Can acupuncture cure the loss of taste and smell?

There is some evidence that traditional Chinese acupuncture may improve one's sense of smell following viral illness, according to a 2010 scientific study filed with the National Institutes of Health. This research is promising but controversial, according to a 2012 scientific paper on smell and taste disorders.

It is difficult to prove a direct link between acupuncture and improvements in taste and smell. In the 2010 study, 15 patients received traditional Chinese acupuncture treatment, and eight patients later reported an improvement in olfactory function.This study, however, was conducted on a small sample group and was later contested by another group of scientists.