For some people, coronavirus (COVID-19) can cause symptoms that last weeks or months after the infection has gone. This is called post-COVID-19 syndrome.

About post-COVID-19 syndrome

How long it takes to recover from coronavirus is different for everybody. Many people feel better in a few days or weeks and most will make a full recovery within 12 weeks. But for some people, symptoms can last longer.

The chances of having long-term symptoms does not link to how ill you are, how old you are, how long you suffered from the illness when you first get coronavirus. Therefore, people who had mild symptoms, who are young, who recovered quickly at first can still have long-term post COVID problems.

Symptoms of post COVID-19

There are lots of symptoms you can have after COVID -19 infection. Common post COVID symptoms include:

  • extreme tiredness (fatigue)
  • shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness
  • problems with memory and concentration, headaches
  • depression and anxiety
  • difficulty sleeping, insomnia
  • tinnitus, earaches, tingle in the ears
  • dizziness
  • pins and needles
  • joint pain
  • diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite
  • Changes or loss of sense of smell or taste
  • skin rashes

Traditional Chinese Medicine against pandemic

In the long history of China, Chinese medicine has played an important role in combating these pestilences and has developed invaluable theories with successful treatments. There is a large quantity of literature dedicated to febrile diseases recorded in Chinese medicine classics such as the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic and the Classic of Difficult Issues.

A famous doctrine of Chinese medicine was “Pathogenic factors won’t affect the body when the body has strong Vital Qi inside”. So the principles of prevention and treatment is to restoring the vital Qi in patients by breaking the stagnation and promoting the balance.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, China at the beginning of 2020, Chinese medicine has been widely applied to combating pestilence. Extensive clinical experiences have indicated the efficacy of Chinese medicine, especially herbal treatment, Acupuncture and moxibustion. Chinese Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion has published the Second Edition of Guidelines of Acupuncture Intervention for Coronavirus Pneumonia. It provided detailed protocol for suspected cases, confirmed cases, and recovering cases.

The principles include restoring the vital Qi as the foundation of prevention, treatment and post pandemic care.

How acupuncture can help with Post COVID syndrom?

Acupuncture has demonstrated well its advantages for post pandemic care. It could assist patient recovery from coronavirus illness and help relief their long lasting symptoms such as mental problems (stress, depression and/or anxiety), lung problems, sense problems (hearing, smelling, vision), sleeping problems and the overall low-energy state of the body. Acupuncture help maintain the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. When these systems are working in harmony, the body are stronger to cope with stress and its consequences. Numerous studies have demonstrated that acupuncture increases the harmony of the nervous system which have the folowing effects:

  • relieve pain
  • improve sleep and overall energy of the body
  • alleviate depression and anxiety
  • improve cognition, alertness, thoughts and emotions
  • improve blood circulation
  • bolster immunity
  • improve gut motility and other digestive functions

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global disaster that causes millions of people to suffer with serious sequential health issues. During this unprecedented time, acupuncture treatments might not be able in the frontline of care but it will be incredibly beneficial for COVID-19 prophylaxis and post pandemic care, which were supported by ancient literatures and current experiences in China and other countries as well.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT: Dr. Nguyen Hong, Tel: +36 70 943 1878, Email: hongnbcc@gmail.com

Budapest- Vietkimhong Clinic, 1051 Budapest, Arany János str.33, 1.floor.2, doorbell 127. Opening hours: Friday, Saturday 8:00- 18:00

Miskolc- 3515 Miskolc, Egyetemváros, Egyetem str. 17, Bolyai Kollégium, E/4 building, ground floor, CSPMed clinic. Opening hours: Thursday 10:00- 17:00

Győr-  Vietkimhong Clinic, 9026 Győr, Révfalu, From October 2021. Opening hours: Wednesday 10:00- 17:00

Attention! Acupuncture treatment is applied as rehabilitation and complement treatment for post COVID patients. Patients should always search for general practitioner first if they develop symptoms which last longer than 1 week.

Reference

Source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/long-term-effects-of-coronavirus-long-covid/

The role of acupuncture during the COVID-19 pandemic: From the historical perspective to practical application, Yemeng Chen, Traditional Medicine and Modern Medicine, Vol. 3, No. 1 (2020) 27–35, DOI: 10.1142/S2575900020200013