LONG COVID
Your body is not broken. But something has changed, and it deserves to be taken seriously.
Long COVID arrived in the world’s vocabulary only recently, but for those living with it, the experience is anything but new. Profound fatigue that does not lift with rest. Brain fog that makes basic tasks feel impossible. A body that no longer responds the way it used to. And a medical system that, for much of the pandemic, did not have answers.
Long COVID
Long COVID refers to a range of symptoms that persist or develop following a COVID-19 infection, lasting weeks, months, or years beyond the initial illness. It affects people who had severe infections and those who had mild ones. It can appear after a first infection or after a subsequent one. It does not follow a predictable pattern, and its presentation varies enormously from person to person.
Common symptoms include profound fatigue, post-exertional malaise, brain fog and cognitive difficulties, breathlessness, heart palpitations, dizziness, joint and muscle pain, disrupted sleep, headaches, sensory disturbances, mood changes, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Many people also experience a disruption to their sense of smell or taste that can persist for extended periods. The symptom picture is wide-ranging, often fluctuating, and frequently misunderstood by those who have not experienced it.
Why conventional medicine often falls short
Long COVID has presented the medical system with a condition it was not prepared for. Diagnosis is clinical, based on symptom history, because there is no single definitive test. Many people with Long COVID have normal bloodwork, normal imaging, and normal findings on standard investigations, and are therefore told there is nothing wrong, or that their symptoms are anxiety or deconditioning.
Many people with Long COVID have normal bloodwork, normal imaging, and normal findings on standard investigations
There is currently no approved treatment for Long COVID. Management is largely symptomatic, and the care available varies enormously depending on location and access. Long COVID clinics exist in some centres, but they are unevenly distributed and often have long waiting lists.
What is becoming clearer through emerging research is that Long COVID involves multiple biological mechanisms, including immune dysregulation, microbiome disruption, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, viral persistence or reactivation, mitochondrial impairment, and endothelial damage. The overlap with ME-CFS, MCAS, and POTS is significant, and many of the tools that have been developed for those conditions are directly relevant here.
What herbal medicine and homeopathy offer
Because Long COVID shares so much of its biological terrain with ME-CFS, MCAS, and POTS, the herbal and homeopathic approaches that have proven valuable in those conditions are deeply applicable here. The focus is on immune modulation, nervous system regulation, mitochondrial support, gut health, and reducing systemic inflammation.
Medicinal mushrooms are at the centre of the herbal approach to Long COVID. Their immune-modulating, anti-inflammatory, and nervous system-supportive properties address several of the key biological mechanisms involved.
Reishi mushroom
Anti-inflammatory, calming to the nervous system, and one of the most broadly applicable medicinal mushrooms for immune dysregulation and fatigue. A consistent part of Long COVID support protocols.
Lion's mane mushroom
Supports nerve growth factor production with compelling evidence for cognitive support — particularly relevant for the brain fog that is one of the most disabling features of Long COVID.
Turkey tail mushroom
Some of the strongest evidence among medicinal mushrooms for immune modulation. Used widely in integrative oncology and post-viral recovery support.
Rhodiola rosea
Supports mitochondrial function, cognitive clarity, and stress resilience. One of the most researched adaptogens for fatigue recovery. Grown on the land at the Two Roots apothecary farm.
…there are so many more herbs to support you living with Long COVID also. We review all appropriate options with clients in our cilinal appointments.
Common support approaches
People navigating Long COVID have often already become experts in their own condition. This is the landscape of what is broadly known to help:
Dietary approaches:
An anti-inflammatory whole foods diet reduces the systemic inflammation associated with Long COVID. Blood sugar regulation is important, as energy crashes worsen fatigue and cognitive symptoms. Some people also find benefit in reducing histamine-containing foods if mast cell involvement is suspected.
Mitochondrial support:
Supplements commonly used to support mitochondrial function include CoQ10, D-ribose, magnesium malate, B vitamins including B12 and folate, and L-carnitine. These are widely used in Long COVID recovery and have some evidence for symptomatic benefit.
Nervous system regulation:
Gentle practices that support parasympathetic activation, including slow breathing, gentle movement within tolerance, and somatic therapies, can reduce the autonomic dysregulation that drives many Long COVID symptoms.
Cold exposure and vagal toning:
Some people with Long COVID find that gentle cold exposure, including ending showers with cold water, supports vagal tone and nervous system regulation. This is introduced very gradually and only when tolerated.
…and more in the full guide
Free resource
The Two Roots Long COVID Support Guide
A detailed, expanded guide to supporting your health with Long COVID, including all common approaches, herbal and nutritional supports, and practical strategies. Free to download.
Long COVID Support Guide.pdf
Expanded guide — free download
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What to expect working together
Long COVID is a condition where the picture is still evolving, both scientifically and in the individual person. The initial consultation gives me a thorough picture of your symptom history, your original infection, how your symptoms have developed over time, and what you are managing currently.
Because Long COVID so frequently involves elements of ME-CFS, POTS, and MCAS, I assess for all of these patterns and build the protocol accordingly. The approach is layered and responsive, adjusted at each follow-up based on what your body is telling us.
We begin with the preparatory phase and gut support before moving into immune modulation, mitochondrial support, and nervous system regulation. Most people working on Long COVID notice incremental improvements over a period of months, with fatigue and brain fog often being the first areas to shift.
Telehealth is available for all appointments, and I ship custom formulations across Canada. I understand that Long COVID makes getting to appointments difficult on many days, and I build flexibility into how we work together.
For a full overview of how consultations work, including fees and the appointment process, visit the Services page.
For a full overview of how consultations work, including fees and the appointment process, visit the Services page.
You are not alone in this, and you are not out of options.
Long COVID is one of the defining health challenges of this era, and the people living with it have largely had to navigate it without adequate support. The research is catching up. The tools available, both conventional and herbal, are growing. And there are practitioners who take this seriously and are willing to work with the complexity it brings.
If you are ready to explore what herbal medicine and homeopathy can offer in your recovery…I would be glad to hear from you.