Dr.
AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine,
Austin, TX, USA
Presenter/Author:
JIN Zhenni
Other Author:
NA
Author Affiliation:
AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine, Austin, TX, USA
Keywords:
PCS, Post-COVID Syndrome, Telehealth, Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture
Abstract:
Introduction: This case reports a Post-COVID Syndrome (POS) due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and is treated effectively by a unique integrative approach with telehealth Herbal consulting and acupuncture. Although most COVID-19 patients recover without sequelae, many patients may continue experiencing COVID-19 symptoms after infection recovery, and others may create new symptoms1. The most frequently reported Post-COVID Syndrome (POS) symptoms are loss of taste or/and smell, fatigue, headache/migraine, attention/memory deficit, depression, hair loss, dyspnea, myalgia, and arthralgia2. It is well documented that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has accumulated abundant clinical experience and effective prescriptions to control and treat infectious diseases for over 3000 years in the past3. Since 2020, TCM has achieved remarkable efficacy in treating patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in China at all stages. Telehealth, and online consultation, solved the long-distance problem and diminished the virus's exposure risk. I report this case as the integrative approach resulted in rapid improvement of mental health and quality of life.
Case Description: I present a case of 45 years old male complaining of severe post-COVID symptoms for two months. It commenced as the onset of PCS in March 2022 with a COVID history that had appeared two weeks prior. He underwent treatment for COVID for five days with oral antibiotics and nasal drops, of which the details are unknown. After passing the COVID test with negative results, he presented PCS with loss of sense of smell and taste, sudden crying without reason, foggy head with memory decline, and body aches. On the first visit, he complained of sadness and depression with poor concentration and memory. He avoided all movies and emotional conversations with friends due to unexplained crying. He started experiencing impaired memory loss along with headaches while studying. This resulted in tremendous stress leading to sleep disturbances, and he opted for telehealth herbal consultation first, then received acupuncture treatment after.
Discussion: After using a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, the patient's sadness disappeared, the fogginess in the head was minimal, and memory was improved. This case illustrates the possibility of using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a viable treatment for POS, especially combined with the telehealth approach in the early stage when the patient is unable to physical presenting.
Reference:
C. Sudre, B. Murray, T. Varsavsky, M. Graham, R. Penfold, R. Bowyer, et al. Attributes and predictors of Long-COVID: analysis of COVID cases and their symptoms collected by the Covid Symptoms St
M. Kamal, M. Abo Omirah, A. Hussein, H. Saeed. Assessment and characterization of post-COVID-19 manifestations. Int J Clin Pract, 75 (2021)
Funding Source:
N/A
Conflict of Interests:
The authors report no conflicts of interest related to this study.
DAOM, AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine (2019)
MCM, Hong Kong Baptist University (2016)
BMed, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine (2015)
This is the most updated introduction for me on our school social media:
Zhenni Jin's medical studies began in 2010 in China. She completed the DAOM at AOMA in 2019 as the youngest ever to graduate from the program, and AOMA welcomed her on as a full-time faculty member in April 2021. She joins us with a vast range of clinical experience in the United States, Hong Kong, and mainland China. Her clinical specialties include psychosomatic medicine, pain management with acupuncture and tui na, and psychosocial disorders with acupuncture and herbal application. She is a clinical supervisor and an instructor in Chinese Herbology, Herbal Treatment of Disease, Chinese Herbal Patent, Chinese Herbal classics series-Wen Bing, Acupuncture Treatment of Disease, and Advanced Channel Needling Technique. She also serves as the translator/interpreter for the doctors and professors from China in the Doctoral lectures.
Below is my introduction on the AOMA website:
https://aoma.edu/about/faculty/zhenni-jin-daom-lac