Dizziness and vertigo — phlegm-damp
StarEssentials of Chinese Acupuncture (Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing Colleges of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1980) — the standard prescriptions of the Chinese colleges.
Points
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Back-Shu of the Spleen; strengthens the spleen to transform damp
Reinforcing method.
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Front-Mu of the Stomach; supports the middle burner against damp
Reinforcing method.
- ⚠ Organ
- Pregnancy: caution
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Luo point of the Stomach; resolves phlegm
Reducing method.
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Luo point of the Pericardium; settles the stomach and stops vomiting
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Stomach point at the corner of the forehead; a specific point for dizziness
Needling Safety
Cited hazards for these points. Tick what applies to the patient to see the cautions that follow from it.
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CV12 Zhongwan
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⚠ Organ injury has been reported after needling this point. Wu J, Hu Y, Zhu Y, Yin P, Litscher G, Xu S 2015, Table 4 (Organ injury associated with acupuncture)
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Treatment Principle
Transform phlegm and eliminate damp using Back-Shu, Front-Mu and Luo points belonging to the spleen and stomach.
Indications
Method
Reinforcing and reducing combined: reinforce BL20 and CV12 to strengthen the spleen and stomach, reduce ST40 to resolve phlegm.
⚠ Cautions
Sudden vertigo with headache, double vision, slurred speech, limb weakness or inability to walk can be a posterior-circulation stroke and needs emergency assessment. Investigate persistent vertigo medically. BL20 is over the lower thorax; needle obliquely and not deeply.
About
The textbook's prescription for vertigo caused by phlegm and damp retained internally and clouding the head.
Rationale
BL20 and CV12, the spleen's Back-Shu and the stomach's Front-Mu, are reinforced so that the spleen and stomach can deal with damp at its source. ST40, reduced, dissolves the phlegm. ST8 is singled out by the book as an effective point for dizziness, and PC6 calms the stomach and stops vomiting.
Clinical Notes
The book relates the condition to disturbed balance and lists Ménière's syndrome, labyrinthitis, otosclerosis, high or low blood pressure and neurasthenia. It also describes tapping with a cutaneous needle at GV20, Taiyang, Yintang and the Huatuo Jiaji points, and an ear-acupuncture option.
Sources
- Beijing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, et al. Essentials of Chinese Acupuncture. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 1980. Chapter III, Dizziness and vertigo, p. 338–340.
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