Supporting Your COVID and Long COVID Recovery with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
Though it may seem as if the world is now on the tail end of COVID-19, the truth is that there are many people who have difficulty recovering or who may be suffering from long covid. Long covid is often described as a continuation of such symptoms as brain fog, fever, and fatigue for about four weeks after the initial diagnosis.
Estimates state that about two million people in the UK experience symptoms associated with long covid. If you are recovering from a short bout of COVID-19 or believe you may have long covid, read on to learn more about how traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can help aid in your post covid recovery and get you on the path to good health.
The TCM View of Long COVID-19
Covid fatigue after recovery is associated with deficiencies in the blood, Qi, yin, and yang. These are often brought about due to anxiety, fear, poor diet, and physical strain.
The TCM view on long COVID-19 associates it with cold and dampness. The presences of dampness will then suppress Yang, or fire, of the body. In TCM, the proper balance of Yin and Yang are essential for good health. When they are out of balance due to long covid recovery, this can have a negative effect on strength and mental alertness. Because an imbalance between Yin and Yang can result in disease, the aim of TCM practitioners is to restore balance in an effort to restore health.
How Does Ginsen Help with Long Covid?
Acupuncture for Covid-19 Recovery
Acupuncture and moxibustion have been used in TCM for ages. Acupuncture uses the insertion of thin needles into acupoints while moxibustion involves the burning of mugwort. Used together, these two ancient treatments can help to improve the functioning of the immune system, reduce inflammation, and even fight infection. Not only are they both effective in the treatment of long covid fatigue after recovery, but they have also been shown in studies to help with the prevention of illness.
Acupuncture can boost immunity. Study showed acupuncture can helps to prevent the illness from establishing itself and it can also lead to a faster recovery – without the side effects of drugs. Several clinical studies have demonstrated that TCM reduces the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections and shortens the course of illness.
Related: Let’s Fight Cold and Flu with Traditional Chinese Medicine
Herbal Chinese Medicine for Covid-19Â Recovery
Herbal Chinese Medicine can also be used to strengthen your immune system, remove toxic heat and mitigate symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue, and fever.
When the cold weather arrives, it almost always brings with it seasonal illnesses like cold flu and now even COVID. Though hand washing and keeping a safe physical distance may help to reduce your chances of coming down with something, many people find that they get sick in spite of their best efforts. Those who come down with these illnesses are sure to be dealing with such symptoms as discomfort, fever, sore throat, and cough.
Yin Qiao San has a proven track record of treating these symptoms and even possibly preventing the onset of illness in the first place. Those who are unable to take common pain relievers to reduce fever may find relief from thanks to Yin Qiao San. If you are interested in achieving Yin Qiao San benefits, then speak to your healthcare practitioner about trying Yin Qiao San for relief of your seasonal illness symptoms.
Best Food for Covid-19 Recovery
A healthy diet is one of the best tips for covid recovery. Since covid fatigue after recovery is associated with dampness, choose foods that help to clear dampness such as beans, onions, and spicy foods.
To help restore Yang, include warming foods such as herbal tea with honey and brown sugar. Dairy and cold or raw foods are best avoided to allow the body to recover from deficiency.
Self-Acupressure of Long Covid Recovery
Thankfully, there is good news when it comes to covid recovery tips that are easy to implement. For example, self-acupressure involves activating various acupoints across the body’s meridians by applying pressure by hand. Doing so helps to bring balance to the body’s energy flow while relieving muscle tension. Self-acupressure can be completed easily at home to help in post covid recovery. Some examples include:
- Headache and congested nose relief: To help relieve headache and a stuffy nose, apply strong, deep pressure to points LI4 and SJ5. Point LI4 is between the index finger and thumb, whereas SJ5 is on the forearm just above the wrist. Applying pressure to LI4 will help relieve the pain associated with a frontal headache. Those with temple headaches can achieve relief applying pressure to SJ5.
- Fatigue: Pressure points LI10, ST36, and CV6 can bring relief to those with covid fatigue after recovery. LI10 is located on the forearm, ST36 is located on the leg, and CV6 is located below the navel. Pressure applied to ST36 must be strong enough to cause a slight aching sensation near the acupoint. When applying pressure to CV6, use gentle massage or a warm palm on the acupoint.
- Muscle aches: L!4, ST36, and SP9 can help with muscle aches associate with post covid recovery. SP9 is located on the legs, and all three acupoints require firm, strong pressure. Those who cannot tolerate the needed amount of pressure should try stroking the arms and legs gently.
- Shortness of breath: Using a wall, apply pressure to any tight or painful spots on the spine, sides of the spine, and the middle of the back. The best way to do this is to use a tennis ball while standing against a wall and rolling the ball between the wall and the back. Try this for one to two minutes two times each day. A warm compress on the back daily for 10 minutes will also help to reduce shortness of breath.
- Brain fog: For post covid recovery from brain fog, apply warmness to the part of the neck that is just below the skull. Wearing a scarf during the day is an easy way to help keep this area warm. Brain fog may also be the result of poor sleep or a poor diet, so it is important to get plenty of quality sleep while ensuring each meal is nutrient-dense.
Conclusion
If you believe you are suffering from long covid, there are a number of options that may help you to finally find relief. Tips for covid recovery include self-acupressure to help relieve headache, stuffy nose, fatigue, shortness of breath, and brain fog.
Some of the best food for covid recovery includes beans, onions, and spicy foods to alleviate dampness as well as herbal tea with honey to help restore Yang. Acupuncture and moxibustion have been shown to help relieve the symptoms of covid fatigue after recovery and can even be used as a preventative treatment. If you would like to learn more covid recovery tips using Chinese medicine, speak to a TCM practitioner about your options.
For more information about how Chinese Medicine can help aid in your post covid recovery, book your free consultation with our Chinese Medicine experts today
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We can’t guarantee the treatment result, as the symptoms of conditions are unpredictable and vary greatly from person to person. The treatment length and recovery time also varies for individual. Please visit our clinics website: GinSen where a specialists will discuss your care and provide a consultation, and the treatment will be designed to meet your individual needs.
