Every person’s health story is different. The information below explains common causes and contributing factors for this issue, but it is not a one‑size‑fits‑all prescription.
As a qualified naturopath practising in Adelaide’s CBD, I take the time to understand your unique circumstances, use targeted testing when needed, and design a personalised care plan so you can feel and function at your best.
Long COVID
Whether your experience with COVID was a mild one or if it was very severe, many of you will have ongoing symptoms after three months.
The World Health Organization has defined this as a condition characterised by the persistence of symptoms for at least 12 weeks after the initial onset of infection. It is estimated that 10-30% of people who were infected experience long-term health problems.
The new Omicron variant tends to have less impact on the lungs but has a much more significant impact on the whole body. The inflammatory cascade impacting so many has never been seen with other viruses.
Long COVID symptoms may be like a very nasty form of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It may cause a large range of symptoms, sometimes leading to organ or brain damage.
The most common include fatigue, pain, and brain fog. Other symptoms may be headaches, ongoing cough, altered sense of taste and smell, diarrhoea, chest pain, joint pain, and shortness of breath. Symptoms tend to be associated with pre-existing health weaknesses.
More complex long-term health issues may develop, including enlargement of the heart, palpitations, heart rhythm abnormalities, kidney changes, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, neuropathy, hair loss, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, and a range of autoimmune responses.
These symptoms are not common to Chronic Fatigue or other viruses/ flus that have been part of our world. This is a new health challenge that the health system is struggling to understand and treat.
As multiple factors are involved, treatment needs to be individualised and then prioritised. The key areas to address will be supporting energy, reducing inflammation, supporting microcirculation and restoring the over-active immune system.
While it may be a long road to full recovery, herbal medicine provides targeted treatment options. Credible research is already coming in, and many more studies are being conducted to provide evidence for herbal medicine to target specific symptoms and markers seen in blood tests.
The overriding consideration is to support the affected tissues.
Priority Symptom Treatment
- Fatigue
It is thought that chronic inflammation in the brain may result in long-term fatigue. In skeletal muscle, damage and muscle atrophy may play a role in fatigue. The stress response may be activated and lead to adrenal fatigue. - Immune Support
An over-active immune response is often one of the drivers of long-covid. Resetting immune function requires strategies to support a range of immune responses. Treat persistent pathogens and viruses that may be present while supporting immune balance. - Inflammation
The impact of inflammation within the brain is associated with brain fog and memory impairment. At present, one in five patients recovering from COVID has developed brain fog. - Microcirculation
Decreased blood flow to tissues results in difficulty absorbing oxygen at the tissue microvascular level. Symptoms seen in long-covid, especially fatigue, chest pain, and brain fog, are associated with microcirculation impairment.
Microcirculation may be improved through both dietary and supplemented phytonutrients. These include nitrates in beetroot and green leafy vegetable, anthocyanins in berries, high-quality cocoa in 85% chocolate, raw garlic, and green tea.
Green tea even provides a neutralising activity against viruses while you drink it by remaining on your mucous membranes in the mouth and throat!
