Yin Yang House | Acupuncture for Dizziness and Vertigo - Treatment Protocols General Approaches

Acupuncture For Dizziness And Vertigo - Treatment Protocols

Acupuncture treatment protocols are generally directed towards the deeper root of a persons set of health issues, not at each individual issue. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, treatment is generally directed towards the individuals diagnostic pattern(s) and their primary issue is only a part of the information required to approach the correct patterns to treat (see "treating the cause vs. the symptoms" for an introduction to this process.).

In designing an acupuncture protocol for dizziness (vertigo), one might find one or a combination of the following patterns: kidney jing deficiency, kidney yin deficiency, liver fire, phlegm stagnation, spleen blood deficiency, spleen qi deficiency among many other possibilities and possible combinations.

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 approach the treatment of this condition within TCM. Our presentation describes foundational approaches that would need to be further tailored in most cases to be effective for a given individual.

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

All Content 1999-2024
Chad J. Dupuis / Yin Yang House
Our Policies and Privacy Guidelines
Our Affiliated Clinics