Role of Acupuncture in Managing Stress, Insomnia & Post Covid-19 Complications

Author : Dr Raman Kapur, Chairman of the Department of Acupuncture at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi

India

healthysoch

New Delhi, November 25, 2020 :

Mechanism of Acupuncture in sleep disorders/stress caused due to fear of covid-10 infection:-

In India, the number of people getting affected by the Corona Virus is rising daily, and one of the major reasons is the dense population. The saving grace is that the mortality rate is quite low. In our Acupuncture practice, our old patients are coming to us for getting treated for sleep issues and stress due to the fear of getting covid.
Insertion of Acupuncture needles activates peripheral nerves and muscles through sensory stimulation, which further modulates the parasympathetic nervous system ( a major regulator of sleep). Acupuncture regulates various neurotrasmitters and hormonal factors like endorphins, serotonin, norepinephrine, ACTH and melatonin. ( All of which play a major role in sleep regulation). Our case studies involved 8 patients who were given a standard protocol of acupoints at DU.20, Yintang, P.6 and P.3 ( left hand), TW3 & TW.8 ( right hand), GB.34 + 41 ( left leg), Liv.8 + Liv.3 ( right leg), ear shenmen, Anmian, Ren.14 & GB.25. All patients were treated thrice a week for 4 weeks and then put on a maintenance of once a week for 4 weeks alongwith retaining ear needles at Shenmen, Kidney, Sympathetic and liver. The anxiety levels and the emotion of fear improved in 70% of patients, but the sleep pattern showed a significant improvement in 80% of the patients.
Since the number of cases reported in Delhi since March 2020 is already over 2.38 million, with a case fatality rate of 2%, a large number of patients are also suffering from Post covid complications. Most of these patients were referred to us by our western colleagues.

The commonest post covid symptoms which persist even after two weeks of testing negative are:

Cough:- A total of 5 patients were treated with Acupuncture for persistent cough, not responding to anti-allergies or anti-tussives . Patients typically complained of dry cough, throat irritation and scanty white phlegm. Acupuncture was given to all the patients at Lu.10, Lu.1, Lu.5,Lu.6, Lu.7, ST.25, ST.36 and ST.40 , on thrice a week basis for 3 weeks. The success rate was 90%.
Post Covid Fatigue:- due to depletion of Qi because of 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. We treated 8 patients in this group. Acupuncture was given thrice a week for 4 weeks, and 80% patients showed improvement in their fatigue level. Moxibustion was also added at ST.36 bilaterally for 10 min. on each side.
Cognitive Issues- with their memory and inability to stay focused. This is caused due to the body’s response of infection which leads to blood becoming extremely sticky. This is particularly seen in patients who stayed in ICU. Our study involved a group of 6 patients who were given acupuncture at points LI.4, LI.11, DU.20, ST.36, ST.40, GB.34 ,Shishencong, P.6, H.7, Du.16, Liv.3. The treatment was given thrice a week for 6 weeks and it showed improvement in cognitive ability in 60% patients.
Post covid digestive symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, bloating, abdominal pain and irritable bowel persist. A total of 9 patients were treated in this group. Patients were given Acupuncture thrice a week for 4 weeks. The major cause of these symptoms is the impact on the spleen, stomach, and the liver. Acupuncture promotes gastric peristalsis in subjects with low-intensity gastric motility and suppresses peristalsis in those with acute initial motility. The treatment protocol used to treat all patients wasà Ren.12, Liv.13, Liv.14, ST.25, Ren.6, P.6, sT.36, SP.6, Liv.3 and SP.4. We used salt moxa on the umbilicus on all patients and also used Ion Pumping cords at P.6 ( black) and sP.4 ( Red) bilaterally for 15 minutes.

The duration of treatment session was 30 minutes in all cases and almost 70% patients showed improvement in their symptoms with Acupuncture.

In conclusion, we feel that Acupuncture must be used by all practitioners in managing stress, anxiety and post covid complications effectively with Acupuncture. Since clinical studies done at our practice in Delhi shows that this therapy works, it is no more alternative medicine, it is GOOD MEDICINE.

Dr Raman Kapur, a medical doctor, has been practicing acupuncture in New Delhi, India for 38 years. In 2008, he received the prestigious national award, Padma Shri, from the government of India for his acupuncture research and clinical work. Due to his efforts, the Indian government recently acknowledged acupuncture as an independent system of health care. Dr Kapur also conducts acupuncture courses and workshops for doctors. He is presently Chairman of the Department of Acupuncture at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi and Vice-Chair of the Apex committee formed by the Government of India to frame guidelines for teaching and practicing acupuncture in India.

healthysoch