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Meniere’s Disease

Meniere’s Disease is a chronic condition that affects the inner ear. According to a 2018 study published in the Journal of Complementary Medicine and Alternative Healthcare, the disease is more common among adults above 40 years—but it can occur at any age. 

The cause of Meniere’s Disease is not exactly known. But some experts point to genetics, allergies, autoimmune diseases, and changes in fluids found in the inner ear. 

Acupressure and acupuncture for headache and migraine
The signs and symptoms of the disease may include:  
  • Vertigo (i.e., a spinning sensation) 
  • Tinnitus (i.e., ringing in the ear 
  • Impaired hearing 
  • Loss of balance 
  • Sweating and vomiting/nausea 
  • Headaches  
  • Aural fullness (i.e. the feeling that your ear is plugged)

As a chronic disease, Western medicine deems Meniere’s Disease as an incurable condition. Patients can only manage the symptoms through lifestyle changes. Conventional treatments include pharmaceutical medication, physical therapy, hearing aids, or even surgery. 

Owing to the lack of a cure and the risk posed by the symptoms, patients often look for alternative/complementary treatments. Acupuncture is a well-known, ancient alternative treatment modality that may help with Meniere’s Disease. 

Here’s How Acupuncture Can Help with Meniere’s Disease 

Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have different approaches to diagnosis and treatment than conventional Western Medicine. Specifically, signs and symptoms of diseases are seen as imbalances in body organs, blood (Xue), Qi (energy), and Yin & Yang.  

TCM theories believe that the kidneys play a crucial role in the development of Meniere’s Disease.  

The Zang-FU Theory of Internal Organs and Meniere’s Disease 

The functions of internal organs in TCM and acupuncture are elaborated on in the Zang-Fu theory. It is different from what is taught in Western medicine. According to the Zang-Fu theory, the kidney is known as the “Root of Life” since it stores Qi.  Qi is the foundation for Yin and Yang, and it interacts with Blood to maintain healthy Yin levels. 

In TCM, the abnormal fluid retention seen in Meniere’s disease is known as Dampness. It causes QI stagnation and may damage the body’s Yang. It can be difficult to treat. It can also last for a long time and may affect other parts of the body. 

The Zang organs that have a role in Dampness include the kidney, liver, and spleen. 

  • Kidney: The Kidney stores Qi.
  • Lung: Lungs help in the circulation of Qi. 
  • Spleen: The Spleen creates Qi and controls blood. 

As highlighted earlier, Meniere’s Disease often develops after the age of 40. In TCM, this is explained by the Huang Di Nei Jing (Essential Questions of Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic). This ancient volume notes that “three Yang meridians of women are weakened at 42, and Kidney Qi of men is deficient at 40.”  

The major cause of Meniere’s Disease is Wind (Feng), which is associated with dizziness, pain, and vertigo. It is generated by impeded Qi and stagnated Blood. For this reason, acupuncture treatment for Meniere’s Disease looks at Qi regulation and blood mobilisation. 

Is Acupuncture for Meniere’s Disease Effective According to Science? 

  • According to a Case Report appearing in the Journal of Acupuncture in Medicine, APS (acupuncture point stimulation) helped reduce dizziness and hearing loss in a 58-year-old patient. 
  • A 2013 study by the WHO Collaborating Center for Traditional Medicine and the Kyung Hee University suggests that the LR3 and GB34 acupoints promising results in the treatment of dizziness and tremors due to Wind. 
  • The results of a study published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine showed that acupuncture treatment is effective at stopping vertigo and other symptoms of Meniere’s Disease. 

Acupuncture for Meniere’s Disease

There is no cure for Meniere’s Disease. However, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can be effective alternative/complementary treatments to effectively manage the symptoms. 

Looking for an “acupuncture clinic near me” in New Zealand?  Centre of Balance  in Hamilton is one of the best acupuncture clinics around. Your health is our priority, and we focus on treating the root cause of your health problem to improve your quality of life and general wellness. 

Visit our clinic at 27F Whatawhata Road, Dinsdale, Hamilton or call us at 07 846 7956 to book an Initial Exam with an experienced practitioner.

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References 

Curran, J. (2008). The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine. Retrieved from https://juniperpublishers.com/jcmah/pdf/JCMAH.MS.ID.555715.pdf  

Tong-Zheng Hong. A Study on Acupuncture Treatment to Meniere’s disease J Complement Med Alt Healthcare. 2018; 7(3): 555715. DOI: 10.19080/JCMAH.2018.07.555715  

Huang N, Li C (2012) Recurrent sudden sensorineural hearing loss in a 58-year-old woman with severe dizziness: a case report. Acupunct Med 30(1): 56-59. Retrieved from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1136/aim.2010.010003  

Yeo, S., Choi, Y. G., Hong, Y. M., & Lim, S. (2013). Neuroprotective changes of thalamic degeneration-related gene expression by acupuncture in an MPTP mouse model of parkinsonism: a microarray analysis. Gene, 515(2), 329-338. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23235115/  

Steinberger, A., & Pansini, M. (1983). The treatment of Meniere’s disease by acupuncture. The American journal of Chinese medicine, 11(01n04), 102-105. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6660197/  

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Monica

I am originally from Hebei province in China. I hold a NZ bachelor’s degree of health and science with a major in acupuncture. I am honoured to be an acupuncturist at Centre of Balance. Helping patients to alleviate their pain brings me the greatest joy. Chinese medicine emphasises the unity of human beings and nature. During the treatment, I hope to not only relieve your pain but also help you to understand the principles behind acupuncture’s effectiveness, as well as the significant impact of diet, emotions, lifestyle habits, and living environments on disease recovery. Self-healing is an ability that our bodies are naturally endowed with.

I studied acupuncture in New Zealand and completed one and a half years of supervised clinical internship before graduating. In the early stage of my training, I mainly worked with patients experiencing neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. Under the guidance of senior clinical tutors, I gradually developed hands-on experience and confidence in treating musculoskeletal pain conditions.
As my clinical exposure expanded, I began treating a wider range of internal conditions. Alongside traditional acupuncture, I was introduced to Umbilical Acupuncture and Tungs-acupuncture Points. What interested me most about these approaches is that they often do not require needling directly at the painful area, yet can still achieve very effective results.
I was especially inspired by observing my supervisor use Umbilical Acupuncture to treat common conditions such as insomnia, menstrual irregularities, and even rheumatoid arthritis, with very positive outcomes. Another supervisor was highly skilled in Tungs-acupuncture Points and achieved excellent results in treating pain, infertility, menstrual disorders, and a variety of women’s health conditions. After completing my studies and entering clinical practice, once I observed Dr. Szenan Phua using Tungs-acupuncture points to help cancer patients relieve pain, which further strengthened my trust in this treatment method.
I later completed training in Dr. Tan Balance Acupuncture, which had a strong influence on the way I approach treatment. One of the most noticeable features of this method is how quickly patients often feel improvement, especially with pain conditions. Dr. Szenan Phua’s New Balance Acupuncture combines meridian regulation with structural adjustment and internal organ balancing, including techniques such as pulse balancing and spinal adjustment.
From my clinical experience, pain is rarely just a local issue. It often involves underlying organ weakness or structural imbalance. When these aspects are addressed together, treatment can be more thorough and longer-lasting. I also apply this approach to internal conditions, particularly in fertility and women’s health. This includes supporting natural conception, IVF preparation and embryo transfer, pregnancy support, early-pregnancy nausea, and late-pregnancy labour induction. I combine these treatments with concepts learned from a few additional fertility training, which has given me a broader and more flexible clinical perspective. This has reinforced my belief that acupuncture should be adapted to each individual rather than applied through fixed formulas.
Two other areas of study that have been very helpful in my clinical work are Tongue Diagnosis and Dr. Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture. Although tongue diagnosis is taught in my standard Chinese medicine training, further study allowed me to deepen and refine my diagnostic skills.
My first formal training was in Li’s Tongue Diagnosis, which looks not only at organ patterns, but also at how different areas of the tongue reflect the body’s structure. This system also explores personality traits and changes during pregnancy, making it both clinically useful and engaging. I later attended online lectures on Yin’s Tongue Diagnosis and studied the related materials independently. this learning has helped me make clearer and more accurate pattern differentiation, allowing my acupuncture treatments to be more targeted. It covers a wide range of conditions, including skin disorders, oncology-related presentations, mental health patterns, and joint or limb problems. In practice, tongue observation often provides valuable insight even before a patient begins describing their symptoms.
In addition to the methods above, I regularly use local bloodletting techniques, which can be very effective for improving circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. I also incorporate auricular (ear) acupressure and stimulation, which I commonly use for allergies, insomnia, headaches, stress management, and various internal conditions.
In my clinical work, I value taking the time to listen carefully to each patient and to understand their overall health, lifestyle, and concerns. Based on each individual’s condition, I also provide personalised dietary guidance and lifestyle or wellness advice to support overall health and long-term wellbeing. I commonly support patients with musculoskeletal pain, such as neck, shoulder, knee, and back pain, as well as stress-related conditions, sleep issues, migraines, digestive concerns, and women’s health and fertility-related conditions.