Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture for Dizziness and Vertigo in Emergency Department: a Clinical Control Trial

Dizziness and vertigo account for roughly 4% of chief symptoms in the emergency department (ED). Pharmacological therapy is often solicited for these symptoms, such as vestibular suppressants, anti-emetics and benzodiazepines. However, every medication is accompanied with unavoidable side-effects. To the best of the investigators knowledge, no papers surveyed assess the feasibility of applying acupuncture as an emergent intervention means to the treatment of dizziness and vertigo. The investigators study targeted on filling in this gap by performing a clinical control trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine - acupuncture - in treating patients with dizziness and vertigo in ED.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Visit emergency department and stay in observation unit.
• Consult otolaryngologist and neurologist to rule in dizziness and giddiness, auditory vertigo, vertebrobasilar artery syndrome, and peripheral vestibular disorders - Ménière's disease, benign paroxymal peripheral vertigo, and vestibular neuritis.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Serious comorbid conditions (for example, life-threatening condition or progressive central disorder).
2. Patients who cannot communicate reliably with the investigator or who are not likely to obey the instructions of the trial.