As we learn to live alongside COVID-19, addressing the lingering effects of infection is becoming more and more important. Research suggests that after being infected with COVID-19, 1 in 5 people aged 18-64 and 1 in 4 people over 65 are left with at least one medical condition that may be a result of their initial COVID-19 infection (1).
Post-COVID-19 syndrome, commonly known as long COVID, is a condition in which the symptoms of COVID-19 continue beyond the period where you are actively infected. Science is still understanding the extent of long COVID and how best to treat it, so you might be wondering if non-invasive and non-pharmaceutical treatments like acupuncture can help.
Signs and symptoms of long COVID
Although many people who experience COVID-19 recover within a week or two, some may experience ongoing symptoms. When these last for 12 weeks or longer after the initial infection, it is known as long COVID (1).
The common symptoms of long COVID are the same as COVID-19 itself. They include (2):
extreme fatigue, which can lead to difficulty in going about everyday activities
shortness of breath, heart palpitations, chest pain or tightness
cough and hoarse voice
problems with sleeping, memory and concentration
differences in your sense of taste and smell
joint and muscle pain
numbness or pins and needles
fever
reduced appetite and weight loss
These symptoms can range from mild to severe and may have a serious impact on your quality of life for years to come.
Treatments for long COVID
So far, a specific and comprehensive treatment plan for long COVID hasn’t been established. You can speak to your GP, or in major cities in many states, attend a long COVID clinic to help your recovery (1).
Outside of that, you may choose to seek out treatments that make you feel better by addressing the symptoms of long COVID where possible. For example, massage may provide temporary relief from joint and muscle pain, or mediation might assist with stress and anxiety.
Can acupuncture help in treating long COVID?
In medical terms, long COVID is still a relatively new condition, and further research into treating it is needed. However, some early studies do suggest that acupuncture could be amongst the treatments that form a long-term care plan for the condition.
Researchers are finding that acupuncture can be effective in aiding recovery from long COVID symptoms such as coughing, nasal congestion, headaches, fatigue, and loss of taste and smell (3).
One study noted that acupuncture suppressed inflammatory stress, improved immunity and regulated nervous system function (4) – all things that can help reduce the impact of long COVID on your life (5).
In some cases, COVID-19 can also cause a condition called ‘cytokine storm’, which causes inflammation, that can damage tissue and organs (4). Studies have shown that acupuncture treatment can help to reduce the effects of cytokine storm.
So, if you’re dealing with the lingering effects of a COVID-19 infection, acupuncture may help to address some of your symptoms and help you get your quality of life back. Get in touch with our friendly team today to book an appointment or chat about your needs.
Sources
1 COVID-19: Long-term effects, MayoClinic, 2022
2 Understanding post-COVID-19 symptoms and long COVID, Health Direct, 2022
3 Acupuncture Produces Long COVID Relief, Healthcare Medicine Institute, 2022
4 M Etudo, Acupuncture On Point for COVID stress Relief, WebMD, 2021
5 Z Han, Z Yang, W Pengqian, T Qilin, Z Kai., Is acupuncture effective in the treatment of COVID-19 related symptoms? Based on bioinformatics/network topology strategy, Briefings in Bioinformatics, 2021
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