ROLE OF ACUPUNCTURE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE & LONG COVID-19 SYMPTOMS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Author Name: 1. Junaidul Mubarak M, 2. Nimeesha M J, 3. Balagovind T P

Volume/Issue: 04/09

Country: India

DOI NO.: 08.2020-25662434 DOI Link: https://doi-ds.org/doilink/03.2024-73842662/UIJIR

Affiliation:

1. Assistant Professor, Department of Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences, Indira Gandhi Technological and Medical Sciences University, Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, India.
2. Assistant Professor, Department of Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences, Indira Gandhi Technological and Medical Sciences University, Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, India.
3. PG Scholar, Department of Clinical Yoga, Alvas College of Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences, Moodbidri, D. K. Dist., Karnataka, India.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND Acupuncture, originating over 3000 years ago in China, operates on the principle of balancing the body's energy, or qi, through stimulating specific points along meridians. Despite its ancient roots, acupuncture has gained modern acceptance for its ability to complement conventional medicine and promote overall well-being. Acupuncture's capacity to regulate the autonomic nervous system may alleviate symptoms common in COVID-19 patients, such as headache and anxiety. Its anti-inflammatory effects, achieved by modulating neuropeptides and cytokines, are crucial in managing the inflammatory response, while enhancing immune function aids in fighting the virus. Given the multifaceted nature of COVID-19, acupuncture's ability to address various aspects of the disease, including autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction, inflammation, and immune response, positions it as a potentially valuable adjunctive therapy. METHOD Online Databases such as PubMed, PubMed Central, Google Scholar, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and BioMed Central (BMC) are searched for articles. A total of 21,876 references from 01st Jan 2020 until 01st February 2024, were found through the search. The papers which satisfied the inclusion criteria after removing the duplicates were selected. CONCLUSION Acupuncture shows promise in managing acute and long-term COVID-19 symptoms, particularly as adjunctive care. While generally well-tolerated with minimal side effects, more rigorous studies are needed to confirm its efficacy and explore its therapeutic potential further.

Key words: Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Covid-19, Acute Covid-19 Symptoms, Long-Covid-19, and Post-Covid-Symptoms.