Some Help for Vertigo

Vertigo is the sensation of self-movement or the movement of your surroundings-- it's a spinning sensation. Dizziness is an altered sense of spatial orientation; your balance just feels off. Both can be challenging to deal with and can have impact on ability to function.

I have had several individuals ask me to help treat their vertigo and they often reach out when nothing else has been helpful. One might consider the use of acupressure to help with this challenging condition, once you have been evaluated by your physician that there is nothing more ominous happening.

Auricular (ear) acupressure is an effective and very safe therapy to manage a variety of symptoms. Acupuncturists believe that the ear represents a microsystem-- that is small region on the body through which you can treat all ailments of all body systems.

Auricular acupressure is a treatment that can be provided to an individual or a treatment that an individual can use for oneself. Stimulation of these acupuncture / acupressure points helps to move the qi or life force of your body.

Thalamus Point - regulates over-excitement: anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. Restores tranquility, reduces chronic pain, tonifies the brain and calms the mind. Used for drug detoxification.

Here are some recommendations you can provide to your patients with regard to acupressure for vertigo

# These points may need to be treated for several days before benefit; be persistent and consistent.

# Set quiet time aside twice daily to treat these points

# Massage each point for 30 seconds to one minute with gentle pressure with one of your fingers. Sometimes you might feel a gentle ache in the point although this is not needed for benefit.

# You can treat both ears at the same time or choose to only treat one of the ears. There is equal benefit.

# Choose 5 or 6 points only; these are the most powerful ones I would suggest to start with

- Occiput

- Point Zero

- Thalamus point

- Cerebellum

- Master Sensorial

- Shen Men

Be consistent with the use of these points but one may consider using different points directed towards the patient's symptoms. Always use Shen Men, the most powerful and effective point on the ear.

Occiput - very dynamic and one of the most-used points on the ear. Tranquilizes the mind, addresses headache, TMJ dysfunction, emotional disorders, anxiety; lowers blood pressure, treats neurological disorders as well as vision and hearing disorders

Point Zero - brings the whole body to homeostatic balance; balances energy, hormones, and brain activity; supports the actions of other points; controls visceral organs through the peripheral nerve ganglia. Promotes willpower.

Thalamus Point - regulates over-excitement: anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. Restores tranquility, reduces chronic pain, tonifies the brain and calms the mind. Used for drug detoxification.

Cerebellum - addresses vision, equilibrium, proper balance and posture, coordinated skeletal movement

Master Sensorial - controls the brain; reduces any unpleasant or excessive sensation, tactile paresthesia, tinnitus, blurred vision.

Shen Men - tranquilizes the mind, allows a connection to one's spirit; alleviates stress, pain, convulsions, tension, anxiety, depression, insomnia, restlessness, excessive sensitivity. Treats high blood pressure. Helps all other auricular points work better. Key point for alleviating pain.

Lesser occipital nerve - headache, migraine, chronic headache in or around the eye, occipital headache, numbness in half of the body and in head

Kidney - stimulates secretion of renin and angiotensin to increase blood pressure

Ear (Inner). E - auricular vertigo, deafness, Meniere's disease, diminished hearing

Liver - cirrhosis, alcoholism, jaundice, hepatitis, anemia, hypertension

Dizziness Point - for dizziness, vertigo, light headedness; can be used as a diagnostic point and may be red if patient suffering from dizziness

Forehead - frontal headache, sinusitis, rhinitis, common cold, heaviness of the head, worry, anxiety, vision problems, dream-disturbed sleep, dizziness, high blood pressure, epilepsy, lethargy, depression

Ear (Inner). C - auricular vertigo, deafness, Meniere's disease, diminished hearing.

Auricular acupressure can be an effective treatment that is literally in the hands of the patient. Consider recommending formal acupuncture evaluation and treatment for this condition with your patients.

In another blog post, I will discuss the training I received in medical acupuncture from Helms Medical Institute. https://hmieducation.com/

The information from the points above was derived from the Auriculo app from Miridia Technology.

What experience do you have with regard to auricular acupuncture? We'd love to hear your thoughts or experiences.