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There are three types of vertigo (dizziness) caused by epidemic febrile diseases. The first is vertigo due to wind-heat, which is the primary manifestation of the epidemic disease. The pulse at the cunkou (radial artery) is mostly floating accompanied by fever; the treatment primarily uses Jingjie (Schizonepetae Spica), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), and Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma), with Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) as an adjuvant; if irritability and thirst are present, Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) is added. The second is vertigo due to phlegm-fluid retention, which is a concurrent syndrome of the epidemic disease. The pulse is deep, wiry, and slippery, accompanied by vomiting, fullness in the chest and hypochondrium, and palpitations; the treatment primarily uses Qianhu (Peucedani Radix), with Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), Fuling (Poria), Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Danningxing (Arisaematis Cum Bile), Laifuzi (Raphini Semen), and Suzi (Perillae Fructus) as adjuvants. However, one must determine whether the general trend of the epidemic disease is exterior or interior, and add these few herbs to the indicated base formula. The third is vertigo due to deficiency, which is a transformed syndrome of the epidemic disease, often seen after sweating, purging, or clearing heat and resolving toxicity, or in patients with a constitutionally weak state. If it is upper deficiency, the cunkou pulse is weaker than the guan and chi pulses, with profuse sweating, shortness of breath insufficient for respiration, and palpitations; Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) and Huangqi (Astragali Radix) are used as primary agents. If it is middle deficiency, the guan pulse is weaker than the cun and chi pulses, often resulting from excessive vomiting and diarrhea, with loss of appetite; Fuling (Poria) and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) are used as primary agents. If it is lower deficiency, the chi pulse is weaker than the cun and guan pulses, with flaccidity and coldness of the waist and knees, and clear, slippery urination and defecation; Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) is used as the primary agent. All three types of deficiency can be treated with the addition of Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma); or if deficiency signs are already present but still complicated by epidemic dry-heat, it is acceptable to concurrently use heat-clearing agents; or if the pulse qi becomes slightly solid after tonification, heat-clearing and resolving methods may then be applied.

Generally, vertigo in epidemic febrile diseases belongs mostly to heat patterns, and rarely to deficiency patterns; treatment requires careful consideration. If the vertigo is due to yang collapse from cold damage, one should follow the methods of Zhang Zhongjing.

Head distension (distending pain in the head) in epidemic febrile diseases is caused by stomach heat steaming upward; purgation will cure it. If accompanied by exterior syndromes, Fengtang Tongsheng San (Wind-Protecting Universal Benefit Powder), Da Chaihu Tang (Major Bupleurum Decoction), or Wu Shi San Xiao Yin (Wu's Three Eliminations Drink) are selected; if there are no exterior syndromes, one of the Three Chengqi Decoctions is chosen. Post-illness distension due to deficiency should be referred to the treatment of vertigo.

Heaviness of the head in epidemic febrile diseases is caused by damp-heat obstructing upward; Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma) or diuretic herbs should be added to cooling exterior-resolving formulas. Post-illness heaviness due to deficiency should also be referred to the treatment of vertigo. In cases where there is no exterior or interior disease, but the pathology is located in the head itself, the eyes will necessarily be yellow; one should follow Zhang Zhongjing's method and use Guiti San (Melon Seed Powder) insufflated into the nose; recovery occurs when yellow fluid is discharged.

Distension and pain of the eyeballs in epidemic febrile diseases is a disease of the Yangming channel. If accompanied by exterior syndromes, Gegen Congbai Tang (Kudzu and Scallion Decoction) with Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) is used. If there is chest fullness and a yellow tongue coating, it indicates retained food stagnation. Because food stagnation obstructs the Yangming channel, the pulse qi fails to descend and instead rebels upward, causing distension and pain of the eyeballs. Pingwei San (Maintain the Stomach Powder) with Shanzha (Crataegi Fructus), Maiya (Hordei Fructus Germinatus), and Zhiqiao (Aurantii Fructus) should be used; resolution of stagnation leads to cure. For those whose eyeball distension and pain persist despite repeated heat-clearing and resolving treatments, the liver system should be examined, and treatment should employ methods to nourish yin, enrich blood, and harmonize the liver. If this still fails, kidney yin should then be nourished further, which is the treatment based on the principle that Liver and Kidney share the same source (Yi-Gui Tong Yuan).