Is There Any Evidence For Complementary And Alternative Therapy In Ménière’s Disease. Sen P, Papesch M. Internet Journal of Otorhinolaryngology. 2005. Volume 4 Number 1

Abstract

Many of the treatment options for Ménière's disease have little proven benefit over placebo. Despite the lack of rationale for these treatments, many clinicians advocate them to their patients. Patients are often keen to try any medications to relieve their symptoms. With the recent surge in the use of complementary and alternative medications, Ménière's patients too have been drawn to them. It is imperative that clinicians are aware of the range of therapies available. This article reviews the evidence available for complementary and alternative therapies in Ménière's disease with emphasis on their proposed method of effect and potential side effects.

Introduction

In 1861 the French physician, Prosper Ménière first described Ménière's disease. Despite more than a century of research on Ménière's disease, there is still no cure for it.¹ Patients are often willing to try different treatments in an attempt to control their symptoms. The evidence for the efficacy of these treatments, both medical and surgical is often lacking.² Many therapies are highly controversial with little proven benefit over placebo.³ Patients are increasingly turning to Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) to supplement or substitute their conventional management.⁴, ⁵. This article is based on a review of literature on the potential role of CAM in the treatment of Ménière's disease.

Materials and Methods

A literature search of articles published in English was conducted from MEDLINE, CISCOM, AMED and a number of non-Medline journals and websites of Ménière's disease support groups.

Search words included: Ménière's disease, dizziness, vertigo, labyrinthine disease, acupuncture, Chinese medicine, homeopathy, herbal medicine, ayurvedic medicine, chiropractic medicine, Tai Chi, biofeedback, hypnotherapy, alternative medicine, complementary medicine and CAM . All articles in which therapies were used to relieve symptoms due to Ménière's disease were included.

Results

Randomised controlled studies on CAM for Ménière's disease are scarce. Most publications are based on single case-reports or observational case-series. The majority of therapies are based on individualised intervention and are directed to symptomatic relief of vertigo or tinnitus rather than to the whole disease complex. Acupuncture, homeopathy, herbal medicine, ayurvedic medicine, chiropractic medicine, Tai Chi, biofeedback and hypnotherapy are the popular therapies used for Ménière's disease.

Acupuncture has been widely used in the treatment of Ménière's disease. In Ménière's disease, the needle stimulation is performed around the ear. The stimulation of acupoints is postulated to release natural opiates from nerves resulting in endogenous analgesia.⁶ Other effects may include alteration in blood flow⁷ or immune function. ⁸

There are no randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on acupuncture for Ménière's disease. The clinical evidence of the effectiveness of acupuncture for vertigo is based on single case reports and observational case series. The effects of acupuncture were not defined or graded objectively. Responses to treatment were based on subjective improvement of vertigo as documented by patients or by specialist evaluation.

There are case reports of relief of vertigo following acupuncture, with recurrence of symptoms when acupuncture is stopped.⁹, ¹⁰ Yang SM obtained a satisfactory result on 189 patients with Ménière's disease.¹¹ Steinberger and Pansini also reported good patient response.¹²Acupuncture with electric impulses has also been tried.¹³

Park et al. thoroughly reviewed the use of acupuncture therapy for tinnitus on the basis of rigorous, randomized, controlled trials and concluded that this treatment does not work.¹⁴ Similar conclusions have been documented by other authors. ¹⁵, ¹⁶

High quality RCT's are needed to provide more robust effectiveness data and to address important questions such as the optimal acupuncture procedures, value of booster doses and possible synergistic effects of acupuncture with conventional therapies in patients with Ménière's disease.

The efficacy of homeopathy in Ménière's disease is based on observational case series. Recommended medicines include salicylicum acidum, natrum salicylicum nux vomica and chenopodium. Symptomatic relief of Ménière's disease have been reported (Hoover, 1998; Jach, 1988).¹⁷, ¹⁸ Romer noted that 8 patients with Ménière's disease treated with salicylic acid were relieved of vertigo (30c potency) but not tinnitus.¹⁹ A randomised double blind controlled clinical study on homeopathic treatment (vertigoheel) versus conventional treatment (betahistine) for the treatment of vertigo showed the therapeutic equivalence of the two drugs established statistically.²⁰ Both reduced the frequency, duration and intensity of vertiginous attacks during the 6-week treatment period. The study was not specific for Ménière's patients. The primary ingredients of vertigoheel are Cocculus indicus, Conium maculatum, Ambra grisea, and petroleum. The mechanism of action of Cocculus indicus (Anamirta paniculata) mediated by its effects on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors. Coniine is an alkaloid derivative of C. maculatum that has suppressive effect on nicotinic receptors in the medulla.

WHO estimated that 80% of the world's population presently use herbal medicine in primary health care. Physicians regularly see patients who self-prescribe herbal medicinal products for Ménière's disease. Examples of herbal medicine used in Ménière's disease include Vinpocetine,²¹ Valerion, Ginger root and Gingko biloba. The mode of action of these agents varies. Experimentally, Vinpocetine is found to alter red blood cell rigidity and dilates cerebral vessels.²² This may be the reason for its beneficial effect in Ménière's disease. Valerion has a sedative action similar to benzodiazepines.²³ Ginger root helps reduce nausea, which may be beneficial to Ménière's patients.²⁴ The active ingredient of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a phytonutrient called gingerol, which has known anti-emetic, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycaemic activity. However, it may interfere with anticoagulant therapy. Caution must be used when patients are taking heparin or coumadin.

Ginkgo biloba is one of the most well researched herbs in the world. It has been shown to be anti-ischaemic, anti-hypoxic and a radical scavenger. It increases efficiency of metabolism, regulates neurotransmitters and boosts oxygen levels in the brain.²⁵ These factors may contribute to its beneficial effect in Ménière's disease.

A double blind placebo controlled questionnaire-based trial on 1121 patients in treating tinnitus found that Ginkgo Biloba did not have any more positive effect on subjective improvement compared to placebo.²⁶ An RCT on low dilutions of the extract also proved Ginkgo biloba to be ineffective.²⁷ However, other randomised controlled trials on Ginkgo Biloba for tinnitus produced a positive result.²⁸,²⁹. Ginkgo Biloba products, dosages and duration of treatment varied in these trials and the results of these trials are subject to bias. In addition, the causes of tinnitus varied and so the particular effect on tinnitus due to Ménière's disease cannot be extrapolated from these trials. A recent systematic review on the effect of Gingko Biloba on tinnitus also showed that it is not effective.³⁰ The dosage of Gingko Biloba varied from suboptimal homeopathic dose of 2 x 14.6mg to 160mg extract per day. Ginkgo Biloba may interact with anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents and should not be given along with them as it increases the risk of bleeding.³¹ Spontaneous hyphaema has been reported in patient taking Ginkgo Biloba in the absence of any pre-disposing factor.³² Ginkgo can also interact with thiazide diuretics and cause raised blood pressure.³³

At present, the body of evidence for the role of herbal medications for Ménière's disease is small. Though observational studies have noted favourable responses, it is important that more well-designed trials, with rigorous methodology and consistent dosages of the herbal extract, be used for patients with Ménière's disease.

Charmomile tea and garlic oil are used to suppress Vata Dosa and relieve tinnitus.³⁴ This may be the basis of treating Ménière's disease though there are no articles specific to their use in Ménière's disease cited in peer-reviewed literature.

This Chinese martial art views balance as the relationship between the body and the natural force of gravity. Being well balanced physically provides the foundation for balance of mind and emotions. Hain et al studied the effects of Tai Chi on balance rehabilitation. They found highly significant improvement in balance following Tai Chi training.³⁵ Further robust trials are required to acknowledge its effect on Ménière's disease, although vestibular rehabilitation in the form of Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises is commonly used in western practice.

In Ménière's disease, it is suggested that relaxation of the neck muscles induced by this form of therapy improves blood supply to the ear.³⁶ Like acupuncture, endogenous opiates may also play a role in the relief of symptoms in Ménière's disease. The low level of evidence for the therapy has to be boosted by more rigorous trials for universal acceptance.

Biofeedback is a treatment technique in which people are trained to improve their health by using signals from their own bodies. For example, audio signal from frontalis muscle electromyography is used to reduce the intensity of tinnitus and muscle tension in tinnitus patients.³⁷ Biofeedback is often aimed at changing habitual reactions to stress that can cause pain or disease. Increased activity of the proprioceptive and visual systems can help compensate for diseases of the vestibular system. One study looked into the visual-vestibular biofeedback in Ménière's disease and found transitory improvement in symptoms.³⁸ The articles on the effect of biofeedback are not specifically for Ménière's disease.

Hypnotherapy is one of the mind-body therapies used in a multitude of chronic illnesses. The notion that stress precipitates attacks in Ménière's disease are well documented.³⁹,⁴⁰,⁴¹,⁴². Hypnotherapy induces a state of trance with selective suppression of various functions of the nervous system. The subjective relaxation induced by hypnotherapy may provide patients with a greater sense of control and involvement in their disease. Many web-based support groups have recommended hypnotherapy for Ménière's disease. Three non-controlled studies examining the effectiveness of hypnosis for tinnitus found improvement in patients' symptoms.⁴³,⁴⁴,⁴⁵. However, the studies are not specifically for Ménière's disease.

Many other mind body therapies are tried to decrease stress that may initiate or aggravate Ménière's disease. These include aromatherapy, massage, meditation, Yoga, psychotherapy etc. Whilst these therapies may be of benefit, unfortunately there is no scientific evidence supporting their use in Ménière's disease.

Table 1 shows a list of the various homeopathic and herbal medications used for Ménière's disease. Dosage regimes vary significantly in different reports. This is because one specific dose may elicit different responses in different people and even a different response in the same individual at different times. Cost also varies significantly. Company literature is rarely substantiated. Local health food store sell many different types and dosages of the same alternative care product. Many patients self-medicate these drugs as they are sold over the counter. Patients will invariably take them when they hear that such products have cured other patients with Ménière's disease.

Table 1: Drugs used in Ménière's disease