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Vertigo

How Chinese medicine differentiates vertigo, the five patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Acupuncture only — no herbs.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. Sudden severe vertigo with double vision, slurred speech, facial droop, limb weakness, or a severe sudden headache needs emergency medical evaluation to rule out a stroke.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for vertigo — 14 key points, used across most of the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
LIV-3Subdues Liver-Yang, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi.
G.B.-20Expels exterior Wind, subdues Liver-Yang, clears Heat, benefits the head.
Du-20Extinguishes interior Wind, subdues Liver-Yang, raises Yang, benefits the Brain.
ST-36Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
Ren-6Tonifies Qi and Yang, raises sinking Qi, tonifies Original Qi.
BL-20Tonifies Spleen and Stomach, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood.
ST-40Resolves Phlegm and Dampness, opens the chest, subdues rebellious Qi.
SP-9Regulates the Spleen, resolves Dampness, opens the Water passages.
KI-3Tonifies the Kidneys (Yin and Yang), strengthens Essence.
BL-23Tonifies the Kidneys, nourishes Kidney-Essence, strengthens the lower back.
SP-6Strengthens the Spleen, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood and Yin.
LIV-2Drains Liver-Fire, subdues Liver-Yang, cools Blood.
LIV-14Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, harmonizes Liver and Stomach.
P-6Opens the chest, moves Qi and Blood, calms the Mind.
The Five Patterns

reinforcing   reducing   even method — technique below follows standard Excess/Deficiency treatment principle for each pattern, not tied to a specific point-by-point source.

1. Liver-Yang Rising View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: A throbbing or distending headache; irritability and a quick temper; a flushed face and red eyes; tinnitus; dizziness that is distinctly worse with emotional stress; soreness in the lower back and knees; brought on by anger and frustration, stress, lack of sleep, or overwork; eased by a calm environment, avoiding stress and stimulants, rest, or gentle exercise.
Tongue: Red body, redder at the sides, thin dry yellow or scanty coating, possibly trembling. Pulse: Wiry, especially forceful at the left middle position, may be Fine and Rapid.
Treatment principle: Calm the Liver, subdue Yang, clear Heat.
Note: no moxa.

2. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Dizziness that is worse with exertion or on standing; a pale face, lips, and nail beds; persistent fatigue and weakness; heart palpitations; brought on by overwork, chronic illness, poor diet, or lack of sleep; eased by rest, warm nourishing food, gentle exercise, or moxibustion.
Tongue: Pale body, may be thin or tooth-marked, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine and Weak.
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, nourish Blood, strengthen the Spleen.
Note: moxa applicable. No deck slide combines Qi deficiency and Blood deficiency into one pattern, so no pattern link is given here.

3. Phlegm-Dampness in the Middle-Burner

Clinical manifestations: A heavy sensation in the head, as if wrapped in cloth; nausea or vomiting; poor appetite and bloating after eating; drowsiness and heavy limbs; brought on by a diet heavy in greasy or sweet food, damp weather, a sedentary lifestyle, or chronic Spleen weakness; eased by warm, plainly-cooked food, staying active, a dry warm environment, or moxibustion.
Tongue: Pale and swollen body with tooth marks, thick white greasy coating, excessively moist. Pulse: Slippery, Slow or Moderate, Soggy.
Treatment principle: Transform Phlegm, strengthen the Spleen, resolve Dampness, calm the Liver to stop dizziness.
Transform Phlegm-Dampness
Support Spleen, raise clear Yang
Note: moxa applicable on the Support-Spleen points; no deck slide matches this combined Phlegm-Dampness-in-the-head picture, so no pattern link is given here.

4. Kidney-Essence Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Dizziness with a hollow, empty feeling in the head; soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees; poor memory and difficulty concentrating; frequent urination at night; brought on by ageing, chronic overwork, excessive sexual activity, or a long illness; eased by rest, warm nourishing food, or gentle grounding movement.
Tongue: Pale, thin body, little or no coating, possible fine cracks. Pulse: Fine, Deep, Weak at both rear (Kidney) positions.
Treatment principle: Nourish Kidney-Yin, benefit Essence, fill the Marrow, nourish Blood.
Note: moxa applicable.

5. Liver-Qi Stagnation Transforming into Heat

Clinical manifestations: Vertigo triggered or worsened by emotional stress; a bitter taste in the mouth; distending or burning pain in the ribcage; irritability and explosive anger; chest tightness; brought on by stress and frustration, spicy or greasy food, alcohol, or suppressed emotions; eased by cooling food and drinks, gentle exercise, talking through emotions, or a calm environment.
Tongue: Red body, redder along the sides, yellow coating. Pulse: Wiry and Rapid, most pronounced at the left middle position.
Treatment principle: Soothe Liver-Qi stagnation, clear Heat, address the root of vertigo from emotional upset.
Note: no moxa. This site's "Stagnant Liver-Qi turning into Heat" slide doesn't list dizziness as a symptom, so no pattern link is given here even though the pattern name is similar.
Related conditions

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