Is acupuncture effective in treating inadequate vertebrobasilar artery blood supply?

  Due to the degeneration and rupture of the cervical disc, the intervertebral disc protrudes into the intervertebral foramen, or the vertebral bone osteophytes, the intervertebral foramen becomes smaller and compresses the vertebral artery in the transverse foramen, or the vertebrae are misaligned, the vertebral artery becomes flat and small, the vertebral artery blood flow is poor, and the brain is ischemic and hypoxic is vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis. Vertebral artery cervical spondylosis belongs to the category of vertigo in Chinese medicine. Although vertigo is characterized by phlegm blockage, qi and blood deficiency, wind and yang upward disturbance, and liver and kidney yin deficiency, its root lies in the deficiency of the medulla oblongata, which is the evidence of deficiency of the root and the symptoms. Acupuncture, tui-na, traction, physiotherapy and other non-pharmacological treatments have good effect on this disease. The acupuncture points can be taken from C4 to 7 to relax the tendons and activate the channels and harmonize the qi and blood; with Baihui and Fengchi to pacify the liver and submerge the yang; Hegu and Foot Sanli to strengthen the middle and dissolve the turbidity, and benefit the qi and replenish the blood. Warm acupuncture can also be applied to C3-7 interspinous or interspinal points, which can warm the meridians and disperse cold, relieve spasm and open the channels, which is conducive to “qi to the disease”. Cervical spine traction can make the adjacent vertebrae separate, the corresponding vertebral space and intervertebral foramen increase, which can improve the tension of the cervical occipital muscles, reduce the mechanical compression of the blood vessels and the stimulation of the cervical nerve roots by cervical spine degeneration, reduce the excitability of the sympathetic nerves, increase the internal diameter of the vertebral artery and the blood flow rate, thus improving the blood supply to the reticular formation in the brainstem, the vestibular nucleus and the inner ear, and achieve the purpose of calming the dizziness and stopping dizziness. In addition, it is important to keep the cervical vertebrae straight and make appropriate activities in your daily life and work to prevent cervical spondylosis. For more details, please refer to my publication “Behavioral Interventions for the Prevention and Treatment of Cervical Spondylosis”.