Child Gains Back Sense of Smell - Case Study

A case study research article published on September 14, 2009 in the scientific periodical, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal and Family Health, documented a case of improved sense of smell in an eleven year old girl under chiropractic care.

In this case an 11-year-old girl who had suffered from chronic sinusitis for many years and reported a loss of her sense of smell for the past year was brought to the chiropractor for care. The young girl's parents decided to look into chiropractic care because of their concern that the escalating use of drugs for her condition could have potentially damaging side effects.

The case study noted that the eleven year olds symptoms included constant stuffy nose, difficulty breathing through her nose, and inability to smell even when her sinuses felt clear. Her previous treatment consisted of prescription medications that only offered temporary relief of her congestion. Her sense of smell was not improved with any of the medical care rendered. She had suffered from chronic sinus problems for most of her life with little lasting relief.

A chiropractic examination rendered a diagnosis of cervical and sacral subluxations, creating interference to the child's nervous system. A course of specific chiropractic adjustments was initiated for the purpose of restoring normal neurological function and correcting the biomechanics and segmental position of the spine.

After only her first adjustment, the patient's mother reported that her daughter's sense of smell returned for approximately six hours. On a routine follow-up to her medical doctor two weeks after beginning chiropractic care, a significant improvement in the physical appearance of the patient's sinuses was noted. After three months of chiropractic care the young girl's sense of smell was completely restored. As a result the parents of the young girl discontinued all medications for their daughter. Four years after the initiation of chiropractic care the young girl still has a normal sense of smell.

In her conclusion, author Dr. Danita Thomas Heagy, a St. Augustine chiropractor and past member of the Florida Board of Chiropractic Examiners, stated, "Results of this study indicate a potential correlation between the correction of subluxation and the return of olfaction (sense of smell) and normal sinus function."