Persistent covid symptoms, which are estimated to include around 200 different manifestations in the body, has been coined the term Long Covid or Post-Covid. Symptoms encompass a range of systems, including neurological, cardiovascular, physical, digestive and neuropsychiatric.

Do You Have Long Covid?

Persistent symptoms from the acute stage of the virus infection are considered the most common manifestation of long covid. The most common symptoms experienced are-

• Fatigue
• chest pain
• Anosmia (loss of ability to smell)
• Ageusia (loss of ability to taste)
• Memory loss or Brain fog
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Gastrointestinal Symptoms such as pain, bloating, reflux
• Shortness of breath

Why Do Only Some People Have Long Covid?

Like all sickness, everyone is affected differently based on the whole body complexities such as genetics, age, sex, pre-existing conditions, diet and much more.
When applying a holistic approach to supporting patients to recover, it is paramount to address patients as individuals with individual needs.
Prior to Covid-19, patients were exposed to other pathogens and conditions such as Ross river virus, Dengue fever, Epstein Barr virus (EBV) or similar sickness which resulted in chronic fatigue or adrenal fatigue.
Data collected in a retrospective study found that older patients and pre-existing conditions such as asthma were more likely to experience long covid. This may not come as a surprise since patients are already depleted before contracting covid.

Inflammation and Long Covid

Research has identified patients with post-covid symptoms are more likely to have systemic inflammation and higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Systemic inflammation compounds conditions such as anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. 
Naturopathic medicine have the ability to address underlying chronic inflammation with a range of therapeutic agents which are used in similar disease states. Naturopathic medicine works to re-modulate immune cascades rather than just "turning off" pain receptors or pain perception. Multiple foods and nutritional medicines work via the COX and LOX cascades in the inflammatory processes to dampen down chronic inflammation for longer term results.

Chronic Fatigue and Long Covid

Most viral infections pre-covid affected a percentage of patients which resulted in Chronic fatigue.  Research is showing that fatigue is a result of increased inflammation (pro-inflammatory cytokines), immune reduction and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Autoimmunity and Long Covid

Post-Covid has been shown to flare up autoimmune conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease (SARDs) or Idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM). 
Blood abnormalities and an increase in autoantibodies have been reported around 70% of patients studied.

Gastrointestinal Dysfunction and Long Covid

It seems that after a SARS-Cov-2 infection, patients develop reduced gut microbiota diversity and a higher amount of opportunistic pathogens. As a result this results in a reduction in immune function plus flares inflammation. The combination of negative affects on the digestive function, decreases the optimal balance in bodily function, thus exacerbating negative symptoms.

Natural Medicines For Long Covid

Naturopathic medicine used to support patients with post-covid symptoms are always holistic and personalised. Potentially all herbal medicines, minerals, nutrients and other functional medicines could help you recover faster.
The only problem is taking too many will overload your system and will not be personalised for you. 
Natural therapeutic agents such as Curcuminoids, glutathione, Coq10 or palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) could potentially help but it is recommended you seak professional advice for a more tailored treatment protocol.

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