Functional Medicine Solutions For

Long Covid

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I have spent over a decade specializing in hard-to-treat, complex, and chronic illnesses. This experience has taught me that almost any serious infection can leave behind long-term symptoms. 

I was not surprised when, soon after the pandemic started, thousands of people began to experience long-term symptoms following a Covid (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

Long Covid is a broad term that can encompass everything from persistent fatigue more than 4 weeks after an initial infection to symptoms like widespread pain, heart palpitations, digestive issues, muscle twitches, headaches, migraines, depression, shortness of breath, diaphragm/solar plexus tightness, anxiety, depression and insomnia in more complex cases.

Prolonged, debilitating symptoms that stretch far beyond an original infection are not uncommon in other viral infections like the flu, malaria, Lyme disease, and various parasitic and bacterial infections.

Functional medicine is uniquely suited to support healing in those experiencing the long-term effects of a Covid infection. 

Drastic improvements and full symptom resolution in Long Covid patients are common in my practice. These results are achieved without the use of immune-suppressing steroids. 

Personal experience with Long COVID

I have intimate knowledge of Long COVID because my wife and I got sick with COVID in the first wave of infections in March of 2020. While I recovered quickly, my wife developed Long COVID.

Her case was severe, and from it, I learned how to alleviate the symptoms of Long Covid and have acquired additional diagnostic tools to help restore the health of those afflicted.

I have also learned from my wife how to make weathering the unique symptoms of Long Covid easier.

Below I will outline common (and uncommon) symptoms of Long Covid, the latest research theorizing what may be behind these symptoms, and some tips that patients have found helpful in their recovery.  

If you are experiencing many of these symptoms or would like my help, please schedule a Free 15-Minute Consultation. I am currently accepting new patients worldwide through video or phone consultations.

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Symptoms of Long COVID at a glance

Read more below


  • Heart palpitations, racing heart, heart pounding

  • Solar plexus/diaphragm tightness

  • Post-covid anxiety/inflammation-based anxiety

  • New food allergies and sensitivities

  • New environmental sensitivities

  • Hypersensitivity to smells

  • Loss of smell and taste

  • Food aversions and nausea

  • Muscle twitches

  • Inconsistent recovery (a good day, followed by a recurrence of symptoms)

  • Cyclical symptoms (recurrent symptoms in a specific order)

  • Brain fog

  • Insomnia

  • Histamine intolerance

The information in this article and on this website are intended for informational purposes only and does not take the place of seeing a doctor and should not be used for the purposes of diagnosis.  If you are experiencing severe symptoms, have chest pain or trouble breathing, go to a hospital right away. Consult a doctor before beginning or stopping any medications or interventions. 

The two most frequently reported symptoms of Long Covid

Symptom

Heart Palpitations, Racing Heart, Heart Pounding

A frequently reported symptom among Long Covid patients is a feeling that their heart is beating out of their chest even from minor exertions (like walking or showering). This can be very frightening.

After getting serious conditions ruled out by their primary care doctor, these patients are often left with persistent and inexplicable heart palpitations. Unfortunately, this is often because they are dismissed as a result of general anxiety.  

Since the pandemic, I have received a sharp influx of patients reporting that their heart "feels like it's beating out of their chest" or that their "heart pounds even when they get up from a chair or go up the stairs." They feel that the palpitations are not related to anxiety and can happen randomly throughout the day, even when their mind is calm. 

It's also common to hear from patients that their heartbeat feels irregular to them, despite them having it checked out by a cardiologist.  

These symptoms are very common in patients recovering from a serious illness.

One thing that could be happening is that the heart may be working harder to move your blood through your detoxification organs.  Infection can result in the liver system (including the gallbladder and spleen) becoming overburdened from viral debris from the initial infection - this debris can then result in pathological/systemic inflammation. [1]

Heart palpitations, accompanied by a feeling of breathlessness, dizziness, and loss of balance (in this case due to the loss of blood volume upon standing) could be also attributed to Long Covid postural tachycardia syndrome. [2] 

These heart symptoms can persist for months, or even years, after the initial infection. While symptoms generally improve on their own over time, the pace of recovery can be agonizingly slow.

In many cases, once the cause is determined and appropriate support is given and steps are taken to reduce oxidative stress, these symptoms can improve or disappear altogether. [3] 

Patient Example:

I had a Long Covid patient with reported 'heart pounding' palpitations accompanied by insomnia. This sensation increased around 9 pm and persisted until 7 am the next morning.

Essentially, the immune and nervous systems were in a state of low-grade chronic inflammation, which was also triggering the release of too much histamine and was exacerbated by histamine-releasing foods. 

We focused on stabilizing the cells that release histamine (called mast cells). We used targeted nutritional medicines to stop the chronic inflammatory cycle so that the brain and the nerves going to the heart could go back to a healthy normal baseline.

We also supported the three stages of liver detoxification which is vital when resolving histamine issues.  She noticed right away that she started to sleep much deeper and stay asleep for longer periods of time. 

We incorporated a movement-based meditation (called Spring Forest Qigong) to help support her nervous system and reduce oxidative stress which sped up her recovery. 

After 10 weeks, her sleep was back to normal and she no longer experienced heart palpitations or sensations of heart pounding.  Her energy levels also were back to where they were before the infection. 

Symptom

Solar Plexus / Diaphragm Tightness

This is one of the most persistent and annoying symptoms my patients (and my wife) experienced. After Covid, there is often a tightness in the soft hollow below your sternum (also called the solar plexus).

This tightness can prevent you from taking a natural deep breath. Patients often compensate by raising their shoulders and 'manually' taking deep breaths themselves.

It can feel like they never get enough oxygen when they rely on their natural breathing rhythm. This feeling persists despite these patients' O2 levels being monitored in a hospital setting to confirm that they are getting enough oxygen. 

This could be due to the pathological changes in the muscle tissue of the diaphragm during a covid infection, which has been shown to result in fibrosis (scar tissue). [4]

This symptom could also be correlated to changes in mitochondrial function post Covid, which results in compromised oxygen exchange. [5]

Another potential cause is lymphatic congestion - the lymphatic system is the organization of vessels responsible for 'cleaning up' the body from head to toe. In Long Covid patients, the lymphatic system can be overburdened and benefit from external stimulation to restore flow. [6]

​Most patients report that laying down (especially with their arms over the head) helps with the tightness and that 'overdoing it' - either physically or emotionally - generally makes the tightness worse.

Early in your recovery, 'overdoing it' can mean just getting out of bed and doing some light cleaning.

Later in your recovery, you may notice the tightness after walking briskly or getting upset. Gradually, this sensation can go away on its own, but there are interventions that can help speed up recovery significantly. [7]

Notes: 

  • Particularly early in your recovery, do not push physical or emotional exertion.

  • Gently massaging the solar plexus area with your index and middle finger in a circular motion (with the abdominal muscles relaxed and you leaning slightly forward in a seated position) can also provide relief. 

  • Another area to massage gently is the spot in the abdomen halfway between the end of the chest bone (sternum) and your belly button.  Often this area is tight and tender to the touch as well.  When massaged, it can stimulate the restoration of lymphatic flow in the torso.  

Additional Common (and uncommon)

Long Covid Symptom Explanations & Patient Examples

Click the “-” to collapse and the '“+” to expand each symptom

Whole Body Support for Long Covid Patients

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High-quality, tailored supplementation & functional medicine testing

Functional medicine is about harnessing natural, effective medicine using the latest diagnostic tools. I do not recommend the same supplement for everyone, nor do I recommend the same diet for everyone.  Everyone's unique needs are different, especially for those recovering from Covid. 

Many people have a natural aversion to taking pharmaceuticals because of the concern of side effects, but a heavy metal-contaminated supplement or one that is taken at the wrong time or at the wrong dose can cause significant side effects and hinder recovery as well. 

The right type of medicine, at the right dose, at the right time, in the form closest to natural as possible, is the goal.  If any of those factors are ill-suited to your health condition, especially when recovering from Long Covid, a medicine can be ineffective or slow down your recovery.

Just because there is a peer-reviewed article saying something could potentially be used to treat COVID-19 does not necessarily mean that that supplement or lifestyle intervention is good for you at this time. The same goes for a supplement that is widely considered to be beneficial. 

There is no replacement for good diagnostics, which always includes a thorough patient evaluation, patient history, and a review of previous testing. 

Below are a few things that most of my patients have found beneficial as they improve.

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Spring Forest Qigong

Spring Forest Qigong was developed for people dealing with illness to help them remove the energetic blockages impeding their recovery.  

​Through focus, meditation, and slow movements, Qigong has been clinically shown to help heal patients faster and more completely than conventional treatments alone. [21] 

I specifically recommend the practice of Spring Forest Qigong which has been demonstrated in medical studies to be particularly effective. [22] It is a practice of moving meditations which you can do sitting or lying down if necessary.  

​Physician-led External Qigong can also be added to your regular appointments. ​

READ MORE ABOUT QIGONG HEALING

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Dietary Guidelines

All patients trying to recover from Long Covid would benefit from cutting out processed foods as much as possible.  Removing soda, candy, and high-sugar foods is also a great starting point, as it will help you significantly reduce your overall inflammation. 

Specific recommendations will depend on your symptoms and constitution. My wife, for instance, was experiencing severe chills during the initial phase of her recovery.  She got a recommendation from Dr. Hon Lee (a Doctor of Medical Qigong and a Master of Spring Forest Qigong) to make Congee and have it every morning.  A great recipe can be found here. 

Different constitutions, different symptoms, and even different seasons of the year can call for very different dietary protocols.

This recommendation was made because her spleen needed support. Within three days, her chills disappeared, and her digestion was greatly improved.  

Notes: 

  • Particularly if you are experiencing chills, all of your food should be cooked or, at the very least, warm.  Avoid things like ice water and ice cream. If you react adversely to a food, avoid it during your recovery. ​

  • Eliminate processed foods and refined sugars. 

  • Be mindful that you may have developed new food sensitivities.  If you experience new symptoms (like hives or stomach upset) when you eat food, make note of it and avoid it until you consult a functional medicine practitioner. 

  • Moderation is everything during this time, be wary of extreme diets like Keto, as too few carbohydrates can make it harder for you to heal. 

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Worldwide Functional Medicine Consultation​

Diagnosis ambiguity and complex symptoms are nothing new to functional medicine.  In my practice, diagnosis is merely the beginning, not the end, of medical inquiry. 

I am accepting new patients worldwide. New patient appointments are done over the phone or via video conference, and testing can be arranged at a hospital or testing location near you.

Disclaimer: If you think that you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this information. Nor should you ever delay seeking medical advice or treatment due to the information contained on this Website. The information on this Website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition. The information discussed is not intended to replace the advice of your healthcare provider. Reliance on the information provided by this Website, Dr. Brian Lum, or Functional Healthcare Institute is solely at your own risk.