Natural Remedies for Vertigo

Vertigo is the presentation of odd sensations such as spinning, dizziness, whirling, and moving while you are standing still. It is not a disease but a condition that can affect your balance on a minor nagging level to an all out assault that renders you incapable of getting out of bed. Disorientation, faintness, nausea, sweating, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), weak limbs, involuntary eye movements, and extreme motion sensation are all symptoms that may occur. Natural remedies for vertigo may be a good starting point before using conventional medicine which offers a long list of a vertigo drug therapies. Side effects can be wide ranging with some even causing more of the same symptoms they are trying to treat. Always check with your doctor before attempting any natural remedies for vertigo.

Possible Causes

There are many possible causes of vertigo which can sometimes determine whether it will be  long lasting or a short lived challenge. Some of these causes include:

• Head and/or neck trauma from injury or manipulation (i.e. massage, chiropractor, acupuncture)
• Ear infection
• Meniere’s Disease (condition of the inner ear)
• Menopause
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Altitude sickness
• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) condition due to inner ear damage
• Acoustic neuroma which is a tumor that present as vertigo
• Toxic diet (i.e. MSG, Aspartame, nitrates in meats and concentrated sweets)

What You Can Do

If you suffer from any of the above conditions, diseases or symptoms and have been treated by a medical doctor who also clears you to try natural remedies for vertigo, then here are some approaches you may want to attempt.

Home Exercise – Sometimes all it takes is simple home exercises to help vertigo symptoms.

WebMD recommends:

1. Turn your head 45 degrees to the left, if the vertigo is in the left ear, or to the right if it is in the right ear.
2. Lie back quickly with shoulders on the pillow, neck extended, and head resting on the bed. In this position, the affected ear is underneath. Wait for 30 seconds.
3. Turn your head 90 degrees to the right (without raising it), and wait again for 30 seconds.
4. With your head in its current alignment turn your whole body another 90 degrees to the right, and wait for another 30 seconds.
5. Sit up on the right side.

Homeopathy – The practice of homeopathy is the practice of “like-cures-like”. It is generally not recognized by the medical community as it deals with the “vibration” of plant, mineral or animal sources and that, of course, cannot be measured in terms of science. Yet, millions swear by its effectiveness and safety. For vertigo there are ten remedies you can attempt:

• Cocculus indicus
• Lobelia inflata
• Gelsemium
• Theridion
• Natrum salicylicum.
• Argentum nitricum
• Causticum
• Phosphorous
• Rhus toxicodendron
• Iodine

If possible, consult with a professional homeopath for monitored, on-point results using a proper dosage protocol. Otherwise you can attempt each remedy (30c) spaced out over time until one possible works. Never touch homeopathic remedies with your fingers (there are specific distribution containers they come in) and do not take within twenty minutes of drinking coffee, brushing your teeth, putting on perfume or eating food.

Botanical Support

Herbal remedies may be all you need to get back in the groove. There are several that have been associated with treating vertigo symptoms. Again, always check with your doctor before taking any herbal remedies.

Botanical remedies for vertigo include:

Butcher’s Broom – This herb with the funny name has been touted by Phyllis A. Balch, author of “Prescription for Nutritional Healing”, stating that it “confers vasodilator effects and improves circulation to the brain and inner ear.”

Ginger Root – 2 to 4 grams of fresh ginger or 30-90 drops of the liquid tincture daily may bring healing blood flow to the inner ear and brain for vertigo relief.

Gingko Biloba – This herb extends blood flow to the body’s extremities including the brain and inner ear. Dosage can be by capsule (600 mg) daily.

Cayenne – Also according to Balch, cayenne is a thermogenic herb which means that it creates blood flow through its heating effects. For vertigo this may be the perfect remedy with a recommended 30 to 120 mg capsules three times per day.

Through the guidance of your doctor and the expertise of a naturopathic practitioner, these natural remedies for vertigo just may be useful in combating this difficult health challenge.

 

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