As the head of the wellness coach team at FindItHealth.com, my goal is to provide research-based data on the efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques.

The findings of our research show that acupuncture has proven to be effective in alleviating symptoms of vertigo like light-headedness, nausea, and dizziness. Many people resort to acupuncture and find relief from their ailments after being disappointed by Western medicine.

Let’s dive into the various mechanisms by which acupuncture helps vertigo:

Can Acupuncture Help Vertigo?

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The sensation of vertigo makes you feel as if your surroundings are spinning. This feeling of dizziness is not a disease in itself, but rather the symptom of an underlying pathology of the inner ear or brain. The symptoms of vertigo may cause stress and anxiety but you can manage it with acupuncture.

The Role of Acupuncture in Vertigo

After our research, we have found that the TCM technique of acupuncture helps relieve vertigo symptoms. It is recommended to consult your healthcare provider before deviating from their treatment plan as acupuncture may not be the solution to every ailment as in the case of carpal tunnel.

As already mentioned, the major pathology resulting in acupuncture is either the change of pressure in the inner ear, inflammation of any of its structures, infections, or disorder of the vestibular nerve.

Acupuncture plays a role in the treatment of vertigo by acting on the factors causing it and improving the quality of life.

Thus, the following are the effects of acupuncture in reducing the rate of vertigo episodes and treating it completely:

• Increase in average blood flow velocity: stimulating specific points with acupunctures increases blood flow through the vestibular-basilar arteries and relieves the symptoms of ischemic cerebral vertigo.
• Release of natural pain-killing hormones: acupuncture enhances the release of endorphins and neuropeptides from the brain which helps in relieving the negative effects of vertigo.
• Reduction of inflammation: It also increases the outflow of inflammatory mediators and the inflow of anti-inflammatory cells. So, inflammation is reduced.
• Stimulation of nerves: It stimulates the nerves carrying messages to the brain and maintains the balance while helping the brain adapt to other adverse effects and reduce their intensity. 
• Activation of the balancing center of the brain: It stimulates the superior gyrus, cingulate gyrus, and dorsomedial nucleus of the thalamus to release substances that activate the cerebellum, the balancing center of the brain.

We’ve also found acupuncture beneficial for various health conditions like fibroids, stress, anxiety, and chronic pain.

Causes of Vertigo

Some medical conditions that cause clinical symptoms of vertigo and lightheadedness include:

• Labyrinthitis: It is the infection of the inner ear that results in the inflammation of the labyrinth, a deep part of the inner ear.
• Vestibular Neuritis: It is the inflammation or infection of the vestibular nerve that transmits signals from the inner ear to the brain.
• Cholesteatoma: It is the presence of normal skin tissues at abnormal sites like the inner ear that presents in the form of a cyst behind the eardrum.
• Meniere’s Disease: It is an inner ear disorder that results from an imbalance of fluid volume inside the ear and increased pressure.
• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: It involves the symptoms of vertigo caused by a change in the position of the head.       

Symptoms Associated with Vertigo

Vertigo mainly involves the disturbance in the normal functioning of the inner ear. The inner ear manages the balancing functions of the body and it is also the location of the final entry of sound waves. When any pathology reaches the inner year, it causes symptoms related to balance and hearing. Here are some of the most typical symptoms associated with vertigo.

• Visual disturbances and inability to focus on objects
• Spinning of head
• Imbalance in body position
• Nausea and vomiting
• A ringing sound in the ears called tinnitus
• Loss of hearing
• Lightheadedness

Acupuncture Points For Vertigo

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GB-20

This acupuncture point for vertigo lies on the top of the sternocleidomastoid muscle which is one of the main muscles of the neck.

It runs from the back of your head to the front of your sternum and clavicle.

SI-19

Patients with dizziness often benefit from acupuncture at the point called SI-19 which lies in front of the tragus but behind the condyloid process of the jaw bone. This point is present in the depression that forms between the tragus and the mandible when the mouth is open according to Pacific Medical Training.

PC-6

Acupuncture stimulation at this point helps with symptoms of chronic dizziness. It lies on the palmar surface of the hand between the tendons of two important muscles: palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.

EX-HN30

This point lies on the center of the forehead between the two eyebrows. Acupuncture at yin tang acupoint has been proven to have stabilizing effects on the brain and head in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

How Many Acupuncture Sessions Are Needed For Vertigo Help?

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Clinical trials suggest that five sessions of medical acupuncture are needed for the treatment of vertigo. The five sessions should be conducted in the following manner

• Session 1- Day 1
• Session 2 – Day 3
• Session 3 – Day 5
• Session 4 – Day 7
• Session 5 – Day 14

The cost of five sessions of acupuncture may be substantial but you can explore options that are covered by your insurance plan.

Hand Acupuncture Points For Dizziness

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Of the many different types of acupuncture, acupressure is the most suitable for dizziness.

There is mainly one acupuncture point for dizziness, the pericardium 6 or the P6 point which lies about 2 fingers above the wrist in the middle of the two easily palpable tendons of the wrist. It is called Neiguan point and putting pressure on this point relieves vertigo, nausea, and vomiting.

Another point that can be used to help with dizziness lies just above the interphalangeal joint of the thumb on the lateral side. However, this point does not carry much importance.

Can Acupuncture Cause Vertigo As A Side-Effect?

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Yes, vertigo with acupuncture is common. However, it is not too severe to be called a side effect. After acupuncture, the energy flow through the meridians in the body is regulated, and a whole new energy moves in the blocked meridians of your body. So, it can cause mild dizziness or vertigo. 

Although vertigo can occur with acupuncture at any point, it is more common when needles are inserted near the ears or scalp. But you do not need to worry as it is mild vertigo and goes away within 1 hour. 

Frequently Asked Questions

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The research team at FindItHealth.com answers the most frequently asked questions of our readers below:

Can acupuncture help with vertigo?

The findings of our research team suggest that acupuncture is an effective treatment for vertigo. Plus the safety of acupuncture makes it an alternative treatment for vertigo, dizziness, and lightheadedness when Western treatment does not seem to work out.

Moreover, it has been a part of Chinese medicine for centuries for providing immediate relief after episodes of vertigo along with improving the lost balance.

How effective is acupuncture for vertigo?

A study carried out by the National Library of Medicine states that the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of vertigo reaches above 90% as compared to the treatment in the control group with traditional medications.

Additionally, another study shows that a single 30-minute session of acupuncture can improve the symptoms of vertigo and the second session can stop your dizziness altogether. After that, regular 6-month sessions of acupuncture can completely resolve vertigo.

How does acupuncture help balance problems?

Chinese medicine emphasizes the well-being of the body, mind, and spirit for the treatment of any condition. So, in the case of vertigo, acupuncture works to open up the blocked energy meridians, activate the balancing areas of the brain, stimulate nerves, and downgrade the factors causing balancing problems. Consequently, the balance of your body and mind improves.

How many acupuncture sessions are needed for vertigo?

A total of 5 acupuncture sessions are needed for the treatment of vertigo, with the first 4 sessions on alternate days and the last session one week later. 

Clinical evidence suggests that people getting acupuncture treatment for vertigo reported improvement after their first session. Some individuals even experienced complete recovery from dizzy spells after the second session.

Where are acupuncture needles placed for vertigo?

The acupuncture needles are placed at the following points for the treatment of vertigo:

• GB-20: Top of the sternocleidomastoid
• SI-19: Depression between the tragus and condyloid process of the mandible
• PC-6: Between the tendons of palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis
• EX-HN30: Between the two eyebrows

What is the fastest way to resolve vertigo?

The fastest way to resolve vertigo is repositioning through the following maneuvers and exercises:

• Epley maneuver: It involves sitting on a flat surface, turning your head 45 degrees to the right, reclining with your head tilted, and slowly turning your whole body 90 degrees to the left before returning to your original position. 
• Semont-Toupet maneuver: It involves sitting on a flat surface, lying down on your right side while looking to your left, quickly sitting up, and turning to your left side before returning to your original position.

Brandt-Daroff exercise: It involves sitting on a flat surface, turning to your left side while lying down on your right side, going back to the sitting position with your head at the center position, and repeating the same process for the opposite side.

Conclusion – Research by Findithealth.com

Acupuncture is a gentle, safe, and effective treatment of vertigo. Targeting the specific acupuncture points with sterile needles can help the patients get back their balance and cope with the other symptoms associated with vertigo. 

Moreover, the efficiency of acupuncture for vertigo is proven and has been used for treating dizziness and imbalance for hundreds of years.

Thank you for reading this article and stay tuned for more content.