RECENT RESEARCH
Acupuncture and TCM
Taylor-Swanson L , Altschuler D , Taromina K , Anderson B , Bensky D , Cohen M , Huang H , Ma S , Majd I , Mitchell C , Schnyer RN , Conboy L . SEAttle-based Research of Chinese Herbs for COVID-19 Study : A Whole Health Perspective on Chinese Herbal Medicine for Symptoms that may be Related to COVID-19 . Glob Adv Health Med . 2022 . doi : 10.1177 / 21649561211070483
Introduction : East Asian Medicine ( EAM ) is a Whole System medicine that includes Chinese herbal medicine ( CHM ). Chinese herbal medicine has been utilized to reduce symptom burden in infectious disease , with notable theoretical reformulations during pandemics of the 3rd , 13th , and 17th centuries . Today , Licensed Acupuncturists trained in CHM have utilized it to treat symptoms and sequelae of COVID-19 . However , little is known about its use or efficacy by the public and health practitioners . Understanding and evaluating whole medicine systems of healthcare is inherently complex ; there is international consensus for a descriptive , pragmatic approach . We are conducting a feasibility pilot study using a prospective , pragmatic , observational design using Whole Health and Whole Person perspectives . The complexity of COVID-19 reflects the impact on multiple homeoregulatory systems and provides a unique opportunity to assess the impact of interventions such as EAM on whole health . Observation of these EAM encounters will provide valuable qualitative and quantitative data on the interface of an extant Whole System medicine with a novel complex illness as a precursor to a randomized clinical trial .
Methods : This ongoing study observes a CHM clinic offering telehealth consultations to a diverse patient population since April , 2020 . Patients who report symptoms potentially related to COVID-19 disease are consented for standardized collection and analysis of demographic and clinical data from each clinical encounter .
Results : To date , 61 patients engaged in 195 consultations ( mean 3.3 ) with 49 reporting symptom resolution sufficient to complete treatment , and 4 withdrawals . Just over half ( 62 %) were female , with an average age of 45.7 years . A wide variety of CHM formulas and EAM dietary and lifestyle modifications were provided .
Discussion : Adequate recruitment and retention suggest feasibility of the intervention and data collection . The rich dataset may facilitate the construction of Whole Health models of CHM ' s clinical impact , as well as integrative inquiry into CHM ' s effects on symptoms .
Li L , Gou C-y , Li X-m , Song W-y , Wang X-j , Li H-y , Li H-y , Li X-h . Effects of Chinese Medicine on Symptoms , Syndrome Evolution , and Lung Inflammation Absorption in COVID-19 Convalescent Patients during 84-Day Follow-up after Hospital Discharge : A Propective Cohort and Nested Case-Control Study . Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine . 2021 ; 27 ( 4 ): 245-251 . Doi : 10.1007 / s11655-021-3328-3
Objective : To observe the changes of symptoms , Chinese medicine ( CM ) syndrome , and lung inflammation absorption during convalescence in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ) who had not totally recovered after hospital discharge and whether CM could promote the improvement process .
Methods ; This study was designed as a prospective cohort and nested casecontrol study . A total of 96 eligible patients with COVID-19 in convalescence were enrolled from Beijing Youan Hospital and Beijing Huimin Hospital and followed up from the hospital discharged day . Patients were divided into the CM ( 64 cases ) and the control groups ( 32 cases ) based on the treatment with or without CM and followed up at 14 , 28 , 56 , and 84 days after discharge . In the CM group , patients received the 28-day CM treatment according to two types of CM syndrome . Improvements in clinical symptoms , CM syndrome , and absorption of lung inflammation were observed .
Results : All the 96 patients completed the 84-day follow-up from January 21 to March 28 , 2020 . By the 84th day of follow-up , respiratory symptoms were less than 5 %. There was no significant difference in the improvement rates of symptoms , including fatigue , sputum , cough , dry throat , thirst , and upset , between the two groups ( P > 0.05 ). Totally 82 patients ( 85.42 %) showed complete lung inflammation absorption at the 84- day follow-up . On day 14 , the CM group had a significantly higher absorption rate than the control group ( P < 0.05 ) and the relative risk of absorption for CM vs . control group was 3.029 ( 95 % confidence interval : 1.026 – 8.940 ). The proportions of CM syndrome types changed with time prolonging : the proportion of the pathogen residue syndrome gradually decreased , and the proportion of both qi and yin deficiency syndrome gradually increased .
Conclusions : Patients with COVID-19 in convalescence had symptoms and lung inflammation after hospital discharge and recovered with time prolonging . CM could improve lung inflammation for early recovery . The types of CM syndrome can be transformed with time prolonging .
Aromatherapy
Hawkins J , Hires C , Keenan L , Dunne E . Aromatherapy blend of thyme , orange , clove bud , and frankincense boosts energy levels in post-COVID-19 female patients : A randomized , double-blinded , placebo controlled clinical trial . Complement Ther Med . 2022 ; 67:102823 . doi : 10.1016 / j . ctim . 2022.102823 . Epub 2022 Mar 25 .
Background : A large proportion of individuals who have recovered from an acute COVID-19 infection continue to experience symptoms months later . Postacute COVID-19 ( long-haul COVID-19 ) can range from serious complications to quality of life symptoms such as fatigue or insomnia . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential for inhalation of essential oils to improve energy levels among otherwise healthy female survivors of acute COVID-19 who experience a lack of energy more than five months after recovery . This study was conducted in the United States in late 2021 .
Method : This was a randomized double blind , placebo controlled trial to
160 | vol28 | no3 | JATMS