One Patient's Healing Journey After COVID: Faith, the Nervous System, and the Body's God-Given Capacity to Heal

At Truth and Laughter Dentistry, we practice holistic and integrative dentistry, grounded in the understanding that oral health is inseparable from the health of the nervous system, immune system, and entire body.

Across faith traditions, the body is not seen as merely mechanical, but as a sacred creation—designed with an innate capacity to heal when supported with care, balance, and mindfulness.

Healing Wisdom Across Faith Traditions

In the Qur'an, Allah takes an oath by the fig and the olive before speaking of humankind as the pinnacle of creation:

"By the fig and the olive… We have certainly created man in the best of stature." (Qur'an 95:1–4)

Years ago, my physician, Dr. Claudia Cooke, shared an insight that stayed with me: the olive tree is among the most resilient of trees. It is said to be destroyed only by fire or lightning. It can withstand bacterial and viral assaults because it has the ability to self-medicate—one reason olive leaf extract has long been used in integrative medicine.

This reflection brings deeper meaning to the verse itself. The divine oath by the fig and the olive, followed by the mention of humankind, invites contemplation: just as these plants were created with healing properties, the human body was designed with God-given mechanisms for restoration and balance.

This understanding is echoed across other faith traditions as well. In the Torah, God declares: "For I am the Lord, your Healer" (Exodus 15:26), establishing healing as a divine attribute and promise. In the New Testament, believers are reminded that "your body is a temple" (1 Corinthians 6:19), emphasizing the sacred responsibility to care for our physical form with reverence and intention.

Across Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, healing is understood as both divine and embodied—supported through nourishment, rest, mindfulness, moderation, and peace.

In our practice, we often witness how honoring the body's innate wisdom—when supported holistically—can lead to profound recovery. Recently, a patient shared his journey of healing from long COVID, and with his permission, we want to honor his experience and share it for anyone who may benefit.

A Patient's Experience With Long COVID and Whole-Body Healing

One day, a patient came into our practice for amalgam removal, often sought by individuals pursuing a more holistic approach to dental care. During our conversation, he shared his experience with long COVID and the profound toll it took on his nervous system and daily life.

At the height of his symptoms, he told me he could not even move a computer mouse. Over time, through patience and careful attention to his body, he gradually recovered and now reports being close to his normal self.

With his permission, his account is shared below as written, with minor edits for clarity.

Patient Email (Shared With Permission)

I've never done any of these things before. I was always just a healthy person. I never went to a doctor; I was never sick and I've never taken any medications or supplements. But since I got COVID and my system went crazy, I looked into everything. These are some of the things I've done that I felt were helpful:

1. I ate very basic food for a long time (chicken + rice), because my body was reacting to everything. I went gluten-free, kept dairy to a minimum, minimized sugar, etc. Over time I slowly reintroduced foods as my body was able to handle them. But for a good year my body would react to like 90% of foods.

2. Meditation and mindfulness. I had to eliminate stress as much as possible. At the peak of not feeling well, everything would set me off—even watching sports or seeing other people argue would be too much for me. Even positive excitement was not good, as my system couldn't handle anything.

3. I spent a lot of time listening to podcasts to calm my brain down. Listening to Dr. Howard Schubiner and other mind-body experts was very helpful because I've come to believe that a lot of my symptoms were driven by a nervous system that was out of control for whatever reason. There is a YouTube channel called "Pain Free You" which was an excellent resource for me. This is a guy named Dan who posts free 10-minute videos every day. Listening to those helped me feel a lot better.

4. I started taking anti-inflammatory supplements like vitamin D, zinc, and turmeric. I started drinking green tea and just tried to eat healthier overall. I stuck with that even now that I'm feeling way better.

5. I made a conscious effort to go out in the sun for at least 30 minutes every day. I felt like that helped a lot too. I always felt better after being in the sun and spending time outside during the day. I'm prioritizing my sleep now. I try to go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time every morning. I had horrible insomnia for like a year. Thankfully, my sleep is back to normal now.

Not sure if there was one thing that helped more than others, but I'm pretty sure all the things I listed above were helpful in some way. I tried doing a lot of other stuff, but didn't feel like those things really did much for me.

Another thing I wanted to try was the Wim Hof breathing method. I've done it a few times, but I can't tell if that helped or not. But I definitely want to explore doing that now that I'm at 90% of my normal self to see if it will help get rid of the remaining lingering symptoms. Some people swear by it.

Good luck with everything!

Reflections From a Holistic Dental Perspective

From an oral-systemic and holistic dentistry standpoint, this patient's journey highlights principles we observe daily in clinical practice:

• Nervous system regulation and oral health: Dysregulation can contribute to jaw clenching, TMJ symptoms, gum inflammation, heightened pain sensitivity, and delayed healing.
• Inflammation is systemic: What affects the immune system, gut, sleep, and stress response also affects oral tissues.
• Healing requires safety, not force: The body heals best when supported gently and consistently, rather than pushed aggressively.

Gentle Medical Disclaimer

This story is shared for educational and reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical or dental advice. The information shared here reflects one individual's personal experience and should not be interpreted as treatment protocol for COVID-19 or any other condition. Each individual's health journey is unique, and care should always be guided by qualified healthcare professionals. Always consult with your physician or healthcare provider for medical concerns.

Closing Reflection

Faith traditions remind us that healing ultimately comes from God, yet we are entrusted with caring for the body we have been given.

In holistic dentistry, we witness daily how supporting the nervous system, reducing inflammation, and honoring the body's rhythms can lead to profound improvements—not only in oral health, but in overall well-being.

With gratitude to this patient for sharing his journey, we hope this story offers insight, reflection, and hope to others walking their own path toward healing