The Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Olfactory Dysfunction

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Studies have demonstrated that patients with olfactory dysfunction could improve the olfactory function after olfactory training. But the efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine is unknown.The purpose of this study is to evaluate its efficacy in olfactory dysfunction.

Detailed Description
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A recent meta-analysis found significant positive effects of olfactory training on the individual subcomponents of odor threshold, discrimination, identification, and the composite TDI score. In addition to the evidenced improvement in olfactory function after olfactory training, this form of treatment carries very little risk of adverse effects, is cheap, and can be administered by the patient. For these collective reasons, olfactory training is an attractive treatment modality. Chinese experts consensus on diagnosis and treatment of olfactory dysfunction in 2017 shown that some evidences proved that Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment would benefit olfactory dysfunction but the evidences is not adequate. Until now, the efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine is controversial. This study investigate the efficacy and the safety of Traditional Chinese Medicine and olfactory training as a treatment for patients with olfactory dysfunction.

Official Title
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The Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Olfactory Dysfunction: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Olfactory Disorder

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Traditional Chinese Medicine CU Xiu Tang
* Other: Olfactory Training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Clinical diagnosis of Olfactory dysfunction; 18 ≤ age ≤ 55 years old; No active infection, such as uncontrolled pneumonia; Women with reproductive potential and sexually active men agree to use acceptable and effective contraceptive methods. Exclusion Criteria: Refuse to sign informed consent; With other diseases that affect the result, such as severe hepatic and renal dysfunction and the investigators believes will interfere with the treatment; Pregnant or lactating women; Without personal freedom and independent civil capacity; Enrolled in other intervention clinical trials; Autoimmune diseases; Other situations that the investigators think are not suitable for the trial.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 55 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Traditional Chinese Medicine with olfactory training<br>Traditional Chinese Medicine therapy: Oral Traditional Chinese Medicine CU Xiu Tang once a day for at least 3 months Olfactory training: repeat and deliberate sniffing of a set of odorants for 20 seconds each at least twice a day for at least 3 months | Drug: Traditional Chinese Medicine CU Xiu Tang<br>* Oral Traditional Chinese Medicine CU Xiu Tang once a day and repeat and deliberate sniffing of a set of odorants for 20 seconds each at least twice a day for at least 3 months<br>* Other names: Olfactory Training;Other: Olfactory Training<br>* repeat and deliberate sniffing of a set of odorants for 20 seconds each at least twice a day for at least 3 months<br>|
| Experimental: Olfactory training<br>repeat and deliberate sniffing of a set of odorants for 20 seconds each at least twice a day for at least 3 months | Other: Olfactory Training<br>* repeat and deliberate sniffing of a set of odorants for 20 seconds each at least twice a day for at least 3 months<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Olfactory function test result | Olfactory tests combination of odor threshold (T), odor discrimination (D), and odor identification (I). The minimum values is 0, the maximum values of odor threshold (T), discrimination (D), and identification (I) is 16, the sum of the scores is TDI, which is between 0 to 48, the higher scores mean a better outcome. | 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Odor threshold (T), Odor Discrimination (D), Odor Identification (I) | The scale of odor threshold (T), discrimination (D), and identification (I).The minimum values is 0, the maximum values of odor threshold (T), discrimination (D), and identification (I) is 16, the higher scores mean a better outcome. | 3 months | 
| the Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) of Olfactory Function | Participants should value their olfactory function by use the Visual Analogue Scale#VAS), the minimum values is 0, the maximum values is 10, the higher scores mean a better outcome. | 3 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Olfactory Function