“I suffered from dizziness for the past 2 years. Month after month it hit me and the whole room would spin. I had bouts of nausea and vomiting which lasted for hours. My ears would ring and I felt extreme pressure as if I were in a tunnel. The worst part however, was the gradual decline in my hearing.”
Fortunately, the story does not end here. Dr. Liao has successfully helped many patients that suffer with this very common and treatable condition called “Menier’s Syndrome”.
Menier’s Syndrome, also known as endolymphatic hydrops, is a disturbance of the inner ear or labyrinth. It is a disease of the equilibrium that affects both sexes equally. In the semicircular canals of the inner ear, increased fluid retention produces pressure in the ear that may disturb balance and hearing. It may affect one or both ears and the cause may not always be established.
a metabolic disturbance, impaired blood flow to the brain due to clogged arteries, poor circulation, tumor, allergies, infections, leukemia, toxicity from drugs, spasms of blood vessels, genetic factors, and physical or emotional stress.
Menier’s Syndrome begins with a mild perceptive deafness in one ear and progresses to:
Attacks can occur abruptly and last from minutes to days, and are often associated with nausea and vomiting.
Sometimes Menier’s Syndrome can occur without dizziness. In this type of disorder, the endolympahtic distention is limited to the cochlea (the snail-shell like spiral tube in the ear). In addition, individuals who suffer from migraines and dizziness but do not have auditory symptoms may have a condition called recurrent vestibulophathy. However, once treated, the migraines and dizziness will most often subside.
At Eastern Medical Group, Dr. Allan Liao performs a thorough evaluation to establish the proper treatment plan for each individual patient. Chinese medical doctors believe that the whole body needs to be addressed. As in Menier’s Syndrome, the kidneys, liver, digestion, circulation, and emotions can be contributing factors.
Treatment may include one or more of the following: acupuncture, special acupressure techniques, and herbs. Usually six treatments are needed. However, more treatments may be needed depending on the severity of the hearing loss. Most patients notice a 50% improvement in symptoms after their first treatment.