Long Covid, The Vagus Nerve & Acupuncture
Recently the CDC has announced coronavirus will now be the same category as influenza and RSV. While this is great news in terms of the 75% less hospitalizations and more than 90% drop in deaths, some people are still being effected by long covid symptoms. Some long covid symptoms like changes in ability to smell and taste, simply make life less enjoyable. But some issues are causing serious disruptions in day-to-day life. Some common Long Covid Symptoms listed from the CDC website are:
General Symptoms
Fatigue
Symptom exacerbation post exertion
Fevers
Joint and Muscle Pain
Menstrual Changes
Rashes
Respiratory & Heart Symptoms
Heart Palpitations or racing Heart
Cough, Shortness of Breath, Chest Pain
Neurological Symptoms
Brain Fog, Headache
Insomnia
Lightheadedness upon standing
Pins and Needles Sensation
Depression and Anxiety
Changes in Taste and Smell
Digestive Symptoms
Diarrhea and Stomach Pain
Another symptom that has been reported by patients in our clinic is internal vibrations. People describe it as if there is a cell phone on vibrate ringing inside their bodies and it typically gets worse at night, dramatically disrupting sleep. These issues can last for weeks, months or even years. Some people who have severe symptoms have had a sharp decline in their quality of life. Many have undergone countless tests including all kinds of blood work, x-rays, nerve conduction tests, etc… Many have been to various specialists and some have even made multiple trips to the emergency room. Most of the time, these tests and check ups give no information, diagnosis or information to the patient leaving them feeling crazy because no one can tell them what is happening to their body.
Western Medicine has so far not been a great resource for sufferers of long covid. Even the long covid clinics that have opened across the country do not have successful treatment options available. What many doctors at theses clinics are starting to recommend is acupuncture.
Acupuncture for Long Covid
Acupuncture is an ancient treatment option that uses very thin needles inserted into specific points in the body to reset the nervous system, decrease pain, and treat a wide variety of imbalances. It seems many of these sufferers of long covid have symptoms that also match Vagus Nerve Dysfunction. The vagus nerve regulates many vital bodily functions such as breathing, heart rate, digestion, immune function, emotional and psychological responses (fight or flight), and reflexes like swallowing and coughing. This along with the recent discovery that SARS-CoV-2 can infect the vagus nerve, shows that acupuncture can be a good option for the treatment of long covid, especially when the nervous system has been affected.
Some acupuncture points that are used to stimulate the vagus nerve are:
Du 20: located on top of the head, it can help regulate the nervous system, promote relaxation and clear thinking
Heart 7: located on the inner wrist, it is one of the strongest points for calming and relaxing mind and body
Pericardium 6: also on the inner wrist, PC 6 has been shown to stimulate the vagus nerve and has a connection to the chest which can help with heart palpitations and chest tightness
Lung 9: the third point on the inner wrist in combination with the other two, have been called Buddha’s Triangle. All three are very calming but together they are a trifecta of zen. Lung 9 in particular can help reduce coughing and improve depression
Ren 6: located on the midline below the belly button, Ren 6 is used to improve mental, physical and emotional exhaustion
Ren 12: located on the midline of the upper abdomen, this is an important point for regulating the digestion system
Ren 17: located on the midline on the chest, Ren 17 is important for promoting heart health and respiratory functions, opens the chest and releases anxiety and fear
There are many other acupuncture points that can be used for the wide variety of symptoms experienced by sufferers of long covid. Seeing your acupuncturist and getting a diagnosis and treatment protocol specific to you is very important.
Here at Garden Acupuncture we have been treating our local community for over 14 years. We specialize in women’s health and fertility but treat all health concerns. Since 2020 we have been working hard to improve immune systems to fight covid and later to repair the health chaos that it has been causing. For more information about us click here.