Acupuncture has been proven scientifically by many studies to improve immunity against all types of viral and bacterial infections. The mechanism of acupuncture in sleep disorders/stress due to Covid-19 fear: a) Insertion of acupuncture needles activates peripheral nerves and muscles through sensory stimulation which further modulates the parasympathetic nervous system (a major regulator of sleep); b) acupuncture regulates various neurotransmitters and hormonal factors like endorphins, serotonin, norepinephrine, ACTH and melatonin, all of which play a major role in sleep regulation.
Acupuncture treatment
Most common scientific studies have been conducted using acupoints DU.20, P.6, ST.36 and SP.6. Treatment with acupuncture to promote immunity is generally given thrice a week for about four weeks and then a maintenance treatment of once a week is sufficient.
Other adjuvant modalities
1) Moxibustion: A herb (Artemesia Vulgaris) is made into a roll and burnt over an acupuncture point ST.36 (10 minutes each side). It can also be used as a self-help device to improve immunity. This point is also known in acupuncture as a point for treating 400 diseases.
2) Ear press needles: At specific ear points can also be used to promote immunity and restore normal sleep patterns. Ear points used are shenmen, sympathetic, Lu, K and spleen points.
3) Catgut embedding therapy: At a specific point on the anterior chest wall (REN 17) has also been used to improve respiratory capacity in patients with chronic asthma and COPD.
4) Electro-Acupuncture (EA): Electrodes are applied to certain acupuncture points to stimulate the body’s central nervous system (especially the hypothalamus) to produce specific neurotransmitters and opioids. These chemicals further enhance the patient’s immunity.
5) Cupping therapy: Application of special cups (bamboo, plastic or glass) at certain target points, helps to relax the tense muscles and induce a sense of calmness in the body. This helps induce sleep. As patients are recovering from coronavirus, the problems which they are suffering during and after recovering from the infection, are multifarious. The commonest issues which are persisting even after two weeks of testing negative are persistent cough with sore throat, extreme fatigue, post-Covid-19 lung disease, anxiety, depression, insomnia, cognitive issues similar to moderate traumatic brain injury and digestive problems such as bloating, imitable bowel, nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain.
The problem of persistent cough after recovering from coronavirus is very common and acupuncture produces 90% effective rate. 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. There were 10 total treatment sessions wherein each session was of 30 minutes. In the medication group, patients were given Methoxyphenamine capsules thrice a day for 10 days and the success rate was 70%.
Patients develop extreme fatigue following Covid-19 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 and Ub.23 for five days in a week for two weeks and 80% patients showed improvement in their fatigue levels.
Post-Covid-19 lung disease can be effectively tackled using acupuncture and moxibustion. The principle is to promote, regulate and stimulate the body’s selfregulating 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 coronavirus complain of a lingering cognitive impact — problems with their memory and inability to stay focused. 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-19. 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 and Liv.3 improved cognitive ability. Treatment was given over four weeks, five days a week wherein each session was of 30 minutes.
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 four 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 without any side effects.
The writer is head of the department of acupuncture at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Padma Shri winner.