Perimenopause and Dizziness: How Chinese Medicine Can Help You Find Balance
Perimenopause is a natural phase of life, but for many women, it comes with unexpected symptoms—one of which is dizziness. Feeling lightheaded, unsteady, or as if the room is spinning can be both unsettling and disruptive.
Why Does Dizziness Occur in Perimenopause?
From a Western medical perspective, perimenopausal dizziness may be linked to hormonal fluctuations—especially drops in oestrogen.
Oestrogen influences the inner ear and the vestibular system, which helps regulate balance. As levels shift, some women may experience vertigo, imbalance, or a general sense of unsteadiness.
Other contributing medical factors include:
Migraines, which can be triggered or worsened by hormonal changes
Low blood pressure or changes in cardiovascular function
Anxiety or panic, which can heighten physical sensations like dizziness
Inner ear disorders, sometimes exacerbated during hormone shifts
The TCM View: What Does Dizziness Mean?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, dizziness is seen as an imbalance of Liver Wind, Kidney Yin deficiency, or Phlegm and Damp accumulation.
Here's how an experienced TCM Practitioner might differentiate them:
Dizziness with headaches and irritability
Dizzy with tinnitus, night sweats, and poor sleep
A heavier sensation, foggy head, nausea
TCM practitioners will design their treatment based on your presentation—not just the dizziness alone.
Could Acupuncture or Chinese Herbal Medicine offer relief?
TCM offers a gentle, whole body approach to easing perimenopausal symptoms, including dizziness:
Acupuncture
Clinical evidence supports acupuncture for relieving perimenopausal symptoms:
A 2023 meta-analysis published in Menopause journal found that acupuncture significantly reduced the severity and frequency of menopause-related symptoms, including dizziness, mood changes, and sleep disturbances.
A German randomized trial (Deutsche Ärzteblatt International, 2010) showed improved quality of life and symptom reduction in women undergoing acupuncture for menopausal complaints.
Acupuncture may help by:
Regulating the autonomic nervous system
Modulating hormone levels
Improving blood flow to the brain
Reducing stress and tension
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Herbal formulas are selected based on TCM diagnosis and may be recommended to enhance the recovery and ease the intensity of symptoms.
Studies have shown that certain Chinese herbal formulations can reduce menopausal symptoms, and a 2018 review in Complementary Therapies in Medicine noted positive outcomes for dizziness and balance when treated with herbal medicine in menopausal women.
Dizziness during perimenopause is real—and you're not alone. Whether it's due to shifting hormones, underlying neurological sensitivities, the good news is that support is available.
Chinese Medicine offers a personalised, whole-body approach to treating dizziness and associated perimenopausal symptoms, helping restore balance from within. If you’ve been feeling off-centre—physically or emotionally—it may be time to explore how acupuncture and herbs can support you through this transition.
📍Now taking appointments at Warriewood and Brookvale on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. If you're navigating perimenopause and looking for a natural approach to relief, book in for a consultation to see if Chinese Medicine is right for you.
