Alternative Therapeutic Approaches for Long COVID: Evidence from Recent Studies

Long COVID, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), is still a major problem for the world's health. Even with the increasing amount of research, there is still little data on alternate treatments for Long COVID symptoms. Examining the potential of complementary therapies, such as phytotherapy or the use of herbal medication, acupuncture, and psychosocial/ mind-body therapies, in treating Long COVID symptoms and related issues is the goal of this narrative review. Major scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched extensively for relevant literature, with an emphasis on research released between 2020 and 2024. The review covered alternate treatments for Long COVID and included clinical investigations, systematic reviews, and peer-reviewed publications. Using predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria and in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, studies were screened and chosen. Current review reported observations from studies using complementary and alternative medicine therapies (CAM), including traditional herbal therapy, homeopathy, Ayurveda, acupuncture, and mindfulness-based interventions in COVID patients. Numerous data suggest that these treatments may help reduce the neurological symptoms, respiratory problems, and exhaustion linked to Long COVID. Nonetheless, there are still large gaps in the validation of these therapies and standardized clinical studies. Although, alternative treatments may help Long COVID patients with their symptoms, more research into their safety and effectiveness is necessary through well planned clinical trials. To guarantee their appropriateness and efficacy, complementary therapies must undergo thorough validation before being incorporated into evidence-based healthcare systems.