Acupuncture for residual symptoms of COVID (Long COVID)

News Medical (2024)

Long COVID describes the ongoing health issues that some individuals face after recovering from COVID-19.

These symptoms can persist for an extended period, lasting weeks, months, or even years, and can impact various systems within the body. It's important to note that these symptoms can significantly impair daily life, even in cases where the initial COVID-19 infection was not severe.

Causes

While the specific reasons behind the development of long COVID are still under investigation,The World Health Organization (WHO) is exploring several hypotheses to understand this condition better. These include the possibility of the virus persisting in the body, the development of an autoimmune response, or tissue damage resulting from the initial viral infection.

In addition, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has highlighted research that has identified two proteins, Type I and Type III interferons, in individuals experiencing persistent long COVID symptoms.

Signs and symptoms

The most common symptoms reported by individuals experiencing long COVID include extreme tiredness (fatigue), shortness of breath, difficulties with memory and concentration (often referred to as "brain fog"), heart palpitations, dizziness, and joint pain and muscle aches.

There are various symptoms that may manifest following a COVID-19 infection, which can include: a loss of smell, experiencing chest pain or tightness, difficulty sleeping (insomnia), and sensations of pins and needles. Additionally, some individuals may experience mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety.

Other symptoms that have been reported include tinnitus and earaches, as well as feeling generally unwell, experiencing diarrhoea, stomach aches, and a loss of appetite. Respiratory symptoms like a cough, headaches, a sore throat, and changes to your sense of smell or taste are also possible, along with the development of rashes.

Treatment

While there isn't a definitive cure for long COVID at this time, various treatments are available that may offer relief from certain symptoms.

For the management of certain symptoms and conditions associated with long COVID, such as cough, headaches, anxiety, and depression, medication may be beneficial. Should an underlying cause, such as blood clots, be identified, medication may also be used for targeted treatment.

For individuals experiencing a loss of smell and taste, options such as a stellate ganglion block, which involves the temporary numbing of specific nerves in the neck, or olfactory retraining, which uses familiar scents to retrain the brain, may prove advantageous.

In the event of pain or difficulties with movement, physical therapy, incorporating exercises, massage, and other targeted treatments, could be helpful. Pulmonary rehabilitation, a specialized program involving exercise and education, can improve breathing and provide strategies for managing respiratory issues in a home setting.

Furthermore, recognizing the potential psychological impact of a prolonged illness, counseling can offer a supportive environment to discuss these feelings.

Acupuncture 

A recent systematic review indicates that acupuncture may be a beneficial treatment for neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms, based on assessments using clinical scales. This suggests it could potentially be applicable to patients experiencing long COVID.

Notably, the military medical community has developed acupuncture protocols specifically designed to address acute or chronic pain, headaches, and mood disturbances. These are symptoms frequently reported by individuals experiencing long COVID. Patients have also reported experiencing improvements in their physical function and overall sense of well-being following acupuncture treatments.

About the Author

Youngmi Choi

Ripple Acupuncture | Newcastle | New Lambton

As an AHPRA-registered acupuncturist with 15 years of nursing experience, I offer safe, effective, and holistic care. My special interests include pain management, psycho-emotional well-being, digestive balance, and women’s health & fertility. My approach is outcome-focused, and clients receive a clear care plan with personalized lifestyle advice.

If you have any questions about your post-covid conditions, please make an online booking, submit an online enquiry or call me on 0402 474 884. 

Reference

1. NHS inform (2023). Long-term effects of COVID-19 (long COVID); [reviewed 2025 May 27]. Available from: https://www.nhsinform.scot/long-term-effects-of-covid-19-long-covid/

2. CDC (2024). Signs and Symptoms of Long COVID; [reviewed 2025 May 27]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/covid/long-term-effects/long-covid-signs-symptoms.html

3. Australian Living Evidence Collaboration (2025). Caring for people with COVID-19; [reviewed 2027 May 20]. Available from: https://livingevidence.org.au/living-guidelines/covid-19/#living-guidelines

4. RACGP (2023). Caring for patients with post–COVID-19 conditions; [reviewed 2025 May 27]. Available from: https://www.racgp.org.au/clinical-resources/covid-19-resources/clinical-care/caring-for-patients-with-post-covid-19-conditions/introduction

5. Scoulbar, M., Khoury, G. Majumdar, S.S., Tippett, E., & Crabb, B.S. Towards a cure for long COVID: the strengthening case for persistently replicating SARS‐CoV‐2 as a driver of post‐acute sequelae of COVID‐19. The Medical Journal of Australia, 2024; doi: 10.5694/mja2.52517

6. Prusinski, C. et al. Multidisciplinary Management Strategies for Long COVID: A Narrative Review. Cureus Journal of Medical Science, 2024; 16(5):e59478.  doi: 10.7759/cureus.59478

7. British Heart Foundation (2024). Long Covid: symptoms, tests and treatment; [reviewed 2025 May 27]. Available from: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/coronavirus-and-your-health/long-covid

8. Herman, E., Shih, E. & Cheng, A. Long COVID: rapid evidence review. American Family Physician. 2022;106(5):523-532. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2023/1000/letter-acupuncture-long-covid.html

9. Feng, B. & Rong, P. Acupoint stimulation for long COVID: A promising intervention. World journal of acupuncture-moxibustion. 2023; 33(3):191-197. doi: 10.1016/j.wjam.2023.05.012

10. Trager, R.J., Brewka, E.C., Kaiser, C.M., Patterson, A.J., & Dusek, J.A. Acupuncture in Multidisciplinary Treatment for Post-COVID-19 Syndrome.American Academy of Medical Acupuncture,  2022;34(3):177-183.doi: 10.1089/acu.2021.0086 

11. Lam, W.C at al. The use of acupuncture for addressing neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with long COVID: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Neurology, 2024; 15, Article 1406475. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2024.1406475

12. News Medical (2024). Study reveals widespread long-COVID symptoms, challenging WHO definition; [reviewed 2025 May 27]. Available from: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20241001/Study-reveals-widespread-long-COVID-symptoms-challenging-WHO-definition.aspx

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