In her practice as a culinary health coach, Stephanie Meyer has helped several clients work through their Long COVID symptoms. The best outcomes, she says, have required a combination of rest, good nutrition, breathing exercises, medication or supplements, and/or treatment from a variety of medical practitioners.

After hearing a number of her clients credit acupuncture for their accelerated recovery, Meyer decided to learn more. She spoke with Barbara Gosse, M.S.O.M., Dilpl.Ac., L.Ac., a professor and practitioner of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine at Northwestern Health Sciences University, to find out how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help COVID long-haulers.*

Common symptoms, and making a diagnosis

Gosse’s long-haulers mostly present with:

• brain fog, 
• cardiac issues and/or chest pain 
• dizziness, 
• fatigue, 
• shortness of breath, and 
• stomach upset. 

When asked about acupuncture as a treatment for Long COVID, Gosse says, “It depends on the patient and their symptoms. We begin with a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) systems review, exam, and the 10 questions of TCM which range from fever or chills to pain to sleep to appetite.”

After making a diagnosis, Gosse then creates a custom treatment plan for each patient. “In TCM, we have many tools in our toolbox for treatment,” she says. “While a treatment plan might include acupuncture, it might also include herbal medicine, dietary intervention, cupping, gua sha, and/or breathing exercises as well.”

Many of her patients “see improvement right away,” says Gosse, within one to two weeks, but she adds that, “If patients aren’t improving in that timeframe, that requires reevaluation, re-strategizing, and possibly referral.”

Collaboration and consistency

Recovery, she says, depends on many factors, not least of all the collaboration between she and her patients, and with other practitioners in various specialties such as chiropractic. She emphasizes, however, that the patient must be an active participant. Adherence to the treatment regimen and consistency in daily behavior help recovery and build resilience.

In addition to individualized patient treatments, Gosse generally promotes a healthy lifestyle that includes:

• Eating the right diet for your particular body, 
• Getting daily exercise and fresh air,
• Getting sufficient sleep for your needs, and
• Achieving balance between work, family, and leisure.

Relaxation, and managing stress are essential, she says. “So many of my patients experience anxiety around re-infection and going through all of this again, and rightfully so. But that anxiety is also a symptom of the illness, and when the internal system is functioning properly, better relaxation and better restoration lead to less anxiety in general.”

Early improvements from the treatments generally include less anxiety and more energy and mental clarity. She urges patients to stick to the plan and not to push themselves during recovery. “Find ways to make healthy food pleasurable and to exercise in a way that isn’t all or nothing. Make time for rest. It sounds so basic but consistency is really very powerful.”  

*Meyer, S. A. (2022, May 11). Local Long Haulers Find Relief in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. https://mspmag.com/health-and-fitness/local-long-haulers-find-relief-in-traditional-chinese-medici/