Electroacupuncture and Low-Level Laser Therapy for the Management of Ménière's Disease-Case Report

Ménière's Disease (MD) typically presents with the classic triad of symptoms of vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss. MD significantly impacts a patient's quality of life and their ability to carry out basic daily functions. This case report describes how electroacupuncture and Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) were used concurrently to assist a patient suffering from MD to achieve substantial recovery and improve her subjective quality of life.

A 62-year-old female patient was diagnosed with MD by her otolaryngologist in July 2020. She received pharmaceutical therapies, including oral prednisone and round window membrane dexamethasone infusion. Her vertigo symptoms initially improved but deteriorated gradually since the initial treatment. She came to the Meridian Integrative Medicine (MIM) acupuncture clinic in October 2021, with chief complaints of vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss. At that time, the patient had been suffering from severe vertigo attacks averaging two to three attacks per week with progressively worsening hearing disorders. The patient had a total of 28 vertigo attacks during the two months before coming to MIM for treatment. After 9 sessions of electroacupuncture and LLLT treatments in 2 months, the patient's episodic vertigo attacks were eliminated.

Treating MD with acupuncture and LLLT can help reduce or eliminate the severity and frequency of episodic vertigo attacks, relieve the severity of tinnitus symptoms, and improve the patient's quality of life.