Natural Treatments of Long Covid - Part 1

As our knowledge and expertise in treating Long Covid patients has become widely acknowledged, we have quickly become highly sought after for the holistic-based treatment of Long Covid at our London clinic. We are pleased to share this updated version of our previous blog, Successfully treating Long-Covid. Responding to the need for greater support from our patients, we are also delighted to share that we are now offering an empirically backed Long Covid Recovery Programme integrated with bespoke Ayurvedic wellness offerings at our Sanctuary in Sri Lanka.

At Sen Wellness we believe that each one of us has the power to heal, flourish, and awaken to our highest inner potential. After hundreds of successful treatments, we have now crafted a unique, holistic approach to healing symptoms of Long Covid. Harnessing the power of holistic healing modalities rooted in Ayurveda, we have developed a unique programme that has the power to offer hope to those who may be suffering.

Since the autumn of 2020, I have spent much time observing a large number of patients recovering from Covid. During this time, limited data and research were available and there was much uncertainty in symptoms associated with Covid. We are grateful that our blog post offered hope to those who were suffering and encouraged many to seek a holistic natured treatment programme after they were left disheartened by a more conventional approach.

It is profoundly heartening to have reached and supported such a large group of individuals internationally on their road to recovery from what for many has been an extremely trialing, lonely, and misunderstood condition. I would like to dedicate this blog post to all our patients for instilling their trust in us to walk alongside them on their journey back to equilibrium and well-being.

We are pleased to present this blog post with incredibly relevant information, including feedback from influential academics at the forefront of Long Covid research. It is our hope that this blog offers hope of recovery to those who may be suffering.

What is Long Covid?

“Long Covid is a condition that seems to elude the best efforts of healthcare practitioners operating inside the NHS, as well as private consultants and Long Covid clinics. My opinion is that a holistic approach to the body and treatment is the only way we’re likely to ’shake the tree’ and elicit significant improvement and help us in our journey of recovery. Sam Kankanamge and his team at Sen Wellness have made an enormous difference to me and my recovery - it’s safe to say that I wouldn’t have been able to continue working the way I have without his efforts. His energy, understanding, knowledge, and intuition are unparalleled and I wouldn’t have the slightest hesitation to recommend his approach for a range of health problems as well as that of Long Covid.”
-Gez Medinger-

To begin, I would like to share my experience as well as empirical evidence that my team and I have gathered in treating a large pool of Long Covid patients.

The majority of patients belonged to the 20-45-year-old age group. Common themes among patients were that they were all relatively fit, exercised often, and had busy lifestyles. Many experienced very mild Covid symptoms, however, these symptoms worsened over 4 weeks, developing into Long Covid. In nearly 40 cases, patients had experienced a history of ME/CFS or immune system failure. Lastly, a large group of Long Covid sufferers lived with heightened levels of stress.

Researchers are finding lingering similarities between Long Covid and ME/CFS. Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex condition affecting 1 million to 2.5 million people in the United States alone. It is characterized by a cluster of symptoms, including severe and debilitating fatigue, disrupted and unrefreshing sleep, difficulty thinking (commonly called “brain fog”), abnormalities of the autonomic nervous system, and post-exertional malaise — a flare-up of multiple symptoms following physical or cognitive exertion. (Bindu, Paul, and Anthony Komaroff) Gez Medinger and Dr. Ronald Tompkins MD on “Long Covid vs ME/CFS | Why There’s Much We Can Learn From The Similarities” is linked here.

If you would like to read more about Post-COVID and Long Covid conditions, data from The CDC can be found here.

Symptoms presented high level:

Among our Covid patients, these were the most common symptoms presenting themselves: difficulty breathing, tightening of the chest, and shortness of breath.

Of our Long Covid patients, many reported physical tiredness, lack of energy for physical exertion, difficulty performing everyday tasks such as cleaning the kitchen, and brain fog. The accumulation of these symptoms created an immense amount of both emotional and physical stress.

Other symptoms include:

Various types of muscle-skeletal pain: Specifically lower back, shoulder, and neck pain. This often led to headaches and migraines induced by physical misalignment.
Abdomen and digestive disorder: This symptom is often presented with inflammation of the intestinal tissue or food intolerance.
Inflammation of myocardial tissue: While not as common, this is worth noting as some experienced inflammation of the heart muscle.
Loss of smell and tinnitus were also extremely common.

Further, there is a large connection between Covid and the microbiome that has been overlooked. Our microbiome is a gateway to our immune function. It holds the power to fight off infection, and disease, and create natural immunity within our intestinal flora.

However, due to the Western diet, many of us are exposed to in modern-day life, we have very little microbiome left in the intestinal flora. In many cases, this is due to chemical damage. Chemicals that are present in processed foods, plastic, and beyond all contribute to the deterioration of our flora. In addition, the overuse of antibiotics from a young age also contributes to the deterioration of the microbiome. Less intestinal flora leads to a weaker immune function.

A study shared by Science titled Seasonal cycling in the gut microbiome of the Hadza hunter-gatherers of Tanzania expressed the diversity of microbiota within the Hadza hunter-gatherers in comparison to urbanized communities. The data from the study indicated that some dynamic lineages of microbes have decreased in prevalence and abundance in modernized populations. Hence, the microbiota of the hunter-gatherers in Hadza was much more successful in defending the body against covid.

Common symptoms explained in depth:

Compromised Sympathetic Nervous System

Through and through we have found that our Long Covid patients present with highly aroused and highly-wired sympathetic nervous systems. Many patients' nervous systems have been in a state of overdrive, a state that triggers a compromised immune system. When the immune system is compromised, it is extremely difficult to fight off infection and disease. For many patients who present with highly aroused sympathetic nervous systems, something as simple as a short walk can trigger sympathetic overdrive. Oftentimes setting off symptoms such as chest pain, inflammation of cardiac muscles, and heart palpitations. Upstate Medical University shared-“Some patients who survive COVID infections struggle with a variety of symptoms after they’ve recovered from the infection, a condition called long COVID. Some of those symptoms are related to the body’s autonomic nervous system, which plays a role in involuntary body processes including heartbeat, blood flow, digestion, and breathing.” (Eldokla, Ahmed)

Inflammation of Bowel & Intestinal Tissues triggered by the Vagus Nerve

Another extremely common finding amongst our patients is inflammation of the bowel and intestinal tissues. From my background in osteopathy, a simple osteopathic examination reveals that these tissues are related to the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is the most influential in the parasympathetic system. When activated and properly functioning it can help you better manage stress, reduce cortisol levels, and achieve a better homeostatic balance, which affects all physiological functions of the body, including better absorption of nutrients and digestion, decreased systemic inflammation, improved short-term memory, lowers blood pressure, boosts the immune system, produces endorphins that make you feel good, relieves anxiety and depression and can stimulate stem cells. The vagus nerve is something that is often overlooked and not examined in traditional healthcare, but it is vital to your optimised well-being. Similar to our first finding, the vagus nerve is compromised by states of overstimulation to the sympathetic nervous system. When your vagus nerve is compromised it is common to experience anxiety, palpitations, and mood swings. All of these lead to inflammation of the intestinal lining and colon. "'I started seeing Sam for my Long Covid and PoTS a year ago. Through a combination of cranial osteopathy, acupuncture, breath-work, and trauma release he and his colleague Lina have helped my symptoms. At Sen Wellness Centre, you are treated as a person rather than a collection of organs. This holistic approach helped unearth issues with my autonomic nervous system and identified the role of prior traumatic experiences in my symptoms presentation. I would strongly recommend their services to anyone with Long Covid’.” -Dr. Asad Khan

Brain Fog

From an osteopathic approach, brain fog is the result of residual locking and compression of the dural membrane. The dural membrane acts as a protective barrier to prevent viruses from attacking the brain and central spinal cord. When exposed to states of stress, such as being attacked by the virus, the dural membrane releases fluid, leaving it less hydrated, compressed, and inflamed. Thus, limiting space for movement from the brain to the spinal cord, as well as compromising its ability to filter nutrients and fresh blood. Brain fog is often a result of a compromised and inflamed dural membrane. An article published in Forbes recently stated: Although inflammation is a common feature of many infections, viral and otherwise, SARS-CoV-2 elicits a particularly intense inflammatory response. Exactly why remains unclear. What is becoming increasingly clear, on the other hand, is that much of the damage associated with Covid-19 can be traced back to this hyperinflammation. (Haseltine, William)

A Holistic Approach- Restore Equilibrium at our Sanctuary

Being a holistic osteopath with an integrative approach to addressing Long Covid, it has been of the utmost importance to me to acknowledge that symptoms vary from person to person; to understand that each person is unique and requires individualised treatment.

Over 25 years of experience, I have gained a vast understanding of a person’s emotional, mental, and physical profile. Furthermore, the ability to sense and understand the proprioception of tissues in the body; our tissues often present underlying symptoms and lead the way for a recovery program.

I have mindfully crafted a Long Covid Recovery Programme that has proven to be successful. Rooted in Ayurveda, osteopathy, and harnessing the power of ancient healing modalities, I can confidently say it is possible to heal Long Covid and reignite your inner light.

Our Long Covid Recovery Programme is deeply inspired by the Ayurvedic practice, Panchakarma. Panchakarma is the Sanskrit word meaning five actions or five treatments. This ancient system of healing is designed to act as a bio-cleansing regimen that eliminates toxic elements from the body, thereby enhancing the body’s immune function.

Resetting the Autonomic Nervous System

The radical elimination that takes place during Panchakarma works as an effective method of healing for those suffering from Long Covid. The treatments make way for the release of toxins, micro-clotting, reducing inflammation on both micro and macro levels, and much more.

Panchakarma acts as a trigger for the autonomic nervous system to reset. During this phase, your nervous system will exit from a state of “fight or flight” and restore your nervous system to a state of equilibrium.

The programme will be tailored to your requirements after consultation with our resident Ayurvedic doctor. Panchakarma will be the main focus of treatments for the reasons shared and will also be aided by complementary modalities such as acupuncture and a bespoke mindfulness programme created in collaboration with our research partners at the University of Humboldt in Berlin. By the end of this personalised 12-day programme set in idyllic surroundings, your mind and body will feel balanced and restored.

Our Long Covid Recovery programme goes beyond a traditional medical experience. Our goal is to go further, to address traumas and stress associated with Covid and social isolation. Not merely addressing physical symptoms, our intention is also to provide you with emotional support and to introduce long-term lifestyle changes upon returning from the programme. Much care has been forethought into the design of this programme to give you the necessary tools to continue on a new path of well-being.

For more information on our Long Covid Recovery programme, you can get in touch at 020 7486 3373 or email us at [email protected]

Excellent

Sen Wellness Sanctuary

Based on 318 reviews

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Deborah E.

My stay at Sen Wellness Sanctuary was a truly beautiful and special experience. The entire property is designed with so much love and attention to detail.

Location & Surroundings:
The location is absolutely beautiful and surrounded by nature. There is a stunning, almost completely deserted beach right next to the sanctuary. While the sea is not really suitable for swimming, the beach itself is incredibly beautiful and peaceful, perfect for long walks, watching the sunset or simply enjoying the feeling of having the place almost entirely to yourself. The nearby lagoon is another highlight and makes the surroundings feel very special and untouched.

Food & Nutrition:
The food was beautifully presented every day, incredibly varied, organic, and clearly prepared with a lot of love. I especially enjoyed having a fresh coconut every morning. The Ayurvedic doctor also gave interesting explanations about nutrition, although I personally would have loved to learn a little more about which foods and habits are specifically suited to my own dosha.

Room:
I was lucky enough to receive a complimentary upgrade and had a really beautiful room. The open-air shower, where you could see the sky above you, was such a special touch. The room service was excellent, with fresh towels, sheets and everything else always taken care of. Some areas of the property could benefit from small renovations, but overall I felt very comfortable.

Staff:
The entire staff was incredibly friendly, warm and helpful. We spontaneously had the idea of doing a photoshoot during our stay, and the team even helped us with the organisation. Their willingness to support us and make things possible was something I really appreciated.

Ayurveda:
The Ayurvedic programme was one of the highlights of my stay. We had four treatments every day, and they were both very professional and wonderfully varied. From different types of massages and herbal baths to steam baths, acupuncture and oil treatments on the forehead, every treatment felt special and was carried out with great care and attention.

Activities:
The daily activities were also incredibly diverse. There was yoga and meditation every day, temple visits, a cooking class, turtle watching, a visit from a monk, a lagoon boat trip, as well as beautiful ceremonies involving cacao and blue lotus. Everything was conducted in a very intentional, heartfelt and almost ceremonial way.

Community:
One of the things I loved most was the sense of community. Because everyone eats together and participates in activities together, it is very easy to connect with other guests. I met so many wonderful people during my stay and even made friendships that I hope will last beyond the retreat. This sense of community made the experience even more special.

Overall, Sen Wellness Sanctuary is a beautiful place to slow down, reconnect with yourself, explore Ayurveda and meet wonderful people. It is a place filled with love, intention and heart, surrounded by breathtaking nature, a peaceful beach and the beautiful lagoon. I would absolutely come back.

Janna

Wir haben einen Spaziergang am Strand gemacht und wurden von heftigen Regen überrascht. Die Mitarbeiter des Hotel haben uns herzlich umsorgt. Haben für uns einen tuktuk bestellt und den Kindern einen Obstteller gegeben.

Angelo C.

We had a wonderful stay at Sen Wellness Sanctuary and can wholeheartedly recommend it. From the moment we arrived, we felt warmly welcomed and cared for.

The entire staff was exceptionally friendly, attentive, and professional, from the waiters to the doctors, therapists and everyone else working at the sanctuary. Their kindness and genuine care made our stay truly special.

The treatments were excellent, the atmosphere was peaceful and relaxing, and we always felt in very good hands. We also enjoyed beautiful experiences with our group, including memorable excursions and activities that added a special touch to our stay.

Thank you to the whole team for an unforgettable experience. We would love to come back one day!

Shivani R.

It truly is a wellness center! Mind, body and spirit restored. The space is peaceful and I felt earthed as soon as I took off my footwear at the entrance and walked in barefoot.

The consultation with the ayurvedic doctor was in-depth and I was amazed at the accuracy of the diagnosis. The treatment was personalised for my condition and not a mindless sequence of procedures. The therapists are sympathetic and have the expertise .

It was not all about ayurveda though! Yoga twice curated mindfully, community feeling with all the guests eating and sharing their journey at the dining table and common spaces, cacao ceremony, fire ceremony, the connection with one another and the eternal- all came together to make this a most memorable experience.

The staff has always been friendly, polite, accommodating and only too helpful to make our journey comfortable.

Added to all this were sightings of majestic monitor lizards, buff striped keelback, brahminy kits, friendly squirrels, the cheat crow who would regularly eat up the lamp wick and drink it's oil....to all my gratitude. The thunderous sea and the awe inspiring sunset from the rock pool, i will carry you forever in my heart.

Roebyem A.

Amazing experience couldn’t be better… place is authentic with amazing treatments and friendly staff. Chocolate
ceremony and sound healing with the inhouse monk were among the highlights- plus fantastic yoga lessons by Tanya. With gratitude..

HIROKO T.

素敵なドクター、スタッフ達のいるアーユルヴェーダリトリート。曜日によっては、アーユルヴェーダに関する座学や、料理、スリランカのお坊さんとのセッションもあったり、トリートメントだけでなく、学びもありとても有意義な時間を過ごせました。また環境も最高で、すぐそこにほぼ人のいないビーチがあり、孔雀や猿など野生の動物たち、運が良ければ海亀にも会えます。まだ見ぬ本当のスリランカを堪能できること間違いなしです。

新倉亜希

Sen Wellnessは、単なるリトリート施設ではありません。
その体験は、ここへ向かう道のりからすでに始まっています。

自然保護区の奥深くにあり、施設へ続くワイルドで凸凹した道さえも、ひとつの冒険のようでした。まるで日常の世界を少しずつ離れて、別の場所へ入っていくような感覚です。

中でも特に心に残ったのは、Dr. Samのご厚意で参加させていただいたカカオセレモニーでした。

音、香り、味、空気感。五感すべてに働きかける、とても没入感のある体験で、思いがけず途中から涙が止まらなくなりました。心の中にずっと抱えていた何かが、静かに洗い流されていくような感覚がありました。

私自身もアーユルヴェーダを専門としていますが、現地のアーユルヴェーダドクターによるコンサルテーションも非常に興味深いものでした。診断は驚くほど的確で、自分自身をまた違った角度から見つめるきっかけになりました。

その後、彼女のハーブクラスにも参加しました。よく知っているテーマであっても、違う視点から学ぶことで新しい発見があり、とても刺激的でした。

アーユルヴェーダのお食事もとても美味しく、特に私は、メニューを見ながら「なぜこの食事なのか」という意図を理解できることが素晴らしいと感じました。

意識して食べることで、食事そのものの体験が大きく変わるのだと思います。

建築や空間も美しく設計されています。

本を読んだり、ハーブティーを飲んだり、静かに自分と向き合ったり、世界各国から来たゲストと自然に会話が生まれたり。

一人旅で訪れても、決して孤独を感じない、とても心地よい場所です。

そして、何より素晴らしいのが自然です。

ウミガメ、野生の猿、リス、珍しい生き物たち。

朝、ヴィラを出て裸足のまま大地に触れ、グラウンディングすることもできます。

ここでは「自然の近くに滞在する」のではありません。

自然の中で、その一部として暮らしているような感覚があります。

私にとって、これこそが「Wild Luxury」だと感じました。

私自身もリトリート施設を運営しているため、Dr. Samとお話しできたことも大変印象深い時間でした。

この場所の未来について、そしてこれからどんな人たちを助けていきたいのかを語る彼の目が、とても輝いていたことを覚えています。

滞在はわずか3日間でしたが、とても濃密で、深く没入する忘れられない時間となりました。

旅は、ときに「休むこと」以上のものを私たちに与えてくれます。

ときには、これからどこへ向かえばいいのかを示す「羅針盤」を与えてくれることもあります。

Sen Wellnessは、頭で考えるだけではなく、五感すべてを通して、人生のひとつの転機を感じることのできる場所なのだと思います。

Ágota P.

This place is truly amazing. It has a very special and peaceful atmosphere, and the unique design of the resort creates a perfect harmony between nature, tranquility, and modern design. I had the opportunity to participate in a meditation and sound healing session with the monk, which was an unforgettable and deeply enriching experience. A truly special place that I would highly recommend.

Pavithra S.

A peaceful little escape with beautiful surroundings, kind staff, and a calming atmosphere. The ayurvedic treatments, yoga sessions and wellness experience felt genuinely rejuvenating. Perfect place to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with yourself.

Larissa F.

I had a fantastic stay at Sen Wellness.
The place, the architecture, the interior, the location are just magical.
I initially intended to stay 4 days but ended up extending.

It‘s beautifully nestled in between wildlife, we had monkeys, chipmunks and peacocks as our neighbors.

However there are a few things I‘d like to highlight for you to judge whether this is for you:

1) the approach is more wellness centered. The doctor will ask you questions like „what would you like?“ and „do you have questions for me“, rather than a check-up when it comes to treatments and accupuncture. Perhaps I‘m coming from a TCM point of view, but the doctor usually knows what the patient needs.

2) if you come here with serious health issues and the hope to recover: it is about wellness. Staff is not trained enough to understand injury informed trauma in the body and can not take care of it.
Staff usually gets trained there and has no prior education on these matters.

3) the food is not tailored to your needs. The approach is quite beautifully freeing: a little bit of everything is ok, and all flavours should be on each plate.

4) your food preferences are not noted initally, sometimes the dinners were fish-based and vegetarian or vegan people had to let kitchen staff know the situation. Once that had been done they quickly fried up some eggs and remembered for the rest of the stay, so all is well. However I would have liked to see a thoughtfully substituted meal for all dietary requirements by the doctors.
My vegan friend got no substitute, the day after she got some steamed cabbage offered to replace the protein.

4) there are a lot of mosquitos due to the location. So if you are sensitive to this, it‘s best to bring a lot of mosquito repellent.

6) the Yoga varies. It’s young volunteer Yoga Teachers — although we had one amazing one called Gil, who took care of everyone properly.
Considering people come here with health issues and of different ages and fitness levels, a lot more props, adjustments an modifications are needed than currently offered. I witnessed a few injuries and at this price point would expect a paid Yoga Teacher with experience and suitable expertise.

7) the place itself is magical. But there is a dark side to it: some, especially young staff, appear to be paid >below< national minimum wage (which as of Jan 2026 is 30 000 LKR a month, which equals 81€). That‘s less than half of what I paid in a single day here.

Considering every guest leaves a couple of thousand dollars there at a time and there are always 10+ guests, I would expect them all to get paid very decently.

If the philosophy of the place shall be matched with it‘s reality, for energetic balance of this place, wages need to be increased urgently to an amount so all staff can suffice on one full time job.

I am expecting a throw back in the response, as I have seen for many other reviews that pointed this out. Bit I just know it‘s true.
It can be felt. And no words can undo the energetic essence of underpaid staff in a luxury wellness resort.
Any guest will feel it until it is fixed.

I want to see staff empowered. Both in salary and voice.
I think it would be a misuse of power, which doesn‘t match the philosophy of the place, to disallow staff to speak about their salaries.

8) it is luxury in the service: nicely assembled food, expensive furniture and design. But it is also at a remote beach in between nature: sometimes there is power outage, there‘s moisture, the natural elements and animals do their thing.
I can understand this and am not too fuzzy, but wanted to share that it‘s an interesting mix between glamping and a 5 star resort — so be prepared and don‘t expect everything to be neat, clean and always working.
My room for example, the cheapest one at 130$ a night was dark with no real window and moist and smelled like drain.

After all: I would stay again, but not at this price point.

I still want to thank all staff for their welcoming energy, their smiles and their service. 🌟

Julia W.

Amazing location and people - felt very welcomed, the treatmeants were bliss and the food absolutely amazing! Great experience

Karin C.

I had the most magical time at Sen. It’s a true oasis of tranquillity, surrounded by palm trees, mango groves, wildlife, and nestled between a lagoon and the ocean. The natural materials and warm colours create a beautiful, peaceful setting.
The staff are incredibly kind and attentive, the treatments are varied and tailored to your needs, and the Ayurvedic food is delicious. Daily yoga, meditation, breathwork, and chanting make the whole experience deeply nourishing.
An incredible retreat that I would love to return to.

Dag

A beautiful and calm place to slow down and recharge. The food is delicious, and the whole environment feels very serene and peaceful. Surrounded by nature, it’s the perfect setting to relax and reconnect with yourself. The staff are very welcoming and kind.

Gwenola Le B.

This little heaven is located between lagoon and beach in Sri Lanka. It offers peace ,tranquillity and beauty. All the team at Sen Wellness is kind, gentle skilled and helpful. The food is delicious nutritious and plentiful. The treatments are the best in the world. I came back rejuvenated and calm. Sen will transform you

Christopher S.

Absolutely incredible experience. We were looked after from start to finish and the treatments were extraordinary. Great food and just a really beautiful space. Thank you to everyone!

Author

Sen Wellness Sanctuary | Treatment of Long Covid

Sam Kankanamge

Sam Kankanamge BSc (Hons) Osteo, DPO, Dip.Acu is an exceptional, world renowned healthcare professional, with over 25 years-experience transforming patients’ health.