Acupuncture in Multidisciplinary Treatment for Post-COVID-19 Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Post-COVID syndrome (PCS) is a complex, multisystem illness that may follow SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 infection. As there is limited evidence for individual therapies and no singular treatment for PCS, guidelines endorse a multidisciplinary approach. This is a case report of a patient with PCS benefiting from a comprehensive approach including acupuncture with symptom-titrated physical activity (STPA). Case: A 50-year-old woman presented from a Long-COVID Clinic referral to an outpatient hospital-affiliated acupuncturist. She had 8 months of fatigue, anosmia, chest pressure, palpitations, and other symptoms following mild assay-confirmed COVID-19. Prior/concurrent medical testing revealed multisystem-inflammatory involvement (pericardial effusion, thyroid dysfunction, and elevated d -dimers). Cardiology/pulmonology cleared the patient for exercise to tolerance considering that serious pathology was absent. The acupuncturist's Traditional Chinese Medicine impression was of Qi Deficiency of the Heart, Lung, Spleen, and Kidney. This patient received 7 sessions of scalp, auricular, and body acupuncture. Physical-therapist (PT)-led STPA began 1-week post-acupuncture, involving 6 30-minute exercise sessions while monitoring her heart rate, with as-needed rest. Results: The patient's chest pressure and palpitations resolved after 1 acupuncture treatment. With 6 additional treatments, spanning 9 weeks, overlapping with PT-led SPTA, she recovered completely and resumed her normal exercise. Conclusions: Acupuncture appeared to facilitate PCS recovery. However, the independent effects of acupuncture are less clear, given the concurrent STPA/exercise therapy, and should be explored using large study designs. Acupuncture is an attractive potential PCS therapy, considering its holistic approach and that it may be added to a multidisciplinary, guideline-concordant regimen.

The effect of laser acupuncture on immunomodulation and dyspnea in post-COVID-19 patients

“…Similarly, an earlier study compared pharmacological medicines and LA effects on asthma and found that 83% of the patients in the group receiving LA treatment had a detectable improvement in dyspnea and functional and immunological parameters [32]. When acupuncture was included in the post-COVID syndrome rehabilitation regimen, dyspnea was reduced during activity, while energy was increased [33].…”

Treatments of COVID-19-Associated Taste and Saliva Secretory Disorders

“…Flow rates of both unstimulated and stimulated saliva were increased and such effects were maintained for 3 years by the additional acupuncture. As supported by a case report of multidisciplinary treatment [157], acupuncture also facilitates recovery from post-COVID syndrome (long-term effects of COVID-19). In a clinical trial of Johnstone et al [158], non-COVID-19 patients (n = 18) with pilocarpine-resistant xerostomia following the radiotherapy of head and neck malignancies received acupuncture that was provided to 3 auricular points and 1 digital point bilaterally.…”

Multi-effective characteristics and advantages of acupuncture in COVID-19 treatment

“…Once a day, Everyday, 30min, 12 days or until the patient is discharged Fever, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, anorexia, constipation, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety Robert et al, 2022 [117] Long COVID MA GV20, ST36,SP6, LR3, PC6, LI4, TE5, LI11 The complex network analysis demonstrated that among the most frequently selected acupoints for respiratory system-related symptoms, LI4, GV14, and LI11 were used to relieve heat and asthma, PC6 was used to regulate qi and relieve pain, and EX-B1 was used to relieve asthma and cough. The most frequently selected acupoints for digestive system-related symptoms were ST36 and SP6 to strengthen the spleen and stomach, LI4 to relieve static pain, LI11 to regulate qi to relieve pain, and CV4 and CV6 to strengthen the intestine and stop diarrhea.…”