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Dizziness & Vertigo
Dizziness and Vertigo are classed as Wind diseases in traditional Medicine. Humoralists would classify some as Phlegm, some Bile and some Melancholy. Phlegm refers to what TCM calls Wind-Phlegm, Bile equates with Wind-Heat and Melancholy with Yin and Essence deficiency.
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Western Tradition
1. Steep Cumin in vinegar for 3 days, dry it. Before bed, chew the seeds as long as possible, then swallow them. (Brunschwig, 1561) Vertigo and Dizziness
Primary compounds: 1. Diamargariton (Cooling Pearl Powder) 2. Dianthos (Powder of Rosemary) 3. Pleres Arconticon (Restorative of Nicholas) Vinegar of Squill Oxymel of Squill Confection of Musk Electuary of Horehound (Diaprassium) Cephalic Decoction (Charras) Decoction for Vertigo (Culpeper) Powder for Dizziness and Vertigo (Gabelhover) Powder of Galangal Comp. (Diagalanga) (Mesue) Powder of Juniper for Vertigo (Wirtzung) Special Powder for the Memory (Wirtzung) Electuary for the Head Electuary of Great Virtue for Vertigo (Hartman) Electuary of Black Hellebore (Zenon) Electuary of Peony Triphala of Coriander (Itraphil Kishneez) Antidotum Augustini (Nicholas) Diamuscum Hiera Hermetis Hiera Pachi, or Hiera Archigenis Sugar for Vertigo Tincture of Valerian Tincture for Vertigo Rosemary Wine Troches of Agaric Arabian Pills (Nicholas) Imperial Pills Oil of the Philosophers Nux Vomica 13 (Ko byi bcu gsum) (Tibetan Medicine) Qi Stagnation Cephalic Decoction (Charras) Powder of Rosemary Compound Electuary for the Head Internal Wind Electuary of Peony Electuary for the Head Qi and Blood Deficiency Restorative of Nicholas Kidney Deficiency Restorative of Nicholas Blood Stasis Cephalic Decoction (Charras) Powder of Rosemary Compound Phlegm & Damp Pills of Mastic Stomach Pills Special Powder for the Memory (Wirtzung) Cephalic Decoction (Charras) Vertiginem purgant– Purge in Vertigo and Dizziness Squill Sagapen Black Hellebore Colocynth Arab Confect Purging Melancholy (Confectio Hamech) Triphala of Coriander (Itraphil Kishneez) Hiera Hermetis Hiera Logadii Hiera Pachi, or Hiera Archigenis Pills of Mastic Stomach Pills Arabian Pills (Nicholas) |
TCM Classification
Liver Qi Stagnation
dizziness, headache, depression, chest tightness, abdominal distension, irritability, irregular menstruation Xiao Yao San Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San Liver Wind, Liver Yang Rising dizziness, headache, blurring vision, red complexion, irritability, insomnia, maybe has Hypertension Dang Gui Long Hui Wan Niu Huang Jie Du Pian Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang Nux Vomica 13 (Ko byi bcu gsum) (Tibetan Medicine) Liver Blood Stasis dizziness, stubborn and fixed headache, forgetfulness, insomnia, palpitations, depression, maybe some cyanosis of the lips, tongue and nail beds, darkness under the eyes. Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang Qi and Blood Deficiency dizziness, palpitation, forgetfulness, panic attack, blurring vision, insomnia, pale complexion, poor appetite, dry skin, dry hair, heavy menstruation. Gui Pi Tang Shi Quan Da Bu Tang Kidney Essence Deficiency Kidney yin deficiency, facial flushing, mild dizziness, worse after sex, fever in afternoon, fatigue, insomnia, tinnitus, heel pain, sore and weak lower back, heel pain. You Gui Wan Zuo Gui Wan Phlegm and Damp Obstruction dizziness, tinnitus, nausea, poor appetite, stuffiness in chest, no energy, feels heavy, sleepy, thick tongue coating Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang |
Special Formulas:
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A POWDER OF PIG BRAINS
Pig Brains dried Cumin Peony seed Pennyroyal Mistletoe equal parts (Brunschwig, 1561) POWDER FOR VERTIGO Caraway seed Coriander seed prepared Anise Fennel 2 ½ drams Cardamon Cubeb 1 ½ drams Form a powder. POWDER FOR VERTIGO Coriander seed prepared Caraway seed 2 drams Cinnamon ½ oz. Galangal Cubeb 2 drams Rosemary 1 dram Chicken Gizzard skin Marjoram Nutmeg 1 ½ drams Sugar weight of the rest The above 2 formulas are typical of numerous formulas used for Vertigo caused associated with the Stomach and Indigestion, or Wind-Damp / Wind-Phlegm. (Grulingus, Medicinae Practica, 1665) POWDER FOR VERTIGO Galangal Orris root Citron peel Mistletoe Peony seed Coriander seed prepared Cubeb Nutmeg 2 drams ea. Rosemary flower 1 dram Rotal of Anise oil * 1 oz. of Clove oil * ½ oz Sugar Candy 3 oz. * Rotal means sugar mixed with the oil into a type of conserve. Form a powder; Dose: 1 dram (Grulingus, Medicinae Practica, 1665) CONFECTION OF STOECHAS Hiera Picra powder 10 drams Agaric Dodder 4 drams ea. Myrobalan Chebula Black Emblic Belleric Stoechas 3 drams ea. Indian Salt 2 drams Form a confection with Oxymel. Dose: 2–3 drams with warm water (De Morbis Internis Curandis, Mesue, 1551) Used specifically for Dizziness and Vertigo. |
PILLS OF ALOE AND MASTIC
Aloe ½ oz. Mastic 1 dram Form small pills and take 3–5 each nigh for a week. PILLS FOR VERTIGO Nutmeg Clove ½ drams each Zedoary 2 scruples Gentian 1 scruple Rose Yellow Sandalwood. 1 ½ drams each Aloes 6 drams Rhubarb 3 drams Powder, sprinkle with Rose water, let dry, and repeat 7 times. Then with Syrup of Violets make a pill mass. Dose: 1 scruple. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615) TROCHES FOR VERTIGO OF CRATO Cinnabar ½ oz. Red Coral Pearl 2 scruples each Saffron 1 scruple Dose: 10-12 grains in Lily of the Valley water. These were noted by various authors to be extremely effective, and to work when all other means had failed. Some versions added 15 leaves of Gold leaf. |
Case History
A male in his late 70's came for treatment for back pain. He was a farmer and still very active, had a strong pulse, a red tongue with a yellowish coating, and was of a robust constitution. While questioning him he said that he had suffered from Vertigo for decades and that he'd had various treatments over the years and nothing had worked. I had recently made my first ever batch of Stomach Pills (Aloe, Rose and Mastic) and knew that they had been used for diseases of the Head, including Dizziness and Vertigo, when associated with the Stomach. Due to his strong constitution and yellow tongue coat I decided 5 days of these pills, taken once per day before bed, would help cleanse the system in preparation for a more targeted formula. The next week he came back and, to both of our amazement, his Vertigo had been completely relieved after 3 doses. He said 'you've cured it. No more Vertigo. Now can you fix my back?'
I told him that a week would probably not be long enough treatment to cure it, but it was great that it was relieved so quickly. Treatment focused on his Back and he was given Liu Wei Di Huang Wan with Pearl added for a month. Follow up months later showed no return of his Vertigo.
This illustrates the usefulness in judicious purging. His presentation suited a formula such as Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin which I expect would've needed weeks, perhaps months of treatment, to achieve similar relief.
A male in his late 70's came for treatment for back pain. He was a farmer and still very active, had a strong pulse, a red tongue with a yellowish coating, and was of a robust constitution. While questioning him he said that he had suffered from Vertigo for decades and that he'd had various treatments over the years and nothing had worked. I had recently made my first ever batch of Stomach Pills (Aloe, Rose and Mastic) and knew that they had been used for diseases of the Head, including Dizziness and Vertigo, when associated with the Stomach. Due to his strong constitution and yellow tongue coat I decided 5 days of these pills, taken once per day before bed, would help cleanse the system in preparation for a more targeted formula. The next week he came back and, to both of our amazement, his Vertigo had been completely relieved after 3 doses. He said 'you've cured it. No more Vertigo. Now can you fix my back?'
I told him that a week would probably not be long enough treatment to cure it, but it was great that it was relieved so quickly. Treatment focused on his Back and he was given Liu Wei Di Huang Wan with Pearl added for a month. Follow up months later showed no return of his Vertigo.
This illustrates the usefulness in judicious purging. His presentation suited a formula such as Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin which I expect would've needed weeks, perhaps months of treatment, to achieve similar relief.