Recovering from Long-COVID & Post-Viral Symptoms Naturally

COVID has impacted our lives in too many ways - and for many the toll has been high.

Post-viral symptoms can severely impact your life and prevent you from fully engaging with your normal activities like you used to. These symptoms can include:

• debilitating fatigue
• lack of appetite and/or nausea
• brain fog and/or difficulty concentrating
• dizziness or an off-balance feeling
• Ringing in the ears  or ear pain
• Joint pain an/or muscle weakness and pain
• Feeling depressed or anxious
• Heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath and/or tightness in the chest
• Difficulty sleeping
• Loss of taste & smell…& the list goes on

It has been estimated that at least 25% of people who had covid develop long-haul covid.

There is hope though! You can heal from post-COVID symptoms. Keep reading to learn more including information on supplements, homeopathic medicines & more!

Keep in mind that working with a health professional who understands your specific health concerns is the best way to go. Personalized recommendations will help speed your healing process & will prevent unwanted costs (think buying all the supplements when you might need just one or something else entirely!). In addition, working with a health professional can help you with the appropriate dosing.

There are a few great natural options when it comes to supporting your mitochondria and cellular health that will help improve your overall energy, clear brain fog & more of those post-viral symptoms. **The following list is not exhaustive.

CoQ10 / Ubiquinol: a fat-soluble coenzyme found in the mitochondria is one of the most frequently used supplements for the treatment of chronic fatigue as it is important in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), your cellular source of energy.

It may help alleviate muscle weakness and pain and reduce cognitive dysfunction such as brain fog or difficulty concentrating. It can also help improve immune response. 

NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine): essential for the production of glutathione, one of the body's most important antioxidants (they neutralize free radicals that damage cells and tissues promoting immune health). NAC can help reduces inflammation in your lungs and promotes the loosening of mucus in air passageways. NAC can be an important nutrient for those with chronic shortness of breath from/with COVID because it can break down the blood clots that COVID can cause within the lungs. 

Zinc: an essential mineral for immune function and protection against cancers of various kinds. It is important in hormone health and can be useful in restoring loss of taste & smell, improving memory and energy levels, & helping with the prevention of abnormal hair loss after COVID.

Magnesium: Magnesium is required for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and deficiencies in this mineral are linked to chronic fatigue and many other health issues. Low levels of magnesium reduce the mitochondria's ability to resist free radical damage and can result in chronic low level inflammation which play a part in chronic fatigue. Magnesium has been shown to increase energy levels, improve pain levels and support emotional health in patients with chronic fatigue. Magnesium is helpful in relieving stress and promoting sleep. It also balances blood sugar levels and helps to regulate melatonin and GABA in the brain which are essential for happier and calmer mood, good sleep and reduced anxiety.

Prebiotics: I'm sure you've heard that health starts in the gut. This is true! Prebiotics are food ingredients that cannot be digested and are important in our digestive system, promoting the growth of microorganisms/good bacteria in the intestines. They work alongside probiotics. Prebiotic food are fermented in the large intestine by existing bacteria and become the source of nutrition for gut bacteria, fueling it for optimal health. Prebiotics must be taken with probiotics (best in food form!

Prebiotic foods include: oats, leeks, onions, garlic, jerusalem artichoke, chicory, apples, cocoa, flaxseeds, wheat bran, sea weed - to name a few!

Probiotic foods include: Kefir • Sauerkraut • Kombucha • Yoghurt • Raw Cheese • Apple cider Vinegar • Salted Pickled gherkins • Miso • Tempeh • Kimchi

Lastly I want to touch on one of the most helpful natural supports in healing post-covid! These natural supports are incredible in the healing process because they:

• increase speed of healing
• support your own natural healing ability
• non-toxic (can't overdose them unlike natural supplements)
• are individualized to your unique symptoms - becuase you know that no two people have the same post-COVID symptoms
• can be targeted to symptoms that just don't want to disappear
• promote quality sleep, brain function and energy levels!

I will list a few natural supports (homeopathics) - but know that there are many more - some of which can only be accessed through a qualified homeopathic practitioner. If these don't fit your symptoms there are many more that will. Working with a homeopathic practitioner is highly recommend for selecting the best option, dosing and dosing frequency. Book a consult today!

Natural Supports (Homeopathics!)

Gelsemium: a patient needing this remedy will find themselves feeling sleepy and want to nap frequently. They can have a tired appearance where their eyelids look/feel heavy as if they would like to close them. They can feel incredibly weak, espeically in their limbs - even holding the limb up or their keeping their head up is almost too much! They are so weak they can feel that their muscles tremble or shake. Feeling dizzy or unsteady when they walk. Everything is SLOOOOW because they feel so weak. They may feel that their heart might stop if they stop moving even though moving is so tiring. They can feel so tired that they would rather sit alone and do nothing. Their vision might be blurry. There might be a dull, heavy headache with the heaviness of eyelids which can be relieved by lying down, urination, massage and compression.

Onosmodium: In this remedy there is a severe fatigue and they can feel as if they were born tired. Everything feels like it is slowed down. Difficult concentrating, forgetfulness especially for what they heard, read or were about to say. Foggy brain. Coordination can be affected with dizziness or vertigo. They can drop things or make missteps. On slight exertion the muscles become very weak and tremulous feeling like the muscles of the legs would not support them. There can be sore and stiff muscles as if they had exercised. Leg heaviness and numb weak feeling behind the knees. Aimless, idle, disconnected feeling.

A great remedy for exhaustion where there are visual symptoms including blurred vision where the focus just does not feel right, eye strain from slight efforts & pain in the eyeballs. It is also a migraine remedy - especially if it comes on after reading.

Zincum Metallicum: a remedy for brain fog, mental exhaustion where their memory is so weak they cannot process information. They feel stupid, forgetful and confused. Overall, a person requiring this remedy would be highly strung who may have trouble sleeping adding stress to the adrenal glands. They can feel weakness from stress from study, exams or intellectual achievement. There is fidgeting and restlessness. This remedy can be helpful with restoring taste and loss of smell.

General homeopathic dosing - starting with 30C would be the first recommendation. You may need to take 1 pellet daily for a week or two OR 1 pellet weekly for 1-2 weeks. If there is no improvement or minimal improvement after 2-3 doses working with a qualified practitioner will help identify which remedy (and dose) is best for you.

Work with me today! BOOK HERE.

If you know someone who would benefit from reading this post please share! xox

In health,

Rachel