Healing From Long Covid
Long Covid, otherwise known as Post Viral Fatigue is an extended feeling of exhaustion after having Covid 19.
Other symptoms include, headaches, brain fog, shortness of breath, ear ache, dizziness, tinnitus, nausea, loss of appetite, depression from illness & isolation….
I mean the list goes on and it varies from person to person.
This can happen after any virus, not just Covid. Quite commonly with Epstein Barr which is the virus responsible for Glandular fever / Mono.
For some, long covid lasts a couple of weeks after the virus, for others it can last months.
It is important to remember that the body has just been through a huge trauma and although you may have reduced symptoms/or no symptoms and out of isolation, the viral load is still being broken down in the body.
This is where the body needs extra support in clearing out this excess viral load, as well as building the immune system back up, supporting the adrenals after the trauma and excess cortisol release, and pumping the lymphatic system to clear out debris & dead white blood cells.
HEALING
~ Go slow, you will usually have more energy in the morning. Try to get any tasks done then and go slow in the afternoon.
~ Sleep whenever you need to, if you need 14 hours sleep, do that.
~ Be kind to yourself, don’t push your self to do more than you are able.
~ Build strength slowly, a short walk every day, even just outside and across the street, baby steps.
(DO NOT exercise until you feel better, often after 10 days-2 weeks after first contracting virus)
Savour your energy for healing. Yin Yoga on the floor is ok and small stretches.
~ Avoid coffee & all caffeine (This will only make your adrenals worse and prolong exhaustion).
~ Eat well, as many greens as possible. If little appetite, make a smoothie or soup.
~ Lots of cooked warm food, vegetable curries, soups, broths, with loads of herbs & seaweeds.
~ Green smoothies. Add Spirulina, Maca & Wheat grass juice powder if available to you. No ice! or iced fruits! its too cold for the gut. if using frozen fruit, defrost first or add warm water to remove ice.
~ Immune Citrus tea
~ Avoid anything hard to digest or that affects the immune system (gluten, meat, dairy, sugar).
~ Zinc supplement. or liquid zinc.
~ Drink Roots cafe (It contains Dandelion root to support and cleanse the liver, Reishi to modulate the immune response, Chaga an adaptogen to build the immune system and clear viral load and cardamon to soothe digestive discomfort).
~ Drink nettle tea daily (strong infusions) if you can forage your own nettle and collect the seeds too this will be very beneficial to the kidneys & adrenals. (The kidneys have been under a tremendous amount of pressure as an elimination organ, clearing the virus and the adrenals from the amount of strain on the body).
~ Turmeric root or powder! Drink golden milks & add to curry as often as possible.
~ Loss of smell should return by itself, to encourage this smell coffee daily or essential oils.
~ For a dry cough, do steam inhalations with Bay essential oil (1-2 drops) you can also add drops to a base oil and rub on chest, like you would Vicks chest rub.
HERBs
Astragalus root
Siberian ginseng/Eleutherococcus root
Reishi mushroom
Liquorice root
Ashwagandha root
SYMPTOMS OF LONG COVID
extreme exhaustion (fatigue)
shortness of breath
chest pain or tightness
problems with memory and concentration ‘brain fog’
difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
heart palpitations
dizziness
headaches
pins and needles
joint pain
depression and anxiety
tinnitus, earaches, blocked ears
feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite.
