The Truth About Nicotine Patches and Long COVID
Estimated Read Time: 12 minutesNot long ago, nicotine was almost universally viewed as a villain. Many thought of it as synonymous with cigarettes, addiction, and chronic disease. But today, that's shifting—even among the health-conscious.
In functional medicine circles, nicotine patches and pouches are now being discussed not as a harmful habit, but as a potential cognitive-boosting tool. For example, some researchers and clinicians believe nicotine can have positive effects on cognitive enhancement, mitochondrial signaling, and even recovery from viruses like long COVID.
This has led many people—especially those struggling with lingering fatigue, brain fog, and neurological symptoms after COVID—to ask an important question:
Could nicotine actually help heal the body after viral damage?
As you'll learn below, the answer is nuanced. Nicotine is not the same as smoking, and it's not inherently carcinogenic. And yes, it may influence certain cellular pathways involved in energy production and neurotransmission. On the other hand, it's also synthetic, processed, and not without tradeoffs.
As with many modern “biohacks,” gaining the most from nicotine requires separating truth from myth, and then asking a deeper question: Is this truly the best way to support the body, or are there cleaner, lower-risk paths that provide the same benefits?
Why Nicotine Is Being Studied for Long COVID
In the wake of long COVID, researchers have started reexamining compounds once dismissed outright, including nicotine.
Long COVID is not a single condition. It’s a constellation of lingering symptoms, including fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, shortness of breath, nervous system instability, and immune dysregulation. These can persist for months or years after the infection.
Researchers believe several mechanisms are most likely involved in long COVID, some of which nicotine might mitigate:
Mitochondrial dysfunction (impaired cellular energy production)
Neuroinflammation and disrupted neurotransmitter signaling
Autonomic nervous system imbalance
Persistent viral debris binding to receptors
Impaired NAD⁺ metabolism and cellular repair
Nicotine entered the conversation because of its interaction with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). These receptors are involved in cognition, inflammation regulation, and nervous system signaling.
The theory is that nicotine may temporarily interfere with how viral remnants interact with these receptors, while also dialing down inflammation in the brain and immune system. In small studies and personal reports, some people with lingering post-viral symptoms have felt better when using low-dose nicotine patches. In one analysis, 74% of participants reported a significant improvement in their long COVID symptoms after a ten-day course of transcutaneous nicotine.
That said, a theory that makes sense on paper doesn’t automatically translate into a safe or essential long-term strategy. And also importantly, these studies emphasize short-term symptom modulation, but not long-term resolution.
Is Nicotine Just as Dangerous as Smoking? (Short Answer: No)
Before going further, one important misconception needs to be addressed, which is that nicotine itself is what makes cigarettes deadly. It isn’t.
Cigarettes contain over 600 chemicals, including tar, carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and combustion byproducts. These can damage DNA, blood vessels, and lung tissue, and of course contribute to diseases like cancer.
Nicotine is a plant alkaloid that's naturally found in tobacco. It's also present in much smaller amounts in plants like tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant. On its own, nicotine does not cause cancer.
That said, nicotine is not neutral either.
It is biologically active, meaning it has real effects on different parts of the body, especially the brain. It affects dopamine signaling, increases heart rate, and influences blood pressure. It also has the potential to be addictive, especially when delivered rapidly or paired with flavorings and stimulants.
So while using nicotine is not the same thing as smoking, it is also not totally harmless or beneficial in the same way as certain other supplements.
Nicotine as a “Nootropic” and Performance Enhancer
Many well-known "biohackers" and influencers focused on productivity consider nicotine to be a nootropic or ergogenic aid. What does this mean? They report that when they use nicotine products, they experience:
Improved focus and alertness
Faster reaction times
Short-term cognitive stimulation (similar to caffeine)
Appetite suppression
Temporary mood elevation
Study Findings on Nicotine's Cognitive Effects:
While the findings are interesting, it’s important to note that most nicotine research focuses on symptom modulation and signaling, not tissue repair or immune restoration.
Nicotine does appear to sharpen focus by stimulating acetylcholine and dopamine—chemical messengers that help regulate attention and motivation. These are some of the same brain pathways activated by common stimulants like caffeine and certain ADHD medications, which explains why nicotine can feel mentally energizing, even if the effect is temporary.
In fact, Dr. Brian Artis and others have also speculated that nicotine may have neuroprotective potential in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, ADHD, and chronic pain due to its impact on inflammation and neurotransmitters.
How so? Research indicates nicotine increases dopamine release in a more modest and sustained way compared to drugs like amphetamines. This helps explain why nicotine can improve focus and motivation and even lower depression without producing the same level of euphoria or behavioral disruption seen with stronger stimulants.
Multiple studies have found a lower incidence of Parkinson’s disease among long-term nicotine users compared to non-users, likely due to its anti-inflammatory and mitochondrial effects.
Additionally, nicotine’s activation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway has also been shown to reduce cytokine release (that causes inflammation) and to lower neuroinflammation (in the brain).
Is Nicotine a Mitochondrial Booster?
One reason nicotine is sometimes described as a “cellular energizer” and "sacred healing plant" is its indirect relationship with NAD⁺, a molecule that's essential for mitochondrial function, DNA repair, and cellular longevity.
Here’s where things get interesting.
Nicotine’s molecular name shares a root with niacin (or vitamin B3) and nicotinamide. Both of these are nutrients the body uses to build NAD⁺. It's possible that nicotine might also mildly influence NAD⁺ metabolism or redox signaling.
But this does not mean nicotine is the best, or even a necessary, way to raise NAD⁺.
In fact, the body already has built-in, nutrient-based pathways for restoring NAD⁺ levels after illness or stress. These pathways are supported by real food, key vitamins like B3, adequate sunlight, restorative sleep, and compounds that nourish the mitochondria rather than stimulate the nervous system.
Nicotine may signal energy pathways, but B3-based nutrients help to rebuild them. When these foundations are in place, the body can rebuild cellular energy and resilience without relying on synthetic stimulants.
The Catch: Nicotine Is Still Synthetic and Processed
No matter how it’s delivered—whether patches, gum, lozenges, or pouches—nicotine used therapeutically is processed and synthesized.
Nicotine pouches often contain:
Artificial sweeteners
Flavoring agents
pH modifiers
Absorption enhancers
Preservatives
Even transdermal patches include adhesives and stabilizers that introduce foreign compounds into the body.
From a Biblical perspective of stewardship and purity, this matters. Scripture repeatedly emphasizes the importance of clean inputs and respect for the body as a temple, rather than prioritizing stimulation at any cost.
Nicotine can temporarily improve your focus and energy, and may even offer some other benefits, but it does not rebuild tissues, restore mineral balance, or enhance immune resilience.
Pros and Cons of Nicotine for Long COVID
Potential Benefits:
Nicotine may help with:
Short-term focus
Temporary improvement in mental clarity
Reduced brain fog
Neurotransmitter signaling
Possible modulation of neuroinflammation
Short-term cognitive stimulation
May help some individuals during acute post-viral phases, for example, by reducing fatigue
Potential Risks:
But nicotine most likely does not:
Repair mitochondrial damage
Restore immune balance
Heal gut permeability and leaky gut (a cause of many symptoms, including autoimmune responses)
Rebuild nutrient reserves
Resolve chronic inflammation
Address mineral or hormonal depletion
In other words, nicotine may change how symptoms feel—but not why they exist. And true recovery from long COVID requires cellular rebuilding, not stimulation.
Additionally, other potential concerns include:
Dependence or habituation
Cardiovascular strain in sensitive people
Sleep disruptions
Adrenal stimulation without repair
Consumption of synthetic compounds
Masking symptoms instead of resolving root causes
Healthier, Creation-Rooted Alternatives to Nicotine
Throughout Scripture, healing is associated with renewal, restoration, and nourishment—not artificial acceleration. When Elijah collapsed from exhaustion, God did not stimulate him. He fed him, let him rest, and gradually restored his strength.
If nicotine’s perceived benefit comes from supporting NAD⁺, brain signaling, and immune recovery, there are cleaner ways to achieve those effects. Here's what I recommend:
Vitamin B3 and NAD⁺ Precursors:
Niacin, nicotinamide, NMN, NR, and NADR support mitochondrial energy, DNA repair, and immune resilience without addictive risk. These nutrients are different forms or building blocks of vitamin B3, which the body uses to produce NAD⁺.
After illness or chronic stress, NAD⁺ levels often decline, and the result is often lingering fatigue, brain fog, and slow recovery. Supporting these pathways helps cells generate energy more efficiently, repair damaged DNA, and recover without overstimulating the nervous system.
Vitamin D3:
Vitamin D is a backbone of healthy immune system function, neurological health, and mitochondrial signaling. A deficiency is common after a viral illness.
Vitamin D helps regulate immune balance, reducing excessive inflammation while strengthening the body’s ability to clear infections. It's also needed to maintain brain health, mood regulation, and mitochondrial efficiency, all of which are commonly disrupted after being sick.
Organ Meats and Glandulars
Liver, heart, and brain-supportive glandulars provide bioavailable B vitamins, CoQ10, iron, and peptides that rebuild cellular energy systems.
Furthermore, these foods supply nutrients in the exact forms the body recognizes and uses for mitochondrial function, red blood cell production, and neurological repair. Unlike synthetic stimulants, organ meats help restore what illness depletes rather than providing only short-term stimulation.
Sunlight and Circadian Restoration
Natural light exposure regulates dopamine, melatonin, immune rhythms, and mitochondrial repair—all benefits nicotine cannot provide.
Morning and midday sunlight help reset circadian rhythms, improving sleep quality, hormone balance, mitochondrial repair, and immune coordination. Light exposure also supports dopamine production in a balanced way.
Polyphenols and Antioxidants:
Green tea, turmeric, berries, and herbs reduce oxidative stress and neuroinflammation caused by viral damage. Many also activate the body’s natural antioxidant and detox pathways to encourage regeneration.
Gentle Movement and Oxygenation:
Walking, breathwork, and light resistance training stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis naturally.
Gentle movement increases oxygen delivery to tissues, signals the creation of new mitochondria, and improves circulation without overwhelming a fragile, recovering system.
Final Thoughts on Nicotine Patches: Discernment Over Hype
Healing is not about finding the strongest signal but restoring the systems that were weakened in the first place.
Nicotine patches for long COVID are not a miracle, and they are not inherently evil or useless either. They essentially represent a shortcut in a world searching for fast relief.
But the body was not designed to heal through synthetic stimulation alone. True recovery comes from restoring what illness depleted: nutrients, minerals, mitochondrial capacity, immune balance, and rest. When we return to our natural design—whole foods, sunlight, clean nutrients, movement, and patience—the body remembers how to heal.
References:
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