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Call (312) 863-0731 For An Appointment

17 N. Wabash Ave. Ste 678 Chicago, IL 60602

Acupuncture Center Chicago Square Logo

17 N. Wabash Ave. Ste 678 Chicago, IL 60602

Acupuncture for Vertigo

Acupuncture Relieves Dizziness and Vertigo

Acupuncture can be a safe and effective way to treat dizziness and vertigo for emergency room patients. In a recent investigation, both subjective and objective measures reported positive patient outcomes. Acupuncture had an immediate and substantial therapeutic effect in the following categories: Heart rate variability (HRV), Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).

While acupuncture has been used to help treat dizziness and vertigo symptoms for more than a thousand years, researchers noted that few modern studies have investigated this phenomenon. The goal of the study was to determine the safety and efficacy of using acupuncture to treat dizziness and vertigo within an emergency department of a hospital. Patients involved in the study were recruited in Taiwan from the emergency department at the Changhua Christian Hospital. An otolaryngologist and a neurologist screened all patients using inclusion and exclusion criteria. The criteria for the inclusion in the study included: dizziness, vertigo, vertebrobasilar artery syndrome, Ménière’s disease, and vestibular neuritis.

Acupuncture

Patients were divided into two different groups: one for those receiving acupuncture and a control group. Patients in the acupuncture group received acupuncture in two locations with standard needles and left in place for 30 minutes per session. The control group received sham acupuncture application where seed patches were applied one centimeter away from the true acupuncture points.

The study conclusively found that those who received acupuncture saw an immediate reduction in discomfort and improvement in their dizziness and vertigo. The outcome demonstrating that there was clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in treating dizziness and vertigo.

Heart Rate Variability

To determine heart rate variability (HRV), a heart rate monitor was administered. HRV is defined as the variation in time between heart beats. It is commonly used as an index of the body’s ability to maintain control of the heart beat rate and rhythm through the vagus nerve activity. Prior research demonstrated that acupuncture was found to improve the heart rate variability. The lowering of a HRV is associated with individuals who are unhealthy and under high levels of stress.

The ability for acupuncture to raise HRV is noteworthy because a reduced HRV is associated with mortality after myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, diabetic neuropathy and also attributed to low survival rates for premature babies. In this recent research, HRV changes were closely monitored and documented. A predisposition to autonomic nervous system dysfunctions relating to Ménière’s disease and other causes of dizziness and vertigo can be reflected in the HRV values. This new study was able to document the ability for acupuncture to independently improve HRV values.

Consumer Electronics

In this study, HRV was measured with the ANSWatch wrist monitor, which is an advanced device. There are now consumer grade devices which claim EKG levels of accuracy in measuring the HRV. These devices can be linked to an iPhone or another device using a chest band heart rate monitor. Some devices, including the Mio Velo cycling hear rate band, claim they can obtain EKG-accurate heart rate data without the requirement of a strap. The Mio Velo device transmits data to an app for easy visibility. This function allows the user to take their own readings of HRV to measure health and achieve certain fitness goals.

The Mio Velo uses pulse oximetry, which uses light pulses to read skin color changes to measure blood flow variations and ultimately measure the heart rate. Another popular device, the Apple Watch, also measures the heart rate using pulse oximetry. One argument is that pulse oximetry isn’t as accurate compared to chest bands for recording heart beats. In time, the technology used for consumer electronic devices is expected to improve greatly in both functionality and versatility.

 

Services We Offer : Conveniently Located in the Chicago Loop

Sunae Son, L.Ac, M.S.O.M. has spent much of her life exploring and researching western and eastern medicines, combining these practices over a decade of field and laboratory studies into mindful patient care in acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Chinese Bodywork

Bodywork helps to reconnect the body with the mind, which in turn improves chi and overall wellness.

Acupuncture

This ancient treatment has helped people for literally thousands of years to relieve a variety of different conditions.

Moxibustion & Infra-Red Therapy

The therapy involves the stimulation of acupuncture points in the body to increase the flow of chi.

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