Chinese herbal medicine for Covid and Long Covid

Cough, cold, or Covid... there are Chinese herbs to help you recover

I don’t feel I need to say much about what Covid is, it’s been high in the news headlines since early 2020. We’ve all heard of it and/or experienced it, some people have experienced it many times over. As a novel virus, it took our bodies, our medics and our scientists by surprise but it is not the first respiratory virus to become a pandemic, and probably won’t be the last.

By now, we know the common symptoms (although they have changed a little over time) and we know how to test to see whether it is Covid or just a random lurgy that is making us feel unwell, and there are Chinese herbs which can help us clear it faster. But what about when Covid doesn’t go away after a week or two? What happens if you find yourself struggling with ongoing symptoms of post-viral illness? What if you end up with a diagnosis of Long Covid? Or post-Covid ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, POTS? Or an autoimmune condition?

The prevalence of post-viral illness is unknown. The symptoms can vary, and they fluctuate. People with Long Covid can look well while feeling awful, can have ongoing breathing problems, can be housebound/bedbased, can be ‘OK’ one day but back in bed the next, and often face the stigma that people with ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia have been reporting for decades. Disbelief and scepticism is common from healthcare professionals (even though their colleagues may be suffering), within education settings, and from employers, neighbours, friends and family. Life can become a battle for appropriate healthcare and for benefits or social care support. And Western Medicine really has very little to offer after the acute phase of a viral infection, other than physiotherapy and talking therapies, both of which can be counter-productive.

This is an area where Chinese herbal medicine can make a real difference to symptoms and quality of life, and the sooner you start treatment the more likely it is that the herbs will help. The longer the post-viral illness continues, the deeper it gets into the body, and the harder it is to get rid of.

It starts with a consultation to discuss your symptoms, your underlying health, medications, diet/lifestyle, sleep… One person’s Long Covid is not necessarily the same as anyone else’s. We are all unique individuals so Chinese herbal medicine looks at patterns of disharmony within the body and treats accordingly. So your formula is likely to contain antiviral herbs, but may also contain herbs to help lung function, or clear microclots, or deal with digestive disturbance, or improve sleep, or reduce headaches – it will be tailored to your unique needs.

If you want to find out more, if you have questions about Chinese medicine for Long Covid, or if you want to book an appointment, contact me.

As the carer of someone with severe ME/CFS, POTS, Sjogren’s Syndrome and anxiety I understand the world of chronic post-viral illness well and will work with you to make life better. I promise not to ever tell you that it’s all in your head, or that going for a daily walk will cure you.

I’m also here to support carers and help them to look after their own physical and emotional health, whether that's with herbs, health coaching or Qigong classes. It can be tough being a carer!