Vertigo

Symptoms

Vertigo is a symptom that can occur from a number of different medical conditions. The term vertigo refers to the sensation of spinning or whirling that occurs as a result of a disturbance in balance. Most of the time vertigo is not a grave condition, but it is very important that you have a full evaluation by your doctor to make sure there are no serious causes. This is particularly true if the vertigo persists over several weeks or months or you have a sudden onset of vertigo associated with other symptoms such as double vision or symptoms of a stroke.Vertigo often occurs as a result of a disorder in the inner ear or the vascular system. The health of these systems reflects, in many ways, the health of the rest of the body.

Home remedies

To help reduce the symptoms of vertigo, several natural remedies are available.

• Gingko biloba increases blood flow to the brain and may ease dizziness. Emily Kane, ND, LAc, recommends the following: "Start with 250 mg of gingko daily until the vertigo seems significantly diminished in severity and frequency, then reduce to a maintenance dose of 40-60 mg daily."
• Another helpful herb is Valerian : one teaspoon of the tincture once or twice daily.
• Homeopathic remedies for vertigo include: Apis, Baptisa, Belladonna, Bryonia, Cannabis, Cocculus, Conium, Digitalis, Ferrum metallicum, Gelsemium, Lycopodium, Phosphorus, Silica, Rhus-tox.
• Vertigo has been associated with both high cholesterol and high blood sugar (diabetes).
• Diet : Since atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and high blood pressure can directly or indirectly be a cause of vertigo, make dietary changes. These include getting rid of junk foods and simple sugars and white bread, and switching to eating more fish, along with fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Stop or reduce sugared drinks and switch to fresh vegetable juices. For healthy diet suggestions, see this diet web page. If you have high blood pressure, see this hypertension page for ideas on how to lower blood pressure. Dietary changes can reduce your risk for cardiovascular conditions and stroke, and they can reduce your need for heart or blood pressure medications which can be a cause of vertigo. If you have high cholesterol, see this cholesterol page. To lower blood sugar, see the page on diabetes. Diabetics have a much higher risk of developing hearing loss as are nondiabetics which indicates high blood sugar levels to be a potential factor in inner ear disease.Another possible benefit of eating a healthy diet is that it reduces overall inflammation in the body, which could possibly reduce inflammatory problems within the inner ear.
• Smoking - If you are a smoker, do your best to reduce or quit. Smoking causes hardening of the arteries.
• Exercise : Try to take a half hour walk every day if you are able to.

Medical Disclaimer

This information is not meant to be substituted for medical advice. Always consult a medical professional regarding any medical problems and before undertaking any treatment or dietary changes.