Dizziness - Xuan Yun - Vertigo

Xuan in Chinese Pin Yin translates to blurred vision and Yun in Chinese translates to dizziness or "off balance".

This pattern of disease will have the symptoms of blurred vision, dizziness, black outs, viritgo, nausea, vomiting, un-balanced feeling, spinning, tinnitus, deafness, cold sweats, fatigue and possibly shaking.

It is most commonly due to three factors, wind, phlegm or deficiency.

Vertigo is the acute onset of dizziness, spinning, loosing ones balance easily, unable to stand, tinnitus, deafness, nausea, vomiting

Western Medicine Diagnosis of Vertigo or Dizziness - Meniere's disease, cervical spine  problems, artherosclerosis, hypertension, injuries, anemia

Etiology (causes) of Dizziness in TCM:

Three main causes: 1. Liver Yang rising 2. Phlegm and Blood Stasis 3. deficiency

Excess: brings internal wind causing dizziness

1. Liver Yang Rising: excess or deficiency

2. Accumiliation Of Turbid Phlegm: phlegm blocks channels and collaterals, clear Qi is unable to ascend. Phlegm may turn to Phlegm Fire

3. Blood Stasis: due to injury or chronic illness, blocks Heart and Mind Deficiency: causes the excess

4. Liver/Kidney Yin deficiency:

5. Kidney Essence Deficiency: cant nourish marrow and brain

6. Qi/Blood Deficiency: clear Qi is unable to ascent to brain

Chinese Medicine Differentiation and Treatment of Dizziness 

Hyperactive Liver Yang Dizziness, tinnitus, severe distended H/A, dysphoria, scanty dark urine, insomnia with excess dreams, bitter taste in mouth, constipation Tongue - red, yellow coat Pulse - rapid, wiry

Principle of Treatment: Soothe hyperactive liver Yang

Acupuncture points  sedate, foot Jueyin and Shaoyang, Gall bladder 20, 43, Liver 2, Bladder 18 - insomnia- Heart 7, Spleen 6

Herbal Medicine Formula: Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin

Liver Yin Deficiency Causing Hyperactive Yang Dizziness, tinnitus, distended H/A, angry, scanty dark urine, insomnia with dreams, weakness of lower back and knees with possible pain. Seminal emission T - red, thin yellow coat Pulse - Thin, rapid, wiry

Principle of Treatment: Soothe hyperactive liver Yang and Nourish Liver Yin

Acupuncture points - foot Shaoyin and Jueyin, Bladder 18 and Liver 3, Bladder 23 and Kidney 3, Heart 7, Kidney 6 - irritable- Pericardium 6, 7, Spleen 6

Herbal Medicine Formula: Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin + Shou Di/Gui Ban

Liver Wind Dizziness, numbness, shaking limbs, nausea, severe vomiting, cant stand up T - red Pulse - wiry

Principle of Treatment: soothe liver to extinguish wind

Acupuncture points  sedate, foot Jueyin and Shaoyang, Gall bladder 20, 43, Liver 2, Bladder 18 - insomnia- Heart 7, Spleen 6

Herbal Medicine Formula: Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin + Ling Yang Jiao (heavy minerals)

Qi and Blood Deficiency Dizziness with tiredness and fatigue, pale complexion, insomnia, palpitation, poor appetite, loose stools Tongue - pale, puffy Pulse - thin, weak

Principle of Treatment: nourish Qi and blood and strengthen spleen and stomach

Acupuncture points  foot Yangming and Taiyin, Du 20, Spleen 10 and Bladder 17, Stomach 36 and Spleen 6, Ren 6 - shortness of breath, spontaneous sweat- Ren 17, Kidney 7

Herbal Medicine Formula: Ba Zhen Tang Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (spleen Qi sinking) Gui Pi Tang (heart)

Kidney Essence Deficiency Lower back and knee pain, lack of concentration, poor memory, loosing hair, dry hair, reproductive system disorders Tongue - Pale, puffy Pulse - deep, weak

Principle of Treatment: nourish kidney essence

Herbal Medicine Formula: He Che Da Zao Wan Zou Gui Wan (heat signs - yin def.) You Gui Wan (cold signs  yang def.)

Turbid Phlegm Accumilation Heaviness of head, nautious, vomiting, fullness in chest, poor appetite, sleepiness, tired Tongue - swollen, greasy, thick, dirty coat Pulse - slippery  

Principle of Treatment: dry dampness, elimin ate phlegm, invigorate spleen and stomach  

Acupuncture points - neutral, hand Jueyin, foot Taiyin, Spleen 9 and Stomach 40, Ren 12 and Pericardium 6, Stomach 8 - digestive problems- Stomach 36, 25

Herbal Medicine Formula: Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang, Wen Dai Tang (phlegm heat)

Blood Stasis History of injury, fixed H/A, poor memory, palpitation, stabbing pain Tongue - purple Pulse - uneven

Principle of Treatment: remove blood stasis and promote circulation to treat dizziness  

Herbal Medicine Formula: Tong Qiao Huo Xue Tang, Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang (opens chest)  

Alternative Treatment Methods

Ear Acupuncture for Dizziness- for Liver Wind (LR, GB, HBP, bleed vein on the back of the ear), for Phlegm(inner ear, adrenal, sympathetic, Spleen ST), for Qi and Blood deficiency(adrenal, subcortex, Spleen ST), Liver and Kidney deficiency (adrenal, subcortex, endocrine, KI, LR, ST)  

Scalp Acupuncture for Dizziness- dizziness and hearing region injection- Dang Gui