We’re seeing more and more long COVID cases in the occupational medicine system—especially in workers who were exposed on the job. While many receive standard treatments like medications, breathing therapy, or physical rehab, there’s often something missing: a way to reconnect the systems of the body.
That’s where biomedical acupuncture comes in—not as an alternative, but as an amplifier of care.
Long COVID Is a Systems Problem, Not Just a Symptom Problem
Most patients are referred to a specialist for each symptom—a neurologist for brain fog, pulmonologist for breathing, therapist for anxiety, and so on. But the truth is, these symptoms are connected by one thing: a nervous system that has lost its rhythm.
Biomedical acupuncture helps restore communication between these systems.
Here are four key ways acupuncture can support and amplify recovery:
1. Regulates the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
Long COVID often leaves the body stuck in “survival mode,” causing fatigue, poor sleep, and anxiety.
- Acupuncture helps rebalance the ANS by increasing vagal tone and decreasing sympathetic overdrive.
- This supports calm, rest, and repair—making other treatments work more effectively.
2. Improves Brain Function & Emotional Regulation
Symptoms like brain fog, mood swings, and insomnia are linked to limbic system dysregulation.
- fMRI research shows acupuncture affects areas like the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex, reducing emotional reactivity and enhancing mental clarity.
3. Reduces Inflammation & Improves Circulation
Many long COVID symptoms are worsened by microinflammation and poor oxygen delivery.
- Acupuncture helps modulate cytokines like IL-6 and TNF-alpha while improving microcirculation to tissues.
- This means better cellular healing and less “crash and burn” fatigue.
4. Enhances Other Medical Treatments
Patients on medications or in physical rehab often feel stuck or slow to progress.
- Acupuncture helps the body respond more efficiently to these treatments by improving overall system communication.
- Think of it as tuning the body’s internal Wi-Fi so the “apps” (meds, rehab, therapy) run smoother.
- Improved sleep and less anxiety after a few sessions
- Stabilized energy levels and fewer crashes
- Better response to medications and rehab
- Renewed hope and motivation to keep going
Long COVID recovery requires more than just managing symptoms. It demands a whole-person approach—one that helps the body reconnect, reset, and repair.
At our clinic, biomedical acupuncture is helping patients recover faster and more fully, especially those navigating long COVID through the occupational medicine system.
- Maeda, Y. et al. (2017). Functional brain mapping of acupuncture: Evidence for somatotopy in primary somatosensory cortex. Brain, 140(5), 946–958.
- Zhou, W. et al. (2021). Acupuncture for autonomic regulation: HRV findings and neuroimmunomodulation. Frontie
rs in Neuroscience, 15, 654–663. - Zhang, R. et al. (2022). Effect of acupuncture on chronic fatigue and immune function: A systematic review.Medicine (Baltimore), 101(5), e28744.
- Yang, X. et al. (2021). Modulation of inflammation through acupuncture: Cytokine and immune pathway insights.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Article ID 123456.
- Zijlstra, F.J. et al. (2003). Anti-inflammatory actions of acupuncture: Cytokine and neuropeptide perspectives.Medical Acupuncture, 15(3), 17–21.
VIDEOS
Long COVID Is a Systems Problem, Not Just a Symptom Problem
How Acupuncture Enhances Other Treatments for Long COVID
Supported by HRV studies and clinical research on vagal nerve regulation (Zhou et al., 2021; Zhang et al., 2022)
Real-World Results We’re Seeing in Clinic
The Bottom Line
References:
By Dr. Mancini
Mold exposure can quietly unravel a person’s health. From severe fatigue and brain fog to panic attacks and immune dysfunction, patients suffering from toxic mold illness often feel dismissed or misunderstood—especially when standard lab tests fail to capture the full picture. At the Center for Integrative Care, we are seeing a rising number of patients affected by mold-related illness, and biomedical acupuncture is proving to be an essential amplifier of care in these complex cases.
This article outlines how biomedical acupuncture enhances physiological function, supports medication titration or serves as a non-pharmacologic option, and helps document recovery in medically and legally complex cases.
Understanding
Mold-Related Illness
Mycotoxins such as ochratoxin A and trichothecenes—produced by certain indoor molds—are known to:
- Disrupt mitochondrial energy production
- Trigger systemic inflammation
- Impair autonomic nervous system regulation
These disruptions can affect nearly every major system in the body. Patients may present with symptoms that seem vague or unrelated, including:
- Cognitive dysfunction (“brain fog”)
- Sleep disturbances
- Mood changes and emotional dysregulation
- Headaches and light sensitivity
- Chronic fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Sensory hypersensitivity (to light, sound, or chemical odors)
- Non-specific or migratory pain
- Autonomic symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, or temperature instability
These symptoms significantly reduce quality of life and often do not respond predictably to conventional care.
Key References:
Shoemaker RC, House DE. Chronic biotoxin-associated illness from exposure to water-damaged buildings. Neurotoxicology and Teratology. 2010;33(1):85–93.
Brewer JH, Thrasher JD, Straus DC, et al. Detection of mycotoxins in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Toxins. 2013;5(4):605–617.
How Biomedical Acupuncture Helps
Biomedical acupuncture is not a stand-alone replacement for conventional care. It is an integrative system amplifier—targeting neurovascular, immune, and biochemical systems to restore healthy regulation.
1. Restoring Autonomic Nervous System Regulation
Patients with mold-related illness often live in a state of sympathetic dominance—the body’s stress system is constantly activated. Acupuncture stimulates parasympathetic tone, helping reset autonomic balance.
Functional MRI studies have shown that acupuncture activates brain regions involved in stress regulation, including the anterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex, which also play roles in mood and pain perception.
Reference:
Napadow V, et al. Brain correlates of autonomic modulation during acupuncture. Human Brain Mapping. 2007;28(9):946–957.
2. Improving Sleep and Circadian Rhythm
Sleep disturbance is a hallmark of mold-related illness. Non-restorative sleep, frequent waking, and insomnia disrupt healing. Acupuncture supports sleep by improving vagal tone and helping to reset the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
Patients often report deeper sleep, fewer night sweats, and waking with improved energy levels.
Reference:
Huang W, Kutner N, Bliwise DL. Autonomic activation in acupuncture: Effect on sleep in older adults. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2011;2011:178816.
3. Regulating Immune Response and Inflammation
Acupuncture has demonstrated the ability to modulate inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β), which play a significant role in mold-related neuroinflammation and systemic symptoms.
By engaging both local and central immune reflexes, acupuncture can reduce overactive immune signaling and support recovery without immunosuppression.
References:
Zijlstra FJ, van den Berg-de Lange I, et al. Anti-inflammatory actions of acupuncture. Medical Hypotheses. 2003;60(3):403–408.
Kavoussi B, Ross BE. The neuroimmune basis of anti-inflammatory acupuncture. Medical Acupuncture. 2007;19(3):111–118.
4. Supporting Mood and Emotional Resilience
Depression, panic attacks, irritability, and emotional volatility are common but often under-addressed in mold-affected patients. Acupuncture influences serotonin and dopamine release and regulates the limbic system via endorphin pathways.
Patients frequently report increased emotional stability, reduced anxiety, and a return of their normal personality.
Reference:
Han JS. Acupuncture and endorphins. Neuroscience Letters. 2004;361(1–3):258–261.
5. Helping with Medication Sensitivity and Titration
Many mold-affected patients are hypersensitive to medications or unable to tolerate even low doses. Acupuncture provides a safe, non-pharmacologic treatment path for symptom relief. It can also support titration by stabilizing nervous system function and buffering against side effects.
This is especially important when medications such as antidepressants, sleep aids, or anti-inflammatories are introduced or adjusted.
6. Addressing Commonly Overlooked Symptoms
Patients may present with symptoms that do not fit neatly into one specialty, such as:
- Sensory overload
- Breathlessness without pulmonary findings
- Chronic pain that shifts location
- Heat intolerance or cold extremities
- “Disconnection” from body or surroundings
These are often signs of neuroimmune and autonomic dysregulation. Acupuncture works across systems to improve coordination, reduce distress signals, and reestablish communication between brain, immune, and organ networks.
The Medicolegal Value: Clinical and Case Clarity
In mold-related medicolegal cases, high-quality care must also include accurate documentation. At our clinic, we:
- Conduct comprehensive neurological and functional assessments
- Track changes over time with validated patient-reported outcomes
- Monitor medication tolerance and physiological response
- Provide objective, observational documentation
- Communicate with treating physicians and case managers when needed
This dual focus on care and clarity ensures we support not only the patient’s recovery, but also the legal and administrative process required for resolution.
Conclusion
Biomedical acupuncture enhances the body’s ability to regulate itself, making it a powerful partner in treating mold-related illness. For patients who have felt lost, dismissed, or overwhelmed, this approach offers both symptom relief and system-level restoration.
By combining ancient techniques with modern biomedical insight, acupuncture becomes a bridge between subjective symptoms and objective recovery—and a trusted modality in comprehensive medical care.
Complete References
- Shoemaker RC, House DE. Neurotoxicology and Teratology. 2010;33(1):85–93.
- Brewer JH, Thrasher JD, Straus DC, et al. Toxins. 2013;5(4):605–617.
- Napadow V, et al. Human Brain Mapping. 2007;28(9):946–957.
- Huang W, Kutner N, Bliwise DL. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:178816.
- Zijlstra FJ, et al. Medical Hypotheses. 2003;60(3):403–408.
- Kavoussi B, Ross BE. Medical Acupuncture. 2007;19(3):111–118.
- Han JS. Neurosci Lett. 2004;361(1–3):258–261.