Christie Stabile, 56, was first diagnosed with COVID in May 2020. While she initially recovered, within a few weeks she started experiencing extreme fatigue, dizziness, and a rapid, irregular heartbeat. Eight months later, she was diagnosed with long COVID, as well as mast cell activation syndrome and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, two conditions often tied to long COVID. 

“I came down with COVID four more times, which didn’t help the situation,” said Stabile, who lives in Clifton, New Jersey. “Each time, I’d develop an inflammatory response that led to rashes; swollen, blue feet; and a heartrate that went through the roof for no reason at all.”

While her long COVID is managed by a team of specialists that include a cardiologist, hematologist, and gastroenterologist, she’s also turned to complementary therapies. These include everything from red light therapy, over-the-counter supplements such as BPC-157, vitamin B infusions and apheresis, or “blood washing.” Much of the time, these therapies haven’t been covered by insurance, so she has spent thousands of dollars out of pocket. 

Stabile is among the 6% of people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus who go on to develop long COVID, according to the World Health Organization. While researchers have made many advances when it comes to understanding and treating the condition, finding relief may still prove elusive to many, noted long COVID specialist David Putrino, PhD, professor in the Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City.

As a result of the lack of standard treatments, many patients with long COVID — more than 4 in 10, according to one study — are turning to alternative medicine approaches that some find effective in treating their symptoms.

A 2025 study published in the Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine found that about 45% of people with long COVID turn to complementary and integrative health approaches to treat their condition.

“Five and a half years after the pandemic began, there are still no Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for long COVID,” said Putrino. “When a vacuum like this exists, the unscrupulous take advantage. There’s a lot of snake oil out there.”

But there are also some complementary treatments that do work and may be worth trying, he noted. In fact, the most common treatments used by patients with long COVID in the Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine survey were massage, yoga, and meditation — all of which have been found to be effective in some cases, researchers said. 

Here’s a closer look at what studies show may be worth trying and not:

Supplements. Certain supplements, such as coenzyme Q10 and alpha lipoic acid, anecdotally seem to help to improve symptoms of long COVID, said Putrino. One small 2022 study published in the journal Clinical & Experimental Medicine found that a combination of the two (100 mg of coenzyme Q10 and 100 mg of alpha lipoic acid) helped to improve fatigue in patients with long COVID, with over half reporting a complete resolution of this symptom after 2 months.

“Both help to repair mitochondrial function, which is impaired in people with long COVID,” explained Putrino. Other useful supplements include vitamin C and NAD plus for fatigue and proteolytic enzymes to treat micro clots. “If we see signs of endothelial dysfunction during a workup, we’ll often recommend all of these,” he said.

Certain whole foods also contain nutrients that may be beneficial to patients with long COVID, he added. “They not only provide these nutrients but also have bioactive compounds, fiber, and antioxidants to improve their absorption,” he said. Alpha lipoic acid, for example, is found in spinach, broccoli, and tomatoes, while CoQ10 is in fatty fish, nuts, and seeds. He said it’s helpful for doctors to refer patients to a nutritionist, who can also look for hidden sources of nutrients patients may already take, like multivitamins, fortified foods, and energy drinks. 

Because supplements are much more loosely regulated by the FDA, it’s also important to guide patients toward a third-party tested product (look for labels on the supplement, like United States Pharmacopeia or US National Science Foundation verified), added Andrew Schamess, MD, lead physician of the Post-COVID Recovery Program at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio. 

Patients should avoid peptide supplements, which are often sold at longevity clinics and touted to help treat long COVID. “There’s no evidence to show they can help with symptoms, and they can have potentially serious side effects like nausea, vomiting and blood pressure fluctuations,” said Putrino. 

Mindfulness-based therapies. Several mindfulness-based techniques, such as breath training, have been consistently shown to help with symptoms of long COVID. “Our research has shown that people with long COVID often have low levels of carbon dioxide, despite normal respiratory rates,” said Putrino. “Certain techniques, such as resonant breathing, increases CO₂ levels, and they also activate the parasympathetic nervous system to regulate heart rate and blood pressure.” 

One small 2025 study of 13 patients with long COVID published in Advances in Rehabilitation Science and Practice found that patients who did this technique — which consists of a 4 second inhale and 6 second exhale through the nose — for 10 minutes, twice daily for 4 weeks, had a significant reduction in long COVID symptoms like fatigue, breathlessness, palpitations, dizziness, pain, and brain fog.

One easy activity patients can do on their own is hum. “Humming increases nitric oxide levels, which makes it easier for your body to carry oxygen,” explained Putrino. “Here at Mount Sinai, we’ve partnered up with a few music therapists who hum with patients, and in the very short term, it seems to help.”

Other mindfulness-based practices, like yoga and meditation, may also be helpful. One 2024 study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology found that people with long COVID who participated in a 16-week tele-yoga program reported significant reductions in perceived levels of stress, anxiety, and insomnia.

“These are relatively simple, inexpensive techniques patients can easily do on their own, that also carry other health benefits,” said Schamess. 

Massage. Stephanie Fowler, 44, who has been living with long COVID since 2020, said that massage has been one of the most helpful therapies she’s tried for symptoms such as joint pain and headache.

“Over the years, I’ve tried everything from supplements to diet changes to breathing therapy to cupping and acupuncture,” said Fowler, a Chicago psychotherapist. “Massage is the one complementary treatment I’ve found to be consistently effective.” She pays $170 for a 90-minute massage once a month. 

Research suggests massage may be effective. A 2024 review of 17 studies published in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork concluded that patients who experience symptoms associated with long COVID, like muscular and joint pain, fatigue, dyspnea, sleep disturbances, and cognitive impairment, may benefit from massage therapy. “It may also have more of an indirect effect, by helping to relieve some of the anxiety and stress that go along with long COVID,” said Schamess. 

Red light therapy. Stabile, who experiences frequent headaches because of her long COVID, finds that a red-light therapy collar helps to relieve her symptoms. Red light therapy, where low levels of red light are directed at your skin, is often touted as a long COVID treatment, to help with everything from cognitive impairment to joint pain. There is research to back up its use. 

“Red light stimulates mitochondrial function, and improves cellular energy production,” says Putrino. A 2023 study found that it did relieve symptoms associated with long COVID such as “brain fog” and fatigue.

While more studies need to be conducted on its effectiveness, patients can purchase a red-light lamp on sites such as Amazon for a couple hundred dollars, noted Putrino. They should look for one that is between 600-900 nm. “Some patients who use it daily for three to four weeks report that it really helps,” he said. “It’s reasonable to try, to see if it works.”

Hyperbaric oxygen. Hyperbaric oxygen has been touted as a potentially effective treatment for long COVID. This therapy has traditionally been used to treat divers with decompression sickness. A 2025 study published in the journal Scientific Reports found mixed results: while up to 63% of patients saw improvement in their long COVID symptoms after using hyperbaric oxygen daily for 3 months, a significant number — 13%-19% — saw their symptoms worsen. But the cost and time commitment make it an unreasonable option for most people, said Schamess. 

While other treatments, such as stem cell therapy or blood washing, are still marketed by some clinics to treat long-COVID symptoms, “these are pure snake oil,” said Schamess. “They are unproven, and potentially dangerous, which is why it’s so important that every patient talk to their medical provider before they try any complementary or integrative treatment.”

Fowler agreed. As a psychotherapist, she says that she’s counseled many other patients with long COVID who are desperate for relief — and answers. 

“I’ve always been someone who has one foot in traditional treatments, and one foot in complementary ones,” she explained. “But it’s important to remember that there are no FDA-approved complementary or integrative treatments for long COVID. But I always warn my clients to be cognizant that there are many practitioners who are banking on making a lot of money on people’s desperation to get relief. They always need to run them by their long COVID physician, or if they don’t have one, their primary care provider, before they spend previous time and money on these therapies.”