The 3rd World Congress on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine from October 2025 provides a first-results abstract.
Title
Effectiveness of a mind-body medicine self-care intervention for post-COVID-19 syndrome: first results of the NASH randomized controlled trial
Introduction
Patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome frequently face challenges in obtaining effective treatment for symptoms following the acute SARS-CoV-2 infection due to the multi-factorial and often unclear pathophysiology.
Against this background, integrating salutogenic strategies – which emphasize health literacy and self-regulation – alongside symptomatic treatment may provide additional therapeutic value.
We therefore developed and tested a mind-body medicine group program for its effectiveness and safety.
Methods
We conducted a randomized controlled trial (NCT05798221) including 86 patients (77.9% female; mean age 50.8 ± 13.0 years) who reported post-COVID-19 symptoms for an average of 20.0 ± 9.8 months, following 1.5 ± 0.7 SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Patients were randomly assigned to receive either a 10-week interdisciplinary group intervention (NASH) plus treatment as usual (TAU), or TAU alone.
The NASH program was based on the principles of mind-body medicine, Traditional European Medicine, and ear acupuncture. It included weekly six-hour sessions combining interdisciplinary group consultations, health education, and guided exercises in physical activity, relaxation, breathing techniques, nutrition, and complementary self-care.
The primary outcome was post-COVID-19 symptom severity, assessed by the Somatic Symptom Scale (SSS) at 16 weeks.
Further secondary outcomes were assessed at both week 10 and week 16.
Statistical analyses were conducted on an intention-to-treat (ITT) basis using analyses of covariance, adjusting for baseline values and participants’ treatment expectations.
Results are presented as mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Results and Discussion
ITT analyses revealed significant between-group differences on post-COVID-19 symptom severity at week 10 (-3.61 SSS, 95%CI=-5.47|-1.75, p < .001) as well as at week 16 (-3.00 SSS, 95%CI=-4.64|-1.35, p < .001).
Further analyses will reveal possible effects on secondary outcomes.
Adverse events were mild and transient, including occasional dizziness, skin irritation, circulatory discomfort, and headaches related to specific NASH techniques (e.g. breathing exercises, mustard flour, acupuncture, and cupping).
Participation in the NASH intervention was not associated with serious adverse events.
Conclusions
NASH significantly reduced post-COVID-19 symptom severity compared to TAU, with effects sustained over 16 weeks.
The intervention was well tolerated, with only minor adverse events reported.
The findings underscore the potential of integrating salutogenic strategies into the treatment of individuals with post-COVID-19 syndrome.
Keywords
Mind-Body-Medicine; Post-COVID-19; Traditional European Medicine; acupuncture; Self-Care
Area
INTEGRATION OF TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE INTO THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM - from primary health care to hospitals
Category
Clinical Trials
Authors
Heidemarie Haller, Thuy Thi Nhi Cao, Christiane Pithan, Thomas Rampp, Jessica Wittek, Anna Paul, Mark Stettner, Christoph Kleinschnitz, Gustav Dobos
Moreover, there are 2 case reports from the study provided on a funder‘s website:
Nach einer überstandenen Covid-Erkrankung leiden viele Patient*innen noch Monate später unter diversen Beschwerden, die unter dem sogenannten Post-COVID-Syndrom zusammengefasst werden. Erschöpfung, Konzentrationsschwäche, Kopfschmerzen und Atemnot sind die häufigsten Symptome, die oftmals starke...
www.carstens-stiftung.de
Case Reports
The following are two representative case reports documented by the study physician:
Patient A
The patient, who had previously been athletic and highly capable (having walked 1,000 km across Germany), had more or less lost herindependent way of life as a result of the illness and its associated symptoms.
At the beginning of the study, she suffered from severe headaches, word-finding difficulties, emotional dysregulation (frequent crying), sensory overload, and markedly reduced functional capacity.
She had also been unable to recover fully from anintervening episode of "influenza-like illness."
During the study intervention, she discovered the benefits of beeswax compresses, aromatherapy, Kneipp therapy ("Kneipp is my friend!"), eye massage, acupressure, yogic alternate nostril breathing, body awareness, practicing consciouskindness toward herself and others, and pacing.
By the end of the intervention, her cognitiveimpairments had improved substantially, as had her physical limitations.
Study Physician's Report
From the interim report of our funded research project
Nature-Based Self-Help for Patients with Post-COVID Syndrome (NaShPoCo)
Patient D
The patient presented with profound fatigue andsevere cognitive impairment, including marked deficits in memory and information retention.
An episode of herpes zoster (shingles) had furtherexacerbated her condition.
One of her goals was to cope better with setbacks, accompanied by the wish that the "fog" surrounding her mind would clear.
By the end of the intervention, the patient had learned to manage her energy effectively, enabling her to get through the working day successfully.
She benefited from aromatherapy, Kneipp applications, breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices integrated into daily life.
Using the pacing approach, she has now regained approximately 70–90% of her functional capacity.
Study Physician's Report
From the interim report of our funded research project
Nature-Based Self-Help for Patients with Post-COVID Syndrome (NaShPoCo)
To summarize, the Apotheken Umschau, a health and pharmacy information magazine that reaches approximately
15 million readers, is presenting main author Heidemarie Haller as an expert on Long Covid in their article.
The article mentions her study as if it was published and peer-reviewed:
In a study, she and her team investigated an approach made up of multiple modules.
In the study program, participants learn that every illness involves more than just physical causes.
Psychological factors and social relationships also play a role.
There is growing evidence that this is particularly true for Long COVID.
Yet, in reality, only a preliminary abstract for the study has been presented at a 3rd world congress for TIM 9 months ago.
clinicaltrials.gov
