Dizziness & Vertigo

Dizziness is a lightheadedness, unsteadiness, or faintness. It might feel like whirling in space and is often accompanied by the inability to maintain one’s balance. 

Vertigo is more severe. The surroundings seem to spin or revolve. This is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, headaches, and sweating. Think about Meniere’s Disease. Older patients also experience this when they sit up or stand up too quickly – due to insufficient blood to brain (orthostatic hypertension).

The biomedical mechanisms include:  

• Insufficient flow of blood to the brain (as in the case of orthostatic hypertension) 

• Inner ear problem includes Meniere’s Disease and labyrinthitis. Many of these are associated with nausea and vomiting and ear ringing. Could also be blockage and pressure (like from congestion) in the Eustachian tube which connects the inner and middle ear – this is usually short lived.   

• CN VIII – the vestibulocochlear nerve.  Could be inflammation in the surrounding tissues, tumor, etc. Causes dizziness and vertigo.  

• Brain Stem Very severe condition such as tumor, blood stasis.  

Symptoms:  

• Unsteadiness 

• Whirling 

• Nausea, vomiting, headaches, sweating 

• Recurrent bouts of sudden vertigo 

• Tinnitus 

• Deafness 

TCM Etiology

• Wind related external pathogens

• Emotional reasons

• Overworking

• Aging

Acupuncture has a significant immediate effect in reducing discomforts of both dizziness and vertigo. The study provides clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture to treat dizziness and vertigo in the emergency department.