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A study has found that emitting waves near the head enhances the sense of smell. This is expected to help those who have lost their sense of smell due to complications from the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Professors Jang Yong-woo of Hanyang University College of Medicine and Kim Nam-yong of Kangwon University's Department of Electronic Engineering said that "radio waves can be used for olfactory therapy" in the international journal APL Bioengineering on the 19th. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves with lower frequencies than visible light or X-rays. The frequency range varies from tens of kHz (kilohertz) to hundreds of GHz (gigahertz).

The research team conducted clinical trials on 28 non-smoking adults. Participants had antennas placed around 10 cm away from their foreheads. The antennas were fixed in place with a headband and measured 5 cm. After being exposed to radio waves with a power of 15W for 5 minutes, the sense of smell improved. The olfactory tests were conducted by diluting alcohol in various ratios to detect smells.

Radio waves (RF) have a lower frequency than infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, and X-rays, allowing them to penetrate the human body (a). Normally, odor substances activate the sense of smell through natural signal pathways, but radio waves directly activate the nerves of the olfactory bulb by passing through the frontal bone, enhancing the sense of smell (b)./APL Bioengineering

The effects of the radio waves lasted for about a week. The research team noted, "Radio waves have a high permeability in the human body, stimulating the olfactory nerves by passing through the frontal bone," adding that "using radio waves can precisely stimulate the olfactory nerves without surgery."

There are people who lose their sense of smell due to various factors such as COVID-19 and aging. There is no 100% effective treatment for those who have lost their sense of smell. Usually, herb scents are used to stimulate the olfactory nerves, but this is not a fundamental cure. The research team believes that radio waves can be helpful in these cases.

The research team stated, "Scents evaporate over time, but radio waves can be used continuously," and added, "They do not cause allergies like chemical substances." Radio waves are expected to be beneficial for people working in fields where smell is important, like perfumers and sommeliers.

References

APL Bioengineering (2025), DOI : https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0275613

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