South Korean herbal medicines show promise in relieving Long COVID fatigue and cognitive dysfunction

Long COVID News: Long COVID, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), has become a pressing global health issue, leaving millions of patients struggling with persistent symptoms months after recovering from the acute phase of COVID-19. A significant number of these individuals experience ongoing fatigue and cognitive dysfunction, often without established treatment options. However, a new study from researchers at Kyung Hee University and the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine in South Korea has explored the potential of traditional East Asian herbal medicines to provide relief for long COVID symptoms. This Long COVID News report delves into the key findings from their phase 2 pilot clinical study, focusing on the efficacy and safety of three herbal remedies: Bojungikgi-tang (BIT), Kyungok-go (KOG), and Cheonwangbosim-dan (CBD).


South Korean herbal medicines show promise in relieving Long COVID fatigue
and cognitive dysfunction

Understanding Long COVID
Before discussing the treatments, it's essential to understand what long COVID entails. Long COVID can be defined as the persistence of symptoms that begin within three months after the initial infection, lasting for at least two months and are not explained by other underlying conditions. Common symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, memory problems, shortness of breath, and sleep disturbances. Among these, fatigue and cognitive dysfunction have been identified as the most widespread and debilitating symptoms, with few treatment options available.
 
Exploring Herbal Remedies
The study aimed to evaluate whether traditional East Asian herbal medicines could be effective in treating these long-term symptoms. A total of 45 participants suffering from either fatigue or cognitive dysfunction were enrolled in the study. Each participant was administered one of the three herbal medicines for 12 weeks, followed by a 36-week observation period. The three remedies were prescribed based on the patient’s symptoms and traditional syndrome differentiation techniques used in Korean medicine.
 
The study involved three distinct groups, each taking one of the three South Korean herbal remedies.
-Bojungikgi-tang (BIT) - Prescribed for patients suffering from lung-spleen Qi deficiency, a condition often characterized by fatigue, appetite loss, and shortness of breath.
 
-Kyungok-go (KOG) - Administered to those with dual deficiency of Qi and Yin, typically leading to fatigue and dry cough.
 
-Cheonwangbosim-dan (CBD) - Prescribed for patients with heart Yin deficiency, which manifests as forgetfulness, insomnia, and heart palpitations.
 
Promising Results for Fatigue Relief
After 12 weeks of treatment, the study revealed promising results for patients struggling with long COVID-related fatigue. The Bojungikgi-tang (BIT) group showed the highest improve ment, with an impressive 80% success rate in reducing fatigue symptoms. The Kyungok-go (KOG) group also exhibited significant improvement, with a 53.33% success rate. Meanwhile, the Cheonwangbosim-dan (CBD) group had a 46.67% success rate.
 
The study’s success was measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), which indicated significant reductions in fatigue levels in all three groups.
 
The use of Bojungikgi-tang is particularly noteworthy, as it has a long history in traditional Korean and Chinese medicine for treating conditions related to weakness and fatigue. Researchers believe that the mechanism behind its success could involve its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, which may help restore energy and alleviate fatigue.
 
Cognitive Dysfunction: A More Complex Issue
The study found that while herbal medicines showed great potential for relieving fatigue, cognitive dysfunction was more challenging to treat. Cheonwangbosim-dan (CBD), traditionally used to address mental health issues like anxiety and memory problems, had the least success in improving cognitive dysfunction symptoms, with only a 13.33% success rate. The Bojungikgi-tang (BIT) and Kyungok-go (KOG) groups also reported moderate improvements, with success rates of 40% and 46.67%, respectively.
 
However, researchers cautioned against drawing firm conclusions from these findings, noting that cognitive dysfunction in long COVID may require a more nuanced approach. The symptoms of brain fog and memory problems differ from those seen in other neurological conditions like dementia, making them harder to treat with existing interventions.
 
Key Takeaways from the Study
One of the most critical takeaways from this research is the feasibility of conducting larger clinical trials to investigate the efficacy of herbal medicines for long COVID. The study design proved to be feasible, with high medication adherence across the board. Moreover, no severe adverse events were reported, suggesting that these herbal medicines are safe for long-term use.
 
Patients who were prescribed Bojungikgi-tang and Kyungok-go experienced sustained improvements in fatigue levels even after the 12-week treatment period ended, indicating the long-lasting benefits of these herbal treatments. Additionally, the cognitive function assessments showed some promise, particularly in the Bojungikgi-tang group, where improvement was seen in memory-related tasks.
 
Safety and Side Effects
Throughout the study, researchers closely monitored the participants for adverse events. Thankfully, all reported side effects were mild and not directly related to the herbal medications. This is a crucial finding, as it suggests that these traditional remedies, which have been used for centuries in East Asia, can offer a safe alternative for patients suffering from long COVID symptoms. Adherence to the prescribed treatments was also high, further underscoring the practicality and safety of incorporating these remedies into modern medical treatments.
 
Future Implications
The implications of this study are significant, as it paves the way for further exploration of traditional herbal medicines as a complementary treatment for long COVID. The researchers plan to expand their study to include a larger, more diverse population and introduce a control group to better understand the full potential of these remedies. They also emphasized the importance of developing more targeted treatments for cognitive dysfunction, given the relatively low success rates in addressing this particular symptom in the current study.
 
Furthermore, as long COVID continues to affect millions globally, the findings from this research provide hope for those seeking alternative treatments for managing their symptoms. Herbal medicines, especially Bojungikgi-tang, could offer an accessible and effective solution for alleviating long-term fatigue, one of the most debilitating symptoms of long COVID.
 
Conclusion
In conclusion, this phase 2 pilot study demonstrated that herbal medicines, particularly Bojungikgi-tang and Kyungok-go, have the potential to significantly reduce fatigue symptoms in long COVID patients. Cognitive dysfunction, however, remains more difficult to treat, and more research is needed in this area.
 
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Heliyon.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024139515
 
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