A 56-year-old man came to our clinic complaining of recurring vertigo for the past five years. Every few months, he would be stuck with debilitating dizziness where the room was spinning, he felt nauseous, and he could not function. These episodes would last for days at a time, requiring trips to the emergency room. Doctors were unable to stabilize his condition and had prescribed numerous different medications with no benefit. This vertigo acupuncture case study describes how we resolved his vertigo and have kept it in check for the last three years with monthly maintenance treatments.
Vertigo Is Everywhere
Vertigo and dizziness are quite common in the general population. Forty percent of adults in the United States will experience vertigo at least once in their life. Western medicine explains vertigo as a problem with the vestibular system, including the inner ear, vestibular nerve, brain stem, and cerebellum (the brain area that integrates sensory perception, coordination, and motor control). The vestibular system regulates our balance, posture, and orientation in space.
Western Medicine Has No Effective Treatment
As with many health conditions, Western medicine provides a detailed diagnosis but offers little treatment. Current scientific research concludes that the cause of vertigo is “unknown.” Notwithstanding the lack of treatment options, vertigo has a plethora of diagnostic differentiation including Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), Meniere’s Disease, and Viral and Bacterial Labyrinthitis (inflammation of the inner ear).
Acupuncture Resolves Vertigo
Chinese medicine understands the causes of vertigo and has an effective long-term treatment for the condition. Most vertigo and dizziness patients have an accumulation of phlegm in the head, particularly blocking the ears. Spleen Qi deficiency causes dampness, which, coupled with internal heat, generates phlegm. Phlegm tends to accumulate in the head – some people with this pattern get sinus infections, while others are prone to vertigo and dizziness.
Treatment involves addressing the underlying Spleen Qi deficiency and heat, which resolves the phlegm accumulation problem. By addressing the root imbalance, acupuncture resolves the branch (symptom). Unlike Western treatment, which focuses on the temporary relief of symptoms, acupuncture and Chinese herbs always seek to address the underlying condition. That’s why our results are long-lasting.
Vertigo Acupuncture Case Study
When our patient in this vertigo acupuncture case study came to our clinic, we gave him a full intake exam. This examination included asking him questions about his vertigo, overall health (sleep, digestion, mood, body temperature, bowel function, etc.), looking at his tongue, and feeling his pulse. Tongue and pulse are essential in deriving a Chinese medicine diagnosis as they reveal the patient’s inner workings of organ function.
Our patient’s tongue was red with a thick yellow coating, and his pulse was full and slippery. This information, along with details about his overall health, clearly pointed to the diagnosis most common to vertigo – Spleen Qi deficiency with Phlegm Fire lodged in the head. The chronic nature of his pattern imbalance explained by his vertigo recurred every few months. Without changing the way his body functioned, there is no way he would be able to overcome this stubborn pattern imbalance.
Acupuncture Treatment For Vertigo
All needles utilized in this vertigo acupuncture case study were sterile, single-use, and hair-thin. Our patient’s point prescription included acupoints to address his underlying pattern imbalances – Spleen Qi deficiency and internal heat. In his case, the heat was so intense it manifested as Fire. Acupuncture points for his treatment included LV2, ST44, ST36, ST40, LI4, LI11, GB20, and GB2. Also, we prescribed a Chinese herbal formula to strengthen his Spleen Qi and transform dampness. After the treatment, we performed cupping on his neck and back, which drew additional heat from his body.
He responded beautifully. Within three sessions, acupuncture had resolved his acute vertigo flare. About three weeks later, he called and reported feeling like the vertigo was trying to come back. We brought him in for another three treatments. After that, he reduced his visits to once a month for maintenance. These monthly treatments have kept him free of vertigo and dizziness for the past three years.
Some patients don’t need maintenance treatments to sustain their results. In this vertigo acupuncture case study, our patient required maintenance due to his body’s tendency to generate dampness, heat, and phlegm. He pushes his body beyond its limits in the physical work that he does for employment. He runs his own company and does a lot of traveling and outdoor work. If he had an easier job inside at a desk, he would most likely not require maintenance treatments.
Next Steps
If you struggle with vertigo or dizziness, try acupuncture.
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If you have any questions about this vertigo acupuncture case study, please send us an email or text. We’ll be happy to answer your questions.
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.
