Acupuncture Addresses Post-Viral Illness & Long COVID Symptoms
We’re just now beginning to recognize and understand the role of viruses in chronic illness, auto-immune & neurological diseases. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has long known about the complex interplay of unresolved post-viral & bacterial infections and how they can wreak havoc on susceptible individuals. COVID-19 and a host of other viruses have affected people in a variety of ways, and for some, the symptoms take longer to recover from or they don’t go away after the initial infection. The long-term effects of this can range from annoying to troubling to debilitating. People can suffer from an astonishingly wide-ranging array of symptoms and have been turning to Acupuncture for Long Haul COVID (a.k.a. Long COVID, Long-term COVID, Post COVID), and the long-term effects of Covid have brought new attention in the scientific and medical community to these significant health concerns.
Post Viral & Long-Term COVID symptoms can include:
- Chronic Tiredness and Fatigue
- Pain
- Stress and Anxiety
- Weakened Immune System
- Insomnia/Disrupted Sleep
- Decreased Lung Function/Shortness of Breath
- Neurological
- Circulatory and Cardiovascular impacts
- Lost of Taste/Smell
- Skin Rashes
Our work together can quickly get you on the road to recovery. Traditional Western medicine may not always be effective in addressing these symptoms, which is why many people are turning to alternative therapies, such as acupuncture (as discussed in a recent NBC news article). Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for thousands of years to improve overall health and well-being.
One study published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine found that acupuncture was effective in reducing fatigue and improving cognitive function in long-haul COVID-19 patients. Chinese herbal medicine has also been shown to be effective in treating chronic illness and fatigue. Recent evidence, such as a 2023 letter published in American Family Physician, highlights the potential benefits of acupuncture for managing symptoms of long COVID, including fatigue, breathlessness, and chronic pain, offering hope for patients navigating this complex condition (American Family Physician). A study published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine found that a Chinese herbal formula called “Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan” may be effective in reducing fatigue and improving cognitive function in long-haul COVID-19 patients. The study included 40 patients long haul covid symptoms who received 12 acupuncture treatments over a four-week period. Participants were assessed before and after treatment using the Fatigue Severity Scale and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. The results of the study showed that acupuncture was associated with a significant reduction in fatigue and improvement in cognitive function.
Acupuncture for long haul covid
One of the benefits of acupuncture for Long COVID is pain relief. Acupuncture can help to alleviate chronic pain caused by Long COVID symptoms, such as headaches and muscle and joint pain. It can also help to reduce fatigue, which is a common symptom of Long COVID.
Acupuncture can also help to improve immunity. The immune system plays a crucial role in fighting off infections and diseases, and acupuncture boosts the immune system and improves the body’s ability to recover from Long COVID. Acupuncture is known to improve lung functioning, which can be beneficial for individuals with long COVID symptoms such as shortness of breath.
Another benefit of acupuncture is its ability to reduce stress and anxiety. Long Covid can be a stressful and anxious experience, and acupuncture remarkably helps to calm the mind and reduce these symptoms. By regulating sleep and reducing insomnia with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, recovery from Long COVID issues is improved overall. Acupuncture & herbs effectively treat digestive problems in those who have Long COVID symptoms related to the gastrointestinal system.