Acupuncture for Dizziness and Vertigo

Dizziness and vertigo are common complaints, but they can be surprisingly difficult to describe. Some people feel as though the room is spinning, while others experience a sense of unsteadiness, light-headedness, or simply that they are not quite grounded.

In Chinese medicine, dizziness and vertigo are not regarded as a single condition with a single cause. The symptoms can arise from a number of different patterns, and treatment is therefore tailored to the individual rather than simply to the symptom itself.

Acupuncture can be helpful for some people with dizziness and vertigo, particularly when symptoms are recurrent or accompanied by other problems such as headaches, tension, nausea, anxiety or fatigue.

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What is the difference between dizziness and vertigo?

Vertigo is a particular type of dizziness in which there is a sensation of movement, often as though you or the room are spinning. It may be accompanied by nausea, sweating, imbalance or difficulty walking.

Dizziness is a broader term. People may describe feeling light-headed, faint, unsteady, woozy, or as though they are walking on an unstable surface.

There are many possible causes, including problems affecting the inner ear, migraine, medication, blood pressure, dehydration and neurological conditions. For this reason, persistent or unexplained dizziness should always be medically assessed.

Dizziness and vertigo in Chinese medicine

Chinese medicine has its own ways of understanding dizziness and vertigo. Traditionally, these symptoms are often discussed under the term xuan yun (眩晕), which encompasses sensations of dizziness, light-headedness and vertigo.

One of the most important principles is that there is not necessarily one underlying pattern.

For example, dizziness may occur when there is insufficient nourishment reaching the head. In Chinese medicine this may be associated with deficiency of Blood or Qi. A person might experience dizziness together with tiredness, poor concentration, pale complexion or feeling worse when standing or after exertion.

In other cases, dizziness may be associated with Liver Yang rising or Liver Wind. This can be accompanied by headaches, irritability, tension, tinnitus or a feeling of pressure in the head.

Phlegm and Dampness are another traditional explanation. Here dizziness may be accompanied by nausea, a heavy-headed sensation, mental cloudiness or a feeling of being weighed down.

These patterns are not mutually exclusive, and a person’s presentation can change over time. This is one reason why an individual diagnosis is important in Chinese medicine.

How might acupuncture help?

Acupuncture treatment is based on the underlying pattern rather than simply trying to suppress the sensation of dizziness.

Treatment may aim to regulate the flow of Qi, settle excessive Yang or Wind, resolve Dampness and Phlegm, or strengthen Qi and nourish Blood, depending on what is found during the consultation.

Acupuncture can also be used to address accompanying symptoms. For example, someone whose dizziness is associated with headaches and muscular tension may require a rather different treatment from someone whose dizziness occurs alongside fatigue and signs of deficiency.

Treatment therefore begins with a detailed discussion of your symptoms and general health, followed by the usual Chinese medicine diagnosis.

What happens during treatment?

At your first appointment I will ask about the dizziness or vertigo itself, including when it began, how it feels, how frequently it occurs and what seems to make it better or worse.

I will also ask about your general health, sleep, digestion, energy, emotional wellbeing and other symptoms. In Chinese medicine, these apparently unrelated details can be important in understanding the underlying pattern.

I may also examine your pulse and tongue as part of the traditional diagnostic process.

The acupuncture treatment is then tailored to your individual presentation. You may notice some improvement relatively quickly, while for others the changes are more gradual.

Where symptoms have been present for a long time, I would generally expect treatment to take place over a course of several sessions rather than assuming that one treatment will resolve the problem.

When should dizziness be medically investigated?

Although acupuncture may be appropriate as part of your care, dizziness and vertigo should not simply be assumed to be caused by an imbalance that can be treated with acupuncture.

It is particularly important to seek medical advice if dizziness is new, severe or unexplained, or if it is accompanied by symptoms such as sudden severe headache, weakness or numbness, difficulty speaking, fainting, chest pain, significant difficulty walking, new hearing loss or visual disturbance.

If you have already been medically assessed and would like to explore acupuncture as an additional approach, Chinese medicine can offer another perspective on the pattern of symptoms you are experiencing.