Acupuncture for Dizziness and Vertigo - Treatment Protocols
Below you will find some of the more common tcm diagnoses and acupuncture treatment protocols for balance disorders such as dizziness and vertigo. There are many ways to treat this condition with Eastern Medicine and our presentation is only one of many possible options.
Dizziness may be experienced internally with uncomfortable sensations possibly with loss of balance. Vertigo may be experienced as an external imbalance where objects may seem to move around the patient while they themselves feel still.
- Etiology & Pathology:
- Differentiation:
- Excess Conditions:
- LV Yang/Fire Generating Wind - May arise from emotional issues a/or KD Yin deficiency.
- Phlegm-Damp Retention - Arises from ST/SP weakness
- Deficient Conditions:
- Qi & Blood Deficiency - May arise from long term illness a/or ST/SP weakness
- KD Jing Deficiency - Usually arises from old age but may come from extreme exhaustion
- LV Yang/Fire Generating Wind - Excess
- Signs & Symptoms:
- Dizziness, red face, irritability, tremors/tics possible.
- Tongue: Red w/thin yellow coat
- Pulse: Wiry, rapid or possibly slippery
- Treatment Points:
- Phlegm-Damp Retention - Excess
- Signs & Symptoms:
- Dizziness with sensation of heaviness, fullness of the chest a/or epigastric region, nausea, vomiting, profuse sputum, no appetite.
- Tongue: Greasy w/yellow or white coat
- Pulse: Slippery
- Treatment Points:
- Qi & Blood Deficiency
- Signs & Symptoms:
- Dizziness that is worse with exertion a/or movement, pale a/or dull complexion, lassitude, palpitations, insomnia, poor appetite.
- Tongue: Pale
- Pulse: Thin, weak
- Treatment Points:
- KD Jing Deficiency
The information on our site is drawn from our own lecture notes and clinical experience. The following lecture notes were consulted within this section:
- St. John, Meredith: New England School of Acupuncture, Etiology and Pathology Lecture Notes
- Valaskatgis, Peter: New England School of Acupuncture, Etiology and Pathology Lecture Notes
