While the world has moved on from the pandemic, many individuals in our community are still living with its “aftershocks.” In our Melbourne clinic, we frequently see patients who haven’t felt like themselves for years.
These symptoms—often called Long COVID—are a confusing mix of physical and emotional exhaustion. Even when standard tests come back “normal,” the symptoms remain very real.
The Spectrum of Long COVID Symptoms
Long COVID is a multi-system challenge. We regularly treat patients presenting with:
-
Neurological & Pain: Persistent headaches, migratory joint aches, and “brain fog.”
-
Cardiovascular & Mood: Heart palpitations, shortness of breath (SOB), anxiety, and insomnia.
-
Metabolic & Organ Health: Clinical shifts like elevated liver enzymes or high cholesterol.
-
Immune & Hormonal: Recurrent UTIs, irregular periods, and new-onset allergies or eczema.
The TCM Perspective: A Three-Fold Pattern
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) looks beyond the individual symptom to understand the “Internal Climate.” In Long COVID, we typically identify three interconnected patterns:
-
Lingering Heat (Inflammation): The body remains in a “high alert” state, which “bakes” fluids and creates internal heat.
-
Qi and Blood Stagnation: When energy (Qi) is blocked, pain follows. This stagnation is often the root of the “micro-clot” issues and persistent body aches reported by sufferers.
-
Qi and Blood Deficiency: The initial infection depletes the body’s reserves, leading to profound, long-term fatigue.
Our Clinical Approach to Recovery
We use a combination of targeted acupuncture and customized herbal medicine to break these patterns and restore vitality.
1. Calming the Heart & Spirit
For anxiety, palpitations, and insomnia, we focus on regulating the nervous system.
-
Key Points: Ren 17, PC 6, and SP 6 are used to open the chest and calm the mind.
-
Middle Jiao Support: We prioritize the digestive center (Middle Jiao) to ensure the body can produce the Blood and Qi needed to nourish the Heart.
2. Regulating the Liver & Metabolism
To address elevated liver enzymes or cholesterol, we move stagnant energy.
-
Key Points: Liv 2, Liv 3, and GB 34 help smooth Liver Qi and support the body’s natural detoxification.
3. Resolving Pain, Allergies & Eczema
For migratory pain and skin flare-ups, we must physically break up stagnation.
-
Techniques: We use SP 10, LI 10, SJ 5, and Liv 3, often combined with cupping or blood-letting to release deep-seated heat and toxicity from the tissues.
4. Herbal Medicine: The “Internal Material”
While acupuncture provides the signal for healing, our custom herbal formulas provide the material to:
-
Clear Heat: Addressing chronic inflammation.
-
Dissolve Stagnation: Moving blood to resolve micro-clots and pain.
-
Supplement Energy: Tonifying Qi and Blood to finally resolve deep-seated fatigue.
Coming Soon: A Clinical Case Series
Because Long COVID affects everyone differently, I will be sharing a series of clinical case studies in my upcoming posts. We will dive into real-life examples of how we helped patients overcome post-viral fatigue, chronic pain, and hormonal imbalances.
Take the First Step Toward Recovery
You don’t have to navigate Long COVID alone. If you are tired of living with these “invisible” symptoms, let’s work together to clear the stagnation and restore your health.