The Role of Herbal Medicine in Supporting Cognitive Dysfunction Associated with Long COVID: Review.

Cognitive Dysfunction (CD) associated with Post-COVID-19 Condition (PCC) is an emerging health issue with concerning impacts. Existing literature points to the potential of Herbal Medicine (HM) for CD in other conditions. However, evidence specific to HM for PCC-related CD is limited. The aim of this review was to examine and collate the existing evidence on HM use specifically for PCC-associated CD and compare it with the available evidence on HM for general CD. A comprehensive literature search was conducted utilising four electronic databases, PubMed, ProQuest, Cochrane, and Scopus, focusing on 2020-2025 period, associated with the occurrence of PCC. Primary clinical studies that focused specifically on HM for PCC-associated CD were included. Preclinical and secondary studies, as well as publications with the focus on HM for CD unrelated to PCC were excluded. A total of five primary clinical studies were found that investigated the potential effectiveness of HMs for PCC-associated CD, including case studies (n=2), a randomised controlled trial (n=1), a pilot clinical study (n=1), and a retrospective cohort study (n=1). The present review highlighted the scarcity of clinical studies on HM for PCC-associated CD, contrasting with the greater quantity of studies on HM for general CD. Ginkgo biloba and its derivatives were identified as HMs of potential interest for further investigation. Further rigorous clinical research is urgently needed to deepen the understanding of the role of HM for PCC-associated CD. • Cognitive dysfunction associated with long COVID is a significant health issue. • Biomedical interventions to address this complaint are limited. • Evidence points to herbal medicine potential for long COVID cognitive dysfunction. • This review summarised herbal medicine evidence for long COVID cognition.