BLUE POPPY PRESS RECENT RESEARCH REPORT # 341

Acupuncture for Menieres Disease

abstracted & translated by

Honora Lee Wolfe,

most or all of their hearing. Therefore, any effective alternative treatments would be welcome to
many sufferers of this condition.

Dipl. Ac., Lic. Ac.,

FNAAOM

In issue #9, 2002 of Ji Lin Zhong Yi Yao (Jilin

Chinese Medicine & Medicinals), Zhang Zhi-hua
published an article titled, The Treatment of 18
Cases of Menieres Disease Mainly with the
Points Bai Hui (GV 20) Joined to Hou Ding (GV
19). This article appeared on page 48 of that
issue. Since Menieres disease is often a difficult
condition to treat, a precis of that article appears
below.

Keywords: Chinese medicine, acupuncture,

Menieres disease, dizziness, vertigo
Menieres disease is a disorder which is characterized by recurrent prostrating vertigo, loss or
diminution of auditory acuity, tinnitus, and a
feeling of fullness in the ear. Its Western etiology
is unknown and its pathophysiology is only poorly understood. Typically, paroxysmal attacks of
vertigo occur suddenly. These attacks may last
anywhere from a few to 24 hours, are commonly
accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and subside gradually. Usually, only one ear is affected,
and there may be a feeling of fullness or pressure
in that ear. Hearing progressively deteriorates in
the affected ear over the years. Tinnitus may be
either intermittent or constant and may be worse
before, during, or after an attack of dizziness.

Cohort description:

Among the 18 patients in this study, seven were

male and 11 were female, 25-64 years of age.
These patients had suffered from Menieres disease for from two days to six years.
Treatment method:

The main points used in this protocol were Bai

Hui (GV 20), Hou Ding (GV 19), and Ting Gong
(SI 19). The first two of these were needled
through from one to the other. Then, depending
on each patients pattern discrimination, certain
auxiliary points were added. For ascendant liver
yang hyperactivity, Tai Chong (Liv 3) and Xia Xi
(GB 43) were added with draining technique. For
phlegm turbidity harassing above, Nei Guan (Per
6) and Feng Long (St 40) were added with draining technique, and, for liver-kidney yin vacuity,
Tai Xi (Ki 3) was added with supplementing
technique. The points on the scalp were needled
transversely from Bai Hui to Hou Ding with a 28
gauge needle to a depth of approximately two

The Western medical treatment of Menieres disease is empirical. Symptomatic relief of dizziness and vertigo may be obtained by anticholinergic drugs, such as scopolamine and atropine in
over the counter preparations. Antihistamines
and barbituates are also used to provide general
sedation. Valium (diazepam) is particularly
effective in relieving the distress of severe vertigo, however it may be habit-forming. There are
several different surgical procedures for patients
who are disabled by frequent attacks of vertigo,
but, since these may result in permanent hearing
loss, procedures such as a labyrinthectomy are
usually reserved for those who have already lost

inches. Then large amplitude twisting was used

to stimulate the point. Ting Gong was needled
perpendicularly to a depth of 1.2-1.5 inches in
order to propagate the needle sensation to the
inner ear. Needles were left in place for 30 minutes each treatment and stimulated manually
once every five minutes. Treatment was given
once per day, and 10 treatments equaled one
course of therapy. A two day rest was allowed
between successive courses.

course of treatment, all her symptoms had disappeared. Another course of therapy was given in
order to secure the treatment effects. However,
these treatments were given only every other day.
On follow-up after two years, there had been no
recurrence.
Discussion:

According to Dr. Zhang, Menieres disease falls

under the traditional Chinese medical disease
category of xuan yun or vertigo and dizziness. It
is mostly due to either liver-kidney yin vacuity
with ascendant liver yang hyperactivity or
spleen-stomach loss of fortification with phlegm
turbidity obstructing the center and confounding
and misting the clear yang. Bai Hui (GV 20) is
located on the midline at the vertex of the head.
It is one of the five meetings of the three yang
channels of the hands and feet. It is located on
the governing vessel, and the governing vessel
flows freely or connects with the sea of marrow,
i.e., the brain. Ithis point also connects with a
network vessel of the liver channel. Therefore,
needling it is able to subdue and settle floating
yang as well as revitalize the clear yang. Hence it
is an effective point for the treatment of vertigo
and dizziness. Hou Ding (GV 19) is also a point
located on the governing vessel which treats vertigo and dizziness. The technique of joining these
two points with a single needle frees the flow and
abducts the governing vessel qi and blood. It also
quiets the spirit and stabilizes the mind. From a
Western medical point of view, it promotes the
circulation of blood in the region of the brain and
regulates the vegetative nervous system. Ting
Gong (SI 19) frees the flow of the orifices and
improves the hearing of the ears. Tai Chong (Liv
3) is the source point of the liver, while Xia Xi is
the construction point of the gallbladder.
Needling these two point can, therefore, level the
liver and subdue yang. Nei Guan (Per 6) and
Feng Long (St 40) are the network points respectively of the pericardium and stomach. Needling
them is able to transform phlegm, harmonize the
stomach, and stop vomiting. Tai Xi is the source

Treatment outcomes:

Cure was defined as complete disappearance of

clinical symptoms with no recurrence within two
years. Marked effect was defined as disappearance of clinical symptoms but slight recurrence
within one year. No effect was defined as no
obvious or marked improvement in clinical
symptoms. Based on these criteria, 13 cases were
considered cured, another four experienced a
marked effect, and only one patient got no effect.
Therefore, the total effectiveness rate using this
protocol on this group of patients was 94.4%.
Representative case history:

The patient was a 35 year old female who was

first seen in March 1991. The patients major
complaint was recurrent bouts of dizziness and
vertigo for the previous two years. The woman
said that she had had an attack in the last two
days. This had been precipitated by family stress.
In addition to vertigo, the patient complained of
nausea and vomiting. Movement made her vertigo worse. There was also tinnitus, and she was
easily agitated and easily angered. Based on
these signs and symptoms, the patient was diagnosed as suffering from Menieres disease, while
her Chinese medical pattern was discriminated as
liver yang mixed with phlegm turbidity harassing
above. Therefore, Dr. Zhang needled Bai Hui
through to Hou Ding and also needled Ting
Gong, Tai Chong, Xia Xi, Nei Guan, and Feng
Long. After one such treatment, the patients
symptoms were greatly reduced. After one

point of the kidney which enriches water so that

it may moisten or sprinkle wood. This point also
fosters or helps fill yin essence. Thus this protocol uses a combination of local points with points
on the body chosen based on the patients pattern
discrimination. such a combination treats both

the root and tip or branches of Menieres disease

and so it gets quite good therapeutic effects.
Copyright Blue Poppy Press, 2003. All
rights reserved.

Copyright Blue Poppy Press, 2003

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