Labyrinthitis is an inflammation of a structure in your inner ear called the labyrinth. You have a labyrinth in your inner ears, deep in the bone at the base of your skull. It contains the delicate structures that control your hearing and balance. The symptoms of labyrinthitis can include: dizziness, a feeling of spinning or moving when you are still (vertigo), loss of balance, especially towards your affected side, feeling sick, vomiting, headache, uncontrollable flickering of your eyes (nystagmus), changes in your hearing – such as ringing in your ears (tinnitus), and deafness.

Viral labyrinthitis usually lasts between 1 and 3 weeks. Your body will fight the virus off on its own, so during this time treatment is designed to reduce any symptoms you are feeling. Your GP may prescribe you medicine to reduce your dizziness (vestibular suppressants) and anti-sickness medicine (anti-emetics) if you are feeling or being sick.

Bacterial labyrinthitis is treated with antibiotics to fight the infection.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a disorder arising from a problem in the inner ear. Symptoms are repeated, brief periods of vertigo, with movement, that is, of a spinning sensation upon changes in the position of the head. This can occur with turning in bed or changing position. Each episode of vertigo typically lasts less than one minute. Nausea is commonly associated. BPPV is one of the most common causes of vertigo, this very often is chronic condition.

Traditional five element acupuncture looks at why this is happening, very often labyrinthitis and vertigo occur when a patient is run down and stressed, which can be from a virus an ongoing illness, a long term stressful situation, a shock, not eating well, getting enough sleep or many other circumstances that put strain on a person’s body, mind and spirit. Acupuncture helps to recover the ability for your system to heal.

Acupuncture has been proved – through controlled trials – to be an effective treatment for labyrinthitis, nausea, vomiting and headache. The World Health Organisation also recommends acupuncture for deafness because treatment by conventional and other therapies is difficult.

Lifestyle Advice Reduce stress, as emotional strain affects the Liver and may cause Liver-Yang to rise (in the Yin-Yang medicinal theory, Yang refers to a lack of the body’s essential, vital warm energy) and will cause a high amount of dizziness. Overwork and/or excessive sexual activity should be reduced, as over time this will weaken the kidneys and not enough marrow will be produced to nourish the brain, which will also cause dizziness. Greasy foods, dairy products or irregular eating should also be reduced as this will weaken the Spleen and lead to Dampness and Phlegm. When this happens and there is a deficiency of Qi (the body’s essential energy) dizziness will also occur. Have traditional five element acupuncture treatment.

To find out how traditional five element acupuncture can help your Labyrinthitis and Vertigo contact Hannah on;- https://www.southwellacupuncture.co.uk/contact/