TCM treatments of Long COVID

Long COVID encompasses the lingering health issues individuals may face after recovering from COVID-19. This condition is also referred to as long-haul COVID, post-COVID conditions (PCC), post-acute COVID-19, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), all describing the prolonged effects experienced by those previously infected with the virus. Long COVID encompasses a spectrum of signs, symptoms, and conditions that persist or emerge following the acute phase of COVID-19. These issues can endure for weeks, months, or even years, with some mirroring initial COVID-19 symptoms while others present differently. It’s noteworthy that nearly 1 in 5 individuals with a history of COVID-19 continue to experience symptoms beyond a month, with this figure rising to over 30% among hospitalized patients.

Regrettably, there are currently no specific treatments tailored for long COVID, largely due to its unclear etiology and the considerable variation in symptoms among patients. Consequently, individuals grappling with long COVID are advised to seek care from healthcare providers who can devise personalized medical management plans aimed at alleviating symptoms and enhancing their quality of life. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers a unique approach distinct from Western medicine, capitalizing on its diagnostic principles and holistic treatment modalities. For example, while Western medicine might address nausea with anti-emetic drugs, TCM examines the underlying imbalance of Yin and Yang, deficiency and excess, and cold and heat before prescribing tailored treatments.

At my clinic, we encountered a patient experiencing months-long nausea following COVID-19, which TCM diagnosed as an imbalance in the Shaoyang. This diagnosis prompted specific treatment strategies that have shown promising results. Similarly, another patient presented with shortness of breath post-COVID-19, accompanied by intermittent difficulty breathing and nocturnal awakenings. In TCM, this was attributed to lung damage and Qi deficiency, and appropriate interventions effectively managed the condition. Moreover, post-COVID dizziness, often associated with Shaoyang syndrome, responded well to treatment with Xiaochaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction). Irregular heartbeat following COVID-19 may stem from various imbalances in heart yin, heart blood, heart Qi, or heart yang. Insomnia with an accelerated heart rate post-COVID-19 could result from excessive sweating during treatment, damaging yin. Similarly, digestive disorders and diarrhea post-COVID-19 might be exacerbated by the excessive use of medications during treatment. In TCM, all these symptoms are addressed by restoring balance and addressing underlying imbalances in the body’s energetic systems.

In essence, addressing post-COVID sequelae through TCM necessitates consultation with a skilled practitioner proficient in TCM diagnostic techniques such as observation, listening, questioning, and pulse diagnosis. This enables an accurate TCM diagnosis followed by targeted treatments, often yielding favorable outcomes in managing long COVID symptoms.