A 2009 dizziness acupuncture study compiled 50 cases of patients with vertigo and concluded that acupuncture relieved dizziness with a 98 percent effective rate. The study, conducted at the Medical School of Hubei Nationalities College, in Ensh, China, was published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Dizziness Acupuncture Study
The objective of this dizziness acupuncture study was to observe the therapeutic effects of acupuncture for treating vertebrobasilar ischemic vertigo. Dizziness and balance issues are the most common symptoms of this type of vertigo, and mostly occur in middle-aged and older populations.
Western Medicine Understanding of Vertigo
According to Western medicine, arteriosclerosis and cervical spondylosis are often the primary causes for the disease. Arteriosclerosis is the thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of the walls of arteries. Cervical spondylosis is a general term for age-related wear and tear affecting the spinal disks in your neck. Both of these conditions result in the reduction of blood flow to the brain affecting normal function.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) & Vertigo
TCM holds that vertigo may be caused by emotional and dietary factors. In addition, overwork and stress can lead to weakened body resistance. In the middle-aged and elderly, dizziness may be triggered by qi and blood deficiency, insufficient nourishment of the brain, deficiency of brain marrow, phlegm-damp accumulation, or by wind attacking the head.
Dizziness Study Participants
All of the 50 cases in this dizziness acupuncture study were outpatients. 28 patients were male and 22 female, with
ages ranging from 38 to 75 years (mean 51 years) and an illness course from 3 months to 10 years. 46 patients had been previously treated by Western medicine for promoting blood circulation but with poor therapeutic effects, while the other 4 cases had not received any treatments at all.
Dizziness Study Participation Criteria
The patients all had vertigo with symptoms including spinning, floating, or swinging sensations accompanied by flaccid legs, nausea, vomiting, blacking out, visual field defects, double vision, ataxia, balance disturbance, or numbness.
Acupuncture Treatment Protocol
Practitioners in this dizziness acupuncture study applied the following acupuncture points, including the reason for their selection:
- Fenglong (ST 40) to resolve phlegm.
- Fengchi (GB 20) to dispel wind.
- Baihui (GV 20) to stop the dizziness.
- Lieque (LU 7) to improve blood supply to the vertebral arteries.
- Dazhui (GV 14) to improve blood supply to the head.
Criteria for Therapeutic Effects
- Cured: Vertigo and all the accompanying symptoms disappeared, with a full return to normal life and working ability.
- Relieved: Vertigo and the accompanying symptoms were much relieved.
- Improved: Vertigo was improved, but a slight spinning sensation still remained.
- Failed: No obvious improvement.
Dizziness Study Results
There were 50 patients in this study, with the following results:
- 39 cases (78%) cured.
- 6 cases (12%) relieved.
- 4 cases (8%) improved.
- 1 case (2%) failed.
- The total effective rate of 98%.
This dizziness acupuncture study clearly demonstrates that acupuncture is an effective therapy for treating vertigo and dizziness.
Next Steps
At Raleigh Acupuncture, we’ve been successfully treating dizziness and vertigo for years. Treatments are safe – all needles are sterile, single-use, and hair-thin. Treatments are relaxing – many of our patients fall asleep during their sessions.
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Additional Resources
Video – Raleigh Acupuncture Dizziness Treatment.
First Additional Dizziness/Vertigo Study.
Second Additional Dizziness/Vertigo Study.
Third Additional Dizziness/Vertigo Study.
Reference
Fifty Cases of Vertebrobasilar Ischemic Vertigo Treated by Acupuncture, HUANG Qiong, Department of TCM, Medical School of Hubei Nationalities College, Enshi 445000, China, Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, June 2009, Vol. 29, No.2 87
Focus Keyphrase: Dizziness Acupuncture Study
What our Clients are Saying
I came back from a trip to the Caribbean with a terrible case of vertigo and nausea. I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t work, couldn’t walk straight. I had this throbbing headache all day long. It was driving me crazy. I tried acupuncture and in three sessions was completely cured! I was so impressed that I had them treat my back pain next. I only wish insurance covered the treatments.
I was diagnosed with dizziness and put on a medicine that made me more dizzy! My chiropractor said it was from my neck, but the adjustments didn’t help. So I tried acupuncture. Every time I bent down I would get so dizzy that I fell over. The doctor at Raleigh Acupuncture didn’t treat my neck. He said he was treating my organs to balance them and correct my water levels. I don’t care what he called it – it stopped my dizziness! I can bend over now without dizziness and can function like a normal person. They also got rid of my toe pain at the same time!
I had vertigo and dizziness for years. I run my own small business and it was starting to really affect my work. I had difficulty driving, and was starting to get nervous about getting into an accident at work. My vertigo was like the room spinning around, and the only way to make it stop was to close my eyes and lie down. I was also burning up hot, but never had a fever. My cousin went to Raleigh Acupuncture so I gave it a try. They treated me with little needles and gave me chinese herbs. I’m not kidding, this stuff really works. My vertigo stopped happening for the first time in years, and I even stopped feeling so hot. I get small bouts of vertigo now and then, but usually just a single treatment gets me better. I also understand why I get vertigo and what I can do to prevent it coming on. They were really good explaining how it worked, in a way that totally makes sense to me. Thank you Raleigh Acupuncture.
