Vertigo and other forms of dizziness are common ailments, and several traditional treatments are available.
Doctors have been learning about these treatments in medical schools for decades. However, the treatments
taught in medical schools do not often include the treatments used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
One purpose of this article is to introduce medical professionals to some TCM treatments that have been used
to treat these ailments. Another purpose is to demonstrate how artificial intelligence can be incorporated
into a medical practice to find useful information about a wide range of ailments quickly and efficiently, using
vertigo and dizziness as examples.
Keywords: Vertigo; Dizziness; Tai Chi; Qigong; Traditional Chinese Medicine; TCM; Artificial Intelligence;
Copilot
Vertigo and other forms of dizziness are common ailments, and
several traditional treatments are available. Doctors have been learning
about these treatments in medical schools for decades. However,
the treatments taught in medical schools do not often include the
treatments used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). One purpose
of this article is to introduce medical professionals to some TCM treatments
that have been used to treat these ailments. Another purpose
is to demonstrate how artificial intelligence can be incorporated into
a medical practice to find useful information about a wide range of
ailments quickly and efficiently, using vertigo and dizziness as examples.
Tai chi is a form of gentle Chinese exercise. The Chinese and
others have been incorporating it into their health routines for hundreds
of years. It has been referred to as a form of moving meditation.
Its cousin, qigong (pronounced chee gong), is even older, going back
thousands of years. Qigong exercises and breathing techniques activate
the body’s natural healing powers. Traditional Chinese Medicine
(TCM) focuses more on prevention than cure, although TCM is also
used to treat or even cure a wide variety of ailments [1-53]. In China,
TCM is often the only or the primary treatment used.
In Western medical practices, it is starting to be used as a supplementary
medical treatment, along with the traditional western methods.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in a wide
range of disciplines, including medical research and everyday medical
practice [54-80]. One purpose of the present article is to demonstrate
how AI can be used to incorporate TCM into a medical practice. Since
most medical professionals in the West are unfamiliar with TCM, an
easy way to quickly get a basic understanding of TCM techniques and
applications would be to use AI to do a search or to ask basic questions.
There are many ways to use AI to generate medical or other information.
In this study we will use Microsoft Copilot [81], since it is
easy to access and fairly good at generating useful results, although
some studies have found that prior versions of Chatbots have sometimes
been inaccurate or even biased [82-95]. Thus, some caution
must be taken when using AI, although it can be used as a good first
step in medical research and diagnosis. The first step in conducting
an AI study, after determining what it is you want to study, is to give an instruction to the chatbot, in this case, Microsoft Copilot. It might
go something like this.
Instruction
Have any studies been conducted on the use of either tai chi or
qigong on treating vertigo?
Response
Yes, there have been studies conducted on the use of tai chi and
qigong for treating vertigo. Here are some key findings:
• A systematic review published in 2024 investigated the effectiveness
of Tai Chi and Qigong in the treatment of traumatic
brain injury (TBI), which can include symptoms such as vertigo.
The review found that Tai Chi improved functional, psychological,
and cognitive outcomes in patients with TBI [96].
• The Vestibular Disorders Association has noted that Tai Chi
can help improve balance, which is often affected by vertigo. They
recommend Tai Chi as a complementary therapy to vestibular rehabilitation
[97].
• Preliminary findings from a small study indicated that
practicing Tai Chi for just two months led to a marked decrease
in vertigo and nausea symptoms and an improvement in balance
among patients who had struggled with mainstream therapies for
their vestibular disorders [98].
• Another study found that Tai Chi may slow the progression
of symptoms in Parkinson’s disease, which can include dizziness
and balance issues. Participants practicing Tai Chi experienced
fewer falls, less back pain and dizziness, and improvements in
memory and concentration [99].
These studies suggest that Tai Chi and Qigong may be beneficial
for individuals experiencing vertigo, but it’s important to consult with
a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
As you might have noticed, the information given was basic, but
serves as a good starting point for further inquiry. Copilot also gave a
few references. It is important to read the referenced material, since
some of it may be irrelevant or not quite on point. The intellectual level
of the information given might also be a bit too low, but that problem
can be solved, as we will discuss below. After receiving a reply
to the initial inquiry, it is possible to ask supplementary questions.
Copilot will often even make suggestions for additional related questions
that might be asked. Here is a follow-up question that would be
relevant for a study that is attempting to connect tai chi and qigong to
the treatment of vertigo.
Instruction
Are there any specific exercises in Tai Chi that help with vertigo?
Response
Yes, there are specific Tai Chi exercises that can help with vertigo.
These exercises focus on improving balance and coordination, which
are key to managing vertigo symptoms. Here are some exercises and
principles from Tai Chi that are beneficial:
• Postural Orientation: Exercises that involve positioning the
trunk and head in alignment to each other as well as to the ground
and to the visual field [100].
• Postural Equilibrium: Coordinating movement strategies to
center and stabilize the body [100].
• Low-Impact, Low-Intensity Poses: Standing and seated poses
that are gentle on the body while promoting relaxation and
deep abdominal breathing [101].
• Seated Tai Chi: There are 18-minute seated Tai Chi routines
available that can be particularly helpful for those with balance
issues [102].
It’s important to start these exercises under the guidance of a
qualified instructor, especially if you’re experiencing vertigo. They
can tailor the exercises to your needs and ensure that you perform
them safely. Remember to consult with a healthcare professional before
beginning any new exercise regimen.
Again, Copilot’s response provided some additional useful information.
Although it cited only three references it provided two additional
references that were not specifically cited [103,104]. For the
free version of Copilot, researchers are permitted to ask a limited
number of questions, after which it is necessary to start a new conversation,
which may be on the same identical topic. Thus, the fact
that the number of inquiries may be limited by the free version, it is
not necessary to purchase the paid version, since a new conversation
may be started at no cost. Here is another follow-up question that
may be asked.
Instruction
Are there other exercises besides Tai Chi that can help with vertigo?
Response
Certainly, there are several exercises besides Tai Chi that can help
manage vertigo. These exercises are designed to improve balance and
stability, which can alleviate the symptoms of vertigo. Here are some
of them:
• Epley Maneuver: This is a sequence of movements that can
help to reposition crystals in the inner ear that may cause dizziness
[105].
• Semont Maneuver: Similar to the Epley Maneuver, this technique
involves moving the body in specific ways to manage benign
paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) [105].
• Half-Somersault or Foster Maneuver: This exercise involves
kneeling down and tipping the head upward, then touching the
forehead to the floor, which can help with BPPV [105].
• Brandt-Daroff Exercises: These involve sitting on the edge of
a bed and flopping down to one side, then the other, which can be
effective for certain types of vertigo [105].
• Yoga: Certain yoga poses can improve balance and stability,
reducing the frequency and intensity of vertigo episodes [106].
• Walking: Regular walking improves cardiovascular health
and overall balance [106].
• Cycling: Stationary cycling can be a safe way to exercise
without risking falls [106].
• Stair Stepping: This exercise can help strengthen the legs
and improve balance [106].
• Pilates: Pilates focuses on core strength, which is essential
for balance [106].
• Water Aerobics: The buoyancy of water can provide support
while exercising, making it a safe option for those with balance
issues [106].
• Neck Stretching: Gentle neck stretches can help relieve tension
that might contribute to vertigo symptoms [106].
It’s important to perform these exercises under the guidance of
a healthcare professional, especially if you have severe vertigo. They
can help ensure that you’re doing the exercises correctly and safely.
Always consult with your doctor before starting any new exercise
regimen, particularly if you have a health condition that affects your
balance or dizziness.
Although Copilot cited only two sources, it provided three other
references [107-109] for further reading. Now that we have completed
the first step of the research, which was to obtain some general
information, it is time to go on to the second step, where we can find
additional information that is more suitable for medical professionals
to act on, in the event that they want to decide whether the tai
chi and qigong treatments are suitable for a particular patient. Many
professional studies have been done on the effectiveness of tai chi, qigong
and other tools in the TCM toolbox (including acupressure, acupuncture
and herbal medicine) to treat or even cure a wide range of
ailments. The ProMed database [110] would be a good place to go to
find scientific studies that have investigated the effectiveness of tai chi
and qigong on the medical ailment in question. A word search using
“tai chi” and “vertigo” found a number of relevant studies [111-116].
The medical studies just cited are a few examples of studies that were
found doing the word search. These studies found that tai chi and/
or qigong can be effective in treating vertigo and/or dizziness. Many
more studies could have been cited. The point is that tai chi and qigong
are being incorporated into many medical practices in the West
because they have been found to be effective in the treatment of vertigo,
dizziness and other ailments.
ISSN: 2574 -1241
Abstract
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