Dizziness — TCM Food Therapy & Dietary Approach
This is associated with disharmony of the liver, spleen, and kidney.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Patterns
In TCM, this concern is differentiated into several patterns, each with a classical herbal formula:
Liver Yang Rising
Formula: Tianma Gouteng Yin (Gastrodia and Uncaria Decoction) — from *Zhong Yi Nei Ke Za Bing Zheng Zhi Xin Yi*
Deficiency of Qi and Blood (Deficiency of Both Heart and Spleen)
Formula: Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) — from *Formulas to Aid the Living*
Insufficiency of kidney essence (Emptiness of the Sea of Marrow)
Formula: Zuogui Wan (Left-Restoring Kidney Yin Pill) — from *Jingyue's Complete Works*
Phlegm-Damp Obstructing the Middle (Wind-phlegm harassing the upper orifices)
Formula: Banxia Baizhu Tianma Tang (Pinellia, Atractylodes Macrocephala and Gastrodia Decoction) — from *Yi Xue Xin Wu*
Blood Stasis Obstructing the Orifices
Formula: Tongqiao Huoxue Tang (Orifice-Opening Blood-Invigorating Decoction) — from *Corrections of Errors in Medical Classics*
These formulas are for reference under TCM syndrome differentiation and should only be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.
Food Therapy & Diet
Dietary Therapy Recipes
- Gastrodia Stewed Chicken: gastrodia tuber 50 g, codonopsis root (Dang Shen) 20 g, chestnut 50 g, red dates 20 g, half an old hen; stew until cooked.
- Gastrodia Fish Head Soup: 1 fish head, gastrodia tuber 10 g, Sichuan lovage root 6-10 g, Dahurian angelica root 6-10 g.
- Gastrodia Steamed Eggs: gastrodia powder 10 g, 2 eggs; steam for 5-6 minutes.
- Astragalus and Goji Squab Soup: astragalus root (Huang Qi) 30 g, goji berry 30 g, 1 squab; stew until cooked.
- Red Date, Glutinous Rice and Black Bean Congee: glutinous rice 100 g, black beans 30 g, red dates 30 g.
Dietary Principles
- Favor light foods; avoid fatty, sweet, and greasy foods.
- For phlegm-dampness obstructing the middle, favor foods that may support strengthening the spleen and transforming dampness (coix seed, adzuki bean, tangerine peel, white radish).
- For qi-blood deficiency, favor foods that may support tonifying qi and blood (red date, Chinese yam, longan, millet).
- For kidney-essence deficiency, favor foods that may support replenishing essence and marrow (black sesame, walnut, goji berry, mulberry).
- For liver-yang hyperactivity, favor foods that may support calming the liver and clearing downward (chrysanthemum, celery, bitter melon, cassia seed).
- Avoid pungent, stimulating, overly salty, greasy, and deep-fried foods.
- Avoid raw/cold foods; keep the head out of drafts, and rise slowly from sitting.
Understanding the Condition
This is associated with disharmony of the liver, spleen, and kidney. The Huangdi Neijing states, 'All wind with shaking and dizziness belongs to the liver.' Wind, fire, phlegm, deficiency, and stasis may rise to disturb the clear orifices or deprive the brain of nourishment. Liu Hejian emphasized wind and fire; Zhu Danxi held that there is no dizziness without phlegm; and Zhang Jingyue held that there is no dizziness without deficiency.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.