Aromatherapy

I know people that noticed a significant difference over time with this type of olfactory training practice. One used a handful of essential oils; the other used their spice cabinet. Not full recovery, but a big improvement. Consistency was key. Good luck, the original poster.

[quote="my friend, post: 511021, member: 10862"] I think I did mention I also suffer from anxiety too in the post you quoted. I'm awaiting treatment from services on the NHS here for that, they say you cannot have treatment for both depression and anxiety at the same time as it may be too much so they are going with anxiety to put me forward as my sleeping has been disturbed by that recently. [/quote]

Since you brought it up, I'll tell you my anxiety treatment. The integrated MD I see was concerned about long term use of benzodiazepines for chronic anxiety so she recommended lavender supplement. I did some research on it and found out that organic lavender essential oil is generally recognized as safe for food (GRAS). I discussed this with my doctor and would stir 1-2 drops in 8 oz of water and sip it until I felt calm. It was an excellent therapy and nonaddicting.

Dr. Tim Robinson discusses the use of aromatherapy, specifically smell retraining with essential oils, as a potential treatment for loss of smell and taste in Long Covid patients. He mentions organizations like Fifth Sense and Absent that provide smell training kits, which include essential oils such as lemon, rose, eucalyptus, and cloves. Patients are advised to sniff these oils twice daily for at least four months, based on a 2009 study. Dr. Robinson also explains that the loss of smell and taste may be due to damage in the pathways from the receptor cells to the brain caused by the virus or micro clots, and recovery may take time as cells regenerate or clots clear.

Anna Marsh discusses the use of aromatherapy, specifically essential oils, as part of a broader approach to managing symptoms related to Long Covid and other conditions like mold illness and chronic fatigue. She suggests methods such as steam inhalation, adding essential oils to baths, and using diffusers to support nasal colonization and sinus health. Marsh emphasizes the importance of starting with small doses, especially for sensitive individuals, and gradually increasing the amount to avoid adverse reactions. She also mentions the potential use of antimicrobial supplements and other treatments alongside aromatherapy to address gut and vaginal health issues.

This paper systematically reviewed existing studies to identify effective treatments for long COVID-19 symptoms. The authors searched multiple databases for randomized controlled trials and clinical trials, focusing on interventions for individuals diagnosed with long COVID-19 for at least 12 weeks after infection.

The review included two studies: one showed that combining olfactory rehabilitation with specific oral supplements improved smell dysfunction, and the other found that aromatherapy helped reduce fatigue in adult females compared to standard care. These findings suggest potential benefits of targeted therapies for specific long COVID-19 symptoms.

For individuals living with long COVID-19, this paper highlights that aromatherapy may help alleviate fatigue, offering a non-invasive and accessible treatment option. It also underscores the need for more research to explore and validate effective therapies for various long COVID-19 symptoms.

As a systematic review published in the reputable journal 'Viruses,' this paper provides a reliable summary of existing research. However, its conclusions are limited by the small number of included studies, emphasizing the need for further investigation in this area.

This paper systematically reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) interventions for long COVID symptoms. The researchers analyzed 14 RCTs conducted between September 2019 and January 2023, involving 1195 participants, and assessed the methodological quality using the Cochrane 'risk of bias' tool.

The review found that CAM interventions, including aromatherapy, showed potential benefits for long COVID symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive impairment, breathlessness, neuropsychiatric disorders, and olfactory dysfunction. However, the study highlighted methodological limitations in the included trials, suggesting that while CAM may be effective and safe, more rigorous research is needed.

For individuals living with long COVID, this paper suggests that CAM therapies like aromatherapy could offer relief for certain symptoms, making them a potentially valuable addition to treatment plans. However, it emphasizes the need for caution and further research to confirm these benefits.

The paper is a systematic review published in a reputable journal, which adds credibility to its findings. However, the reliability is somewhat limited due to the methodological issues in the included RCTs, which may affect the strength of the conclusions.