Lorenz, Claudia, Frankenberger, Roland · Viruses · 2025 · DOI
Researchers tested a new treatment called oronasal drainage (OND) for Long COVID, which involves a gentle abrasive therapy targeting the drainage areas in the nose and mouth. In one patient case, this treatment appeared to reduce various Long COVID symptoms and improve blood circulation to the hands. While these results are promising, the study was very small and more research is needed to confirm whether this treatment actually works.
This study offers a novel mechanistic framework for understanding potential dysfunction in oronasal drainage and lymphatic clearance in Long COVID, conditions that may parallel dysfunction in ME/CFS. Given the overlap between Long COVID and ME/CFS populations, exploring new physiological targets and treatment approaches could benefit both patient communities, even as rigorous validation remains essential.
This case report does not establish that OND is an effective treatment for Long COVID, as a single case cannot prove efficacy or determine causation. It does not rule out placebo effects or natural symptom resolution over time. The study provides no evidence that this approach would work for patients beyond this individual case or that improvement would be sustained long-term.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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Primary citation
Lorenz, Claudia & Frankenberger, Roland (2025). Novel Oronasal Drainage for Long COVID: Proposed Mechanisms-Case Report.. Viruses. https://doi.org/10.3390/v17020210
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-lorenz-2025-novel-oronasal,
author = {Lorenz, Claudia and Frankenberger, Roland},
title = {Novel Oronasal Drainage for Long COVID: Proposed Mechanisms-Case Report.},
journal = {Viruses},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3390/v17020210},
note = {PubMed: 40006965},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/lorenz-2025-novel-oronasal},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-28. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/lorenz-2025-novel-oronasal
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