Management of the Post-Covid Scenario : Dr Raman Kapur

August 5, 2020

“As patients are recovering from Covid 19, the problems which they are suffering with in the aftermath of the infection, are multifarious.”

India,

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New Delhi, August 05, 2020:

The commonest issues which are persisting even after 2 weeks of testing negative are:-

  1. Cough- persistent, with sore throat
  2. Extreme fatigue
  3. Post-covid lung disease.
  4. Anxiety, depression, insomnia
  5. Cognitive issues similar to moderate traumatic brain injury.
  6. Digestive problems like bloating, imitable bowel, nausea and vomiting, abdomen pain.

The problem of persistent cough after recovering from a covid attack is very common.  Acupuncture produces 90% effective rate with no side effects.  Such patients complain of dry cough, throat irritation and scanty white phlegm.   In the acupuncture group, patients were needled at Lu.10 , Lu.1, Lu.5, Lu.6, Lu.7, St.25, ST.36 and ST.40.  Total treatment sessions were 10 and each session is of 30 minute duration.

In the medication group, patients were given Methoxyphenamine capsules thrice a day for 10 days and success rate was 70%.

Patients develop extreme fatigue following Covid illness due to depletion of their Qi due to hypoactivity of the Hypothalamic- pituitary axis.  Acupuncture was given at selected acupoints P.6, ST.36, SP.6, Liv.3, Ren.4, Du.20, Ub.23 for 5 days in a week for 2 weeks and 80% patients showed improvement in their fatigue levels.

Post covid lung disease can be effectively tackled using acupuncture and moxibustion.  The principle is to promote, regulate and stimulate the body’s self regulating function.  Most of these patients have symptoms similar to COPD, due to damage to lung parenchyma caused by Pneumonitis

Anxiety, depression and Insomnia are very common in Post covid patients and these can be effectively tackled by stimulating specific acupoints which release melatonin and the happy hormone-> SEROTONIN.

Many patients who have recovered from Covid illness complain of a lingering cognitive impact- problems with their memory and inability to stay focussed.  This is caused due to the body’s response to infection which leads to blood becoming extremely sticky.  This is particularly seen in patients who stayed in ICU care for covid illness.  Early studies on this problem have shown that acupuncture given at points LI.4, Li.11 DU.20, ST.36, ST.40, GB.34 shishencong, P.6, H.7, Du.16, Liv.3, improved cognitive ability.  Treatment ws given over a period of 4 weeks, 5 days a week, for 30 minute each session.

Post covid digestive symptoms are mainly persistent nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, bloating, abdominal pain and irritable bowel.  Patients were given Acupuncture thrice a week for 4 weeks.  The major cause of these symptoms is the impact on spleen, stomach, and liver organs.  Acupuncture promotes gastric peristalsis in subjects with low intensity gastric motility and suppresses peristalsis in those with acute initial motility.

Almost 70-80% patients showed improvement in their symptoms with acupuncture which is a safe, efficacious treatment without any side effects.

–  Dr Raman Kapur is the HOD, Acupuncture, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi

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