The Effects of Acupuncture in Overcoming Inflammatory Response to COVID-19 Mild-moderate Symptoms

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a problem that is being faced in more than 200 countries in the world, including Indonesia. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. The transmission of the virus occurred rapidly that 2 weeks from the first case diagnosed, 1000 patients tested positive. A week later, the number of positive cases exceeded 4600, reaching more than 30,000 patients and 2,500 deaths on March 18, 2020. The death rate due to COVID-19 in Indonesia is one of the highest in Asia.

To date, no therapy has been shown to be effective for Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). A vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 also has not been found at this time and is in the research phase. Current management of COVID-19 patients focuses primarily on providing supportive care. Currently, several countries make treatment guidelines for COVID-19 patients by providing several types of anti-viral drugs and other drugs such as chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, immunoglobulins, anti-cytokine agents or immunomodulators.

The administration of these drugs does not escape the various side effects experienced by patients. Administration of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine carries the risk of causing prolonged QT interval which can lead to arrhytmia disturbances such as torsades des pointes in certain people. Administration of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine in combination with azithromycin increases the risk of developing arrhythmias. Giving anti-viruses such as lopinavir / ritonavir, umifenovir, remdesivir, favipiravir can also cause various side effects including gastrointestinal disturbances (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), impaired liver function, and hyperuricaemia. Treatment with human immunoglobulins has been associated with a significantly increased risk of thrombotic events.

Currently, no acupuncture research on COVID-19 patients has been published. However, acupuncture can play a role in several conditions that occur in COVID-19 according to the pathophysiology that occurs, this has been proven through several clinical studies conducted on non-COVID-19 cases that have pathophysiology that resemble COVID-19 conditions. In COVID-19 with mild-moderate symptoms, acupuncture can play a role in boosting the immune system, including increasing the number of Natural Killer cells and lymphocytes. Whereas in cases of severe COVID-19 symptoms, it is hoped that acupuncture can provide anti-inflammatory effect and prevent cytokine storm.