Much is written about the benefits of acupuncture: how it improves circulation, relieves stress and anxiety, and treats the whole person instead of just a symptom here or there. Because it’s not a popular treatment for Westerners, though, it is sometimes be viewed with a veil of suspicion or simply avoided by Americans.

On the flip side, Western doctors have the means and the motivation to prescribe drugs for most ailments. Some are specialists, which means that instead of viewing, say, a patient’s heart as a part of his or her overall body, they simplify their scope by concentrating on the patient’s heart itself. The combination of prescribing drugs with ease and not considering a patient’s holistic health leaves much to be desired. Read more Treatment for Meniere’s Disease

I started to go deaf in one ear in my mid-30s for a reason that would be described as the equivalent of winning the genetic lottery. The solution for this was to replace my defective ear bone with a prosthetic bone to restore my hearing.

The surgery went well, and during my follow-up appointment, my doctor complemented me on the healing that took place within my middle ear. Excited about my renewed ability to hear, I returned to work only to suffer from dizzy spells, vertigo, and extreme fatigue. A diagnosis of Meniere’s Disease proved to be the second of my lottery wins, as it is not a common ailment. I received the initial directions to reduce salt in my diet, increase my potassium intake, exercise, and take medication to manage the symptoms. The doctor prescribed diuretics, diazapam (also known as Valium), and anti-nausea medication, and asked that I follow up in a few months.

Given the combination of harsh, over-the-counter diuretics and Valium, which nearly wiped my memory banks clean, I struggled with the effects of these drugs at first. In addition, the pain that I suffered from the swelling within my middle ear was not addressed; the medicine acted like more of a distraction from than a cure for the swelling. Therefore, with high hopes and the need for relief, I sought the help of some acupuncturists who were situated near my office and home. I also worked with my physician to “step off” Valium, and switched to herbal diuretics, which are more gentle, as soon as this option became available to me through my acupuncturists.

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