Have you had chronic fatigue since a bout with COVID-19? I have seen many patients in recent years with chronic fatigue that started with COVID-19 and has continued ever since. Fortunately, I have great results with natural treatments, which I will share in this article.
People can have post-acute infection syndrome after a viral disease. This refers to symptoms that occur after the initial viral infection. The same can be true with post-COVID, also known as “Long COVID.” There can be a whole host of symptoms that people experience with Long COVID. The journal Nature recently reported that Long COVID symptoms can include:
The same article noted that people with Long COVID often have elevated Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) antibody levels. Most of us had mononucleosis when we were younger caused by EBV. Typically, the immune system keeps EBV suppressed and does not cause health problems. However, a significant insult to the immune system, such as COVID-19, causes a reactivation of EBV and possibly resulting symptoms like fatigue.
I test patients with chronic fatigue since COVID-19 infection by ordering an EBV antibody panel. When the antibodies are very high (which would not have been from mononucleosis many decades ago), I partially treat the fatigue by attacking EBV and improving cell energy production.
To help the immune system function better in these cases, I often recommend:
Immune Wellness: a blend of mushroom extracts and Astragalus to improve immune function.
Turmeric Wellness: to reduce inflammation and support a healthy immune response.
Vitamin D3 with K2: for immune system modulation
Another treatment I have observed fast and predictable improvement for chronic fatigue from LONG COVID and other reasons is the use of intravenous ozone. This involves the withdrawal of patient blood that is then contained in a sterile IV bag. Next, medical-grade ozone is added to the blood, mixed, and infused into the patient. The ozone quickly metabolizes into oxygen in the blood, which has a direct antiviral effect.
The journal Virus Research reports that IV ozone has antiviral activity by interfering with viral replication, enhances immune system activity, and has anti-inflammatory activity. Research demonstrates that IV ozone improves fatigue from Post-Epstein-Barr-Virus Fatigue Syndrome. Much of this research is done in European countries where doctors commonly use non-drug therapies.
IV ozone is very safe when administered by trained professionals. The Journal of Natural Science states:
Ozone therapy has been utilized and heavily studied for more than a century. Its effects are proven, consistent, safe and with minimal and preventable side effects. Medical O(3) is used to disinfect and treat disease. Mechanism of actions is by inactivation of bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeast and protozoa, stimulation of oxygen metabolism, activation of the immune system.
If you have LONG COVID and are experiencing fatigue, using natural approaches to regain your health and energy level makes a lot of sense.
Dr. Mark Stengler NMD, MS, is a bestselling author in private practice in Encinitas, California, at the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine. His newsletter, Dr. Stengler’s Health Breakthroughs, is available at www.markstengler.com and his product line at www.drstengler.com
Cattel, F., Giordano, S., Bertiond, C., Lupia, T., Corcione, S., Scaldaferri, M., Angelone, L., & De Rosa, F. G. (2021). Ozone therapy in COVID-19: A narrative review. Virus research, 291, 198207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virusres.2020.198207
Daan De Coninck, GP (2022). Ozonised Saline Solution in treating Post-EBV-Fatigue Syndrome. Case Report and review of the literature. Ozone Therapy Global Journal Vol. 12, nº 1, pp 19-39
Elvis, A. M., & Ekta, J. S. (2011). Ozone therapy: A clinical review. Journal of natural science, biology, and medicine, 2(1), 66–70. https://doi.org/10.4103/0976-9668.82319
Klein, J., Wood, J., Jaycox, J. et al. Distinguishing features of Long COVID identified through immune profiling. Nature (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06651-y
