Acupuncture for Dizziness and Vertigo - Treatment Protocols | Chinese Medicine Theory

Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture Protocols

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:
    - Valaskatagis Point Selection (with additions):
    - LV 2 - LV fire, could use LV 3 if less heat signs
    - GB 20 - descend Qi, clear head
    - GV 20 - descend Qi
    - GB 34 - LV/GB fire
    - SP 6 - tonify Yin
- 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:
    - Valaskatagis Point Selection (with additions):
    - CV 12 - ST Shu
    - ST 40 - resolve phlegm
    - ST 8 - resolve phlegm in the head
    - UB 20 - SP Shu
    - UB 21 - ST Shu
    - GV 20 - clear the head
- 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:
    - Valaskatagis Point Selection (with additions):
    - ST 36 - tonify ST/SP
    - SP 6 - tonify ST/SP
    - CV 6 - if more qi deficient, CV 4 if more blood deficient
    - UB 20 - SP Shu
    - UB 17 - hui meeting of the Blood
    - GV 20 - raise the Qi to the head
- KD Jing Deficiency
  - Signs & Symptoms:
    - Chronic dizziness with feeling of emptiness in the head, poor memory, tinnitus, sore low back a/or knees, seminal emissions.
    - Tongue: Red
    - Pulse: Thin
  - Treatment Points:
    - Valaskatagis Point Selection (with modifications):
    - KD 3 - tonify KD
    - CV 4 - tonify Qi
    - UB 23 - KD Shu
    - GB 39 - hui meeting of the marrow
    - GV 20 - raise the Qi to the head

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