🌙 Can Acupuncture Help With Sleep & Long COVID?

Tully
Jun 1
3 min read

Many people are struggling with poor sleep, fatigue, brain fog, and lingering symptoms after COVID-19. These issues are trending in wellness searches, and acupuncture is showing promise as a helpful support. Let’s explore what the recent research says, how TCM sees these conditions, and what acupuncture can do.

🌀 How TCM Views Sleep Issues & Post-Viral (COVID) Conditions

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, sleep and restful balance are tied to the harmony of several organ systems and energy flows (Qi & Blood):

Heart & Shen (Mind): The Heart in TCM houses the Shen (mind or spirit). When Heart Qi or Blood is weak, or when there is disturbance in the Shen, sleep issues like insomnia, nightmares, or disrupted rest can occur.
Liver’s Role: The Liver in TCM governs free flow of Qi. When Liver Qi is stagnant (from stress, unresolved emotions), it can upset sleep and cause irritability or restless mind.
Kidney & Jing: The Kidneys store essence (Jing) and govern fundamental vitality. After illness (like COVID), Kidney Qi may be depleted, leading to fatigue, brain fog, weak immune response, and difficulty recovering.
Spleen/Digestive Support: If digestion is weak, it fails to generate adequate Qi and Blood to nourish the mind and organs. Poor diet, stress, or long recovery phases (as with Long COVID) often impair Spleen function.
Wind, Dampness, Heat: From pathogenic factors – for instance, residual “heat” or “dampness” lingering post-infection – causing symptoms like restlessness, fogginess, poor sleep.

🌟 What Acupuncture Can Do (Practically) For Sleep & Long COVID

Based on both anecdotal and research evidence, here are key benefits people may experience when using acupuncture for sleep problems & Long COVID recovery:

Improved Sleep Quality: Falling asleep more easily, fewer awakenings, longer deep / restorative sleep.
Reduced Fatigue & Brain Fog: By supporting Kidney Qi, reducing inflammation, and helping nervous system regulation.
Mood & Stress Regulation: Help calm the mind via Shen-tuning points, reducing anxiety or rumination.
Pain & Discomfort Relief: Many Long COVID patients suffer pain, headaches, or neuropathic symptoms - acupuncture may help modulate pain and improve circulation.
Immune Modulation & Inflammation: Studies suggest acupuncture may help lower inflammatory cytokines and support immune recovery.

Girl Sleeping. Can Acupuncture Help Sleep & Long COVID?

🔬 Recent Research Highlights

Sleep Disorders & Acupuncture

A 2023 literature review of rodent studies (Frontiers in Neuroscience) found acupuncture improved sleep duration and quality. Mechanisms include modulation of catecholamine systems and BDNF signalling.

Also, in Frontiers in Neurology (2024), Zhao et al. showed acupuncture had positive effects on objective sleep indices: more total sleep time, better sleep efficiency, fewer awakenings and arousals.
Insomnia Clinical Evidence

A study on the prevention and treatment of stroke in people with insomnia found acupuncture improved insomnia severity, sleep efficiency, and total sleep time, with reductions in depression scores.
Long COVID & Acupuncture

Research is emerging showing acupuncture may help with symptoms of Long COVID (persistent fatigue, pain, neuropsychiatric symptoms). A clinical trial currently underway is exploring acupuncture for treating long COVID neuropsychiatric symptoms over a 12-week protocol.

Another pilot study is looking at acupuncture for fatigue after COVID-19, confirming safety and feasibility, with signals of benefit.

⚠️ What to Keep in Mind

Treatment needs to be consistent. A series of sessions over weeks are more beneficial than a one-off.
Results vary depending on how long symptoms have been present, individual constitution, overall health, diet, stress levels.
Acupuncture is best used as part of a holistic plan: good sleep hygiene, supportive diet, gentle movement, stress reduction.
Some studies are still preliminary; more rigorous large-scale trials are needed for definitive claims.

🔍 Tips If You’re Considering Acupuncture for Sleep / Long COVID

Choose a practitioner experienced in post-viral conditions or recovery medicine.
Discuss your full symptom profile, sleep history, recovery from COVID (if relevant), and lifestyle.
Aim for acupuncture protocols that include both local (points related to sleep, nervous system) and systemic (Kidney, Liver, Heart) balancing.
Combine with lifestyle support: reduce screen time before bed, ensure cool & dark sleeping environment, gentle evening rituals.

In summary, acupuncture is showing up more and more in both research and clinical practice as a valuable support for sleep disorders and recovery from Long COVID. If you’ve been up late, waking often, or still feeling drained, this is a topic to keep an eye on - and perhaps try.

See you in clinic,

Dr. Taralee Reynolds TCM