One Case of Peripheral Vertigo Disorder with Sustained Constipation Effectively Treated with the Theory of “Opening the North Window to Get the South Wind”

Abstract

One case of peripheral vertigo disorder with sustained constipation was effectively treated with the applica­tion of a Kampo medicine proverb : “opening the north window to get the south wind (balmy summer breeze)”. The therapeutic strategy behind this proverb is to cure the superior (south) disease by unblocking the inferior (north) pathogenic stagnation, and thus activate internal qi movement, blood and body fluid circulation in the body. A 69-­year-­old female with postural vertigo episodes associated with the benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) was effectively treated with tokakujokito, and her constipation discomfort was resolved at the same time. Based on these results, otolaryngologists should consider the inferior disease (the lower gastroin­testinal tract disorder) when treating the superior disease (the inner ear-­based disorder), and pay attention to the harmony and balance among qi, blood and body fluid throughout the body.