Breakthrough Hope: How Acupuncture is Revolutionizing Long COVID Recovery in 2024
As millions of people worldwide continue to struggle with persistent symptoms following COVID-19 infection, a growing body of research in 2024 reveals that acupuncture may offer significant relief for those battling Long COVID. This ancient healing practice is emerging as a promising complementary therapy, providing hope for patients who have found limited success with conventional treatments.
The Growing Long COVID Crisis
COVID-19 progresses to a chronic state, termed Long COVID, in about 30% of cases with estimates as high as 40% for prolonged illness. The most-common PCS symptom is fatigue, affecting 58% of patients, followed by headache, attention disorder, hair loss, and dyspnea, and others, with life-threatening conditions being rare (e.g., stroke, myocarditis). According to Long-Covid support group Body Politic, when members answered a survey about their experiences, over 200 different symptoms involving 10 different organ systems were reported.
The complexity and varied nature of Long COVID symptoms have left many healthcare providers struggling to find effective treatment protocols. Although several published studies have evaluated various pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for treating neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms of long COVID, including conventional medications, synbiotics, herbal formulas, and physical and mindfulness training, a lack of consensus on specific treatment protocols for long COVID patients remains.
Latest Research Findings in 2024
A groundbreaking systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2024 examined the effectiveness of acupuncture for Long COVID symptoms. The study, which included 110 randomized controlled trials, explored the effect of acupuncture on fatigue, depression, anxiety, cognitive abnormalities, headache, and insomnia. The research represents the most comprehensive analysis to date of acupuncture’s potential in treating Long COVID.
These studies described the use of acupuncture for the treatment of long COVID and showed the potential benefit of acupuncture for patients with chronic long COVID symptoms. The safety profile of acupuncture also proved encouraging, with minor adverse effects occurring in 1 out of 13 patients; these adverse effects are mild and subside after rest or simple treatment.
How Acupuncture Addresses Long COVID Symptoms
The mechanisms by which acupuncture helps Long COVID patients are multifaceted. Acupuncture reduces inflammation. It regulates that autonomic nervous system, helps to increase blood flow, helps to release neurochemicals in the brain. Studies in how acupuncture influences bodily functions indicate that it alleviates many of the effects of COVID-19, including lowering inflammation, modulating the adaptive immune response, and influencing nitric oxide production.
Traditional Chinese Medicine theory provides additional insight into acupuncture’s effectiveness. Historically, acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat febrile and epidemic diseases. In Chinese Medicine, these kinds of illnesses are said to be caused by environmental factors such as cold, heat, or dampness, which obstruct the normal flow of qi, blood and body fluids as well as healthy organ function. Acupuncture can help to restore the healthy flow of qi and organ function.
Specific Long COVID Symptoms Showing Improvement
Research indicates that acupuncture can address many of the most challenging Long COVID symptoms:
- Fatigue: Acupuncture has been demonstrated to be an effective and safe modality for cancer-related fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome by alleviating neuroinflammatory response, modulating immune responses, regulating neuropeptides (e.g., dopamine, β-endorphin), promoting oligodendrocyte proliferation and stimulating NO production.
- Brain Fog and Cognitive Issues: Acupoint stimulation may improve common symptoms of cognitive impairment such as memory deficits, language dysfunction, and executive dysfunction.
- Olfactory Dysfunction: Acupoint stimulation can effectively improve residual olfactory dysfunction after recovery from COVID-19. Immediately after the acupuncture treatment, the symptoms of olfactory dysfunction were alleviated, and the improvement in olfactory dysfunction lasted for 2–4 days. As the number of treatments increased, the time until the flare-up of olfactory dysfunction prolonged, and the symptoms tended to decrease.
Current Treatment Protocols and Approaches
As there is limited evidence for individual therapies and no singular treatment for PCS, guidelines endorse a multidisciplinary approach. Long Covid patients usually undertake acupuncture in concert with other interventions, such as medications or supplements.
Recent studies have explored various treatment frequencies and durations. Treatment will be conducted thrice a week for both groups during 4 weeks. Some practitioners also incorporate complementary techniques such as moxibustion, a kind of heat therapy in which mugwort is applied to acupuncture points, can help to eliminate pathogens from the body as well as strengthen overall immune function.
Patient Success Stories
Real-world experiences support the research findings. About three months after she started acupuncture in May 2022, Nichols said, “I could see the clouds starting to part.” Instead of having migraines about four to six times a day at its worst, I was having migraines about two times a day. Another patient reported, I was surprised at the immediate impact I felt after my first acupuncture treatment and how quickly I started to return to normal life. Acupuncture not only helped me feel better physically, it gave me hope I would finally recover from long-COVID.
Finding Quality Care: The Think Acupuncture Approach
For Long Island residents seeking acupuncture treatment for Long COVID, Think Acupuncture represents the gold standard in integrative care. Think Acupuncture blends ancient traditional wisdom and modern scientific research to provide the highest level of clinical care possible. Our expert team crafts personalized acupuncture treatments tailored just for you. We’re committed to helping you achieve your best health. With convenient locations in Huntington and Ronkonkoma, we’re dedicated to offering safe, drug-free solutions to address a variety of health concerns.
Our Long Island Acupuncture team is comprised of New York State Licensed Acupuncturists holding the highest training in the state. Additionally, our acupuncturists are nationally board certified in both acupuncture and Chinese Herbology. This level of expertise is crucial when treating complex conditions like Long COVID, where practitioners need deep understanding of both traditional principles and modern medical research.
The Future of Long COVID Treatment
As research continues to evolve, acupuncture’s role in Long COVID treatment is becoming increasingly clear. Acupuncture is a viable adjunctive health care modality as part of a multidisciplinary approach for symptom control and disease management to improve quality of life in Long COVID patients. Medical acupuncture is a holistic, minimally invasive treatment option that should be considered part of the multimodal treatment approach for patients with long COVID and other conditions. With appropriate training, medical acupuncture techniques can be easily implemented in primary care.
While more large-scale clinical trials are needed, the current evidence strongly suggests that acupuncture offers hope for the millions suffering from Long COVID. Large-sample, high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to support this result and provide rigorous clinical evidence for acupuncture for patients with long COVID. For patients who have exhausted conventional treatment options or are seeking a more holistic approach to their recovery, acupuncture presents a safe, effective, and increasingly evidence-based solution.
As we move forward in 2024 and beyond, the integration of acupuncture into comprehensive Long COVID treatment protocols represents a significant step toward addressing this complex health challenge. For those ready to explore this promising therapy, working with qualified practitioners who understand both the ancient art and modern science of acupuncture is essential for achieving optimal outcomes.