Nerves & senses
Acupuncture for Dizziness
Dizziness makes you feel unsure. You turn your head, get out of bed or walk through a busy shop, and suddenly the ground seems to move. People who are often dizzy start avoiding situations and become more cautious in everything. Acupuncture and laser acupuncture can be used to support the body, with attention to the dizziness and to what maintains it.
What is dizziness?
Dizziness is a general term for different sensations. With spinning dizziness (vertigo), the surroundings seem to spin or you feel you are moving yourself. There is also a light or woolly feeling in the head, as if you are about to faint, and a feeling of unsteadiness or imbalance when walking. Dizziness can come with nausea, sweating and fatigue.
There are many possible causes. A common one is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), in which small crystals in the balance organ come loose and cause short spinning attacks with certain head movements. Other causes include inflammation of the balance nerve, low blood pressure or a drop in blood pressure when standing up, tension in the neck, stress and hyperventilation, and side effects of medication.
In Ménière’s disease, attacks of spinning dizziness occur that can last minutes to hours, together with tinnitus, hearing loss and a full or pressing feeling in the ear. Between attacks, the symptoms may (largely) disappear, but hearing can decline over the years.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Dizziness from a TCM perspective
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, dizziness is seen as a disturbance in the flow to the head. This can be caused by an excess rising to the head, by Phlegm obstructing the flow, or by a deficiency that leaves the head insufficiently nourished. How the dizziness feels and what triggers it gives clues about which pattern is involved.
Rising Liver-Yang
Gan Yang Shang KangWhen the dizziness worsens with stress, anger or tension and comes with headaches, tinnitus, a red face and restless sleep, TCM describes Yang rising to the head.
Phlegm-Damp
Tan Shi Zhong ZuWhen the dizziness comes with a heavy, woolly head, nausea, a full feeling in the stomach or ear and worsens after heavy or fatty food, TCM describes Phlegm obstructing the flow to the head. This pattern is often seen in Ménière’s disease.
Qi and Blood deficiency
Qi Xue Kui XuWhen the dizziness mainly occurs on standing up, with fatigue or exertion, and comes with paleness, palpitations and low energy, TCM describes a deficiency of Qi and Blood that leaves the head insufficiently nourished.
How can acupuncture and laser acupuncture help with dizziness?
Treatment starts with a conversation about how the dizziness feels, when it occurs and what triggers or relieves it. This determines which pattern is involved and which points are selected.
- 01Targeted acupuncture: points on the head, around the ear and in the neck are combined with points on the hands, arms, legs and feet, tailored to the pattern involved in your case.
- 02Ear acupuncture with the laser: points on the ear can be used to support balance and calm the nervous system. At Bai Kang this is always done with the laser, never with needles.
- 03Needle-free alternative: all points can also be treated with therapeutic laser light. Treatment takes place lying down, and there is plenty of time to get up again calmly.
- 04Underlying factors: attention is also given to what may influence the symptoms, such as tension in the neck and shoulders, stress, breathing, sleep and eating habits.
Prefer no needles?
Every treatment can also be carried out completely needle-free with laser acupuncture, in which the same points are treated with therapeutic laser light. Ear acupuncture is always carried out with the laser. Acupressure, which also uses no needles, can be used as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can acupuncture help with dizziness?
Acupuncture can be used as support for dizziness, tailored to how the symptoms present in your case and what triggers them. The degree of change people experience varies per person.
What is Ménière’s disease?
Ménière’s disease is a condition of the inner ear. Characteristic are attacks of spinning dizziness lasting minutes to hours, together with tinnitus, hearing loss and a full feeling in the ear. The exact cause is not known.
Can acupuncture help with Ménière’s disease?
Acupuncture can be used as support for both the dizziness and the tinnitus in Ménière’s disease, alongside care from your GP or ENT specialist. Treatment takes place between attacks.
Can I be treated when I am very dizzy?
During a severe attack, it is better to lie still and wait. Treatment can take place between attacks. Treatment is given lying down, and afterwards there is plenty of time before you get up.
Does the neck play a role in dizziness?
In some people, tension in the neck and shoulders can come with a light or unsteady feeling in the head. That is why the neck is also considered during treatment. Read more about acupuncture for neck complaints.
How many treatments are needed?
This varies per person and depends on the cause and how long the symptoms have existed. After the first treatments, we review together how you respond and what a suitable follow-up would be.
Personal Treatment Plan
Suffering from dizziness or unsteady balance?
During a first appointment, we look at how your dizziness presents and what plays a role in your body, and which form of acupuncture suits you.