna that emits radio frequency (RF) waves. The method is painless: the antenna is held about 10 centimeters from the forehead, stimulating the olfactory nerves through the frontal bone.

For the experiment, 28 healthy young adults were recruited. They underwent a standard smell test, which included odors of:

• n-butanol (a colorless liquid commonly used in smell tests),
• grapes,
• bananas,
• apples.

Scientists measured the minimum detectable concentration of each odor before and after RF stimulation, along with brain activity in the olfactory bulb.

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Results After Just a Five-Minute Session

The average odor detection score rose from 9.73 to 15.88 points, where the maximum possible score was 16. These impressive results came after just a single five-minute session using 10–20 watts of stimulation power. Participants achieved excellent sensitivity to even very faint odors, and the effect lasted for at least seven days.

“Electrical signals from the olfactory nerves increased significantly after RF stimulation compared with pre-stimulation levels, consistent with results for natural odors such as grapes and bananas. Unlike therapies based on chemical substances, RF stimulation avoids discomfort or fading effects and provides lasting nerve activation. These findings demonstrate the potential of RF technology for olfactory training and innovative therapies for smell disorders, as well as for maintaining scent sensitivity in professionals,” the study states.

Importantly, the method proved fully safe. Researchers monitored forehead temperature, which remained unchanged, and participants reported no discomfort during the procedure.

Who Could Benefit from the New Technology?

The discovery may help not only people with weakened sense of smell but eventually those who have completely lost it. The technique could also aid healthy individuals who depend on peak olfactory performance, such as:

• perfumers,
• sommeliers,
• coffee tasters.

In the future, researchers plan to test whether this method can benefit seniors. They will also investigate its potential for patients with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, since loss of smell is one of the early symptoms of both. The therapy is particularly valuable because it involves no harmful chemicals, making it safe for allergy sufferers and people with weakened immune systems.

Read the original article: Jak przywrócić węch? Nowa bezbolesna metoda z Korei Południowej