Vertigo is the feeling of spinning and dizziness that occurs without any movement. The dizzy feeling happens when the brain feels that the body is off balance, even though it is not. Not only does vertigo limit a person’s activity, but it also makes them feel sick. The chances of getting hurt from a fall increase dramatically for people with vertigo. Living with vertigo means that surroundings may move despite how still the person is.
What Causes Vertigo?
A delusion of motion can be very severe and debilitating, which leads to nausea and occasional vomiting. When you understand what’s behind your symptoms, you can decide which natural remedies for vertigo work best. Experts agree that there are a few things that can trigger vertigo spells:
- BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo): Crystals inside chambers of the inner ear, which sense motion, float around or become dislodged.
- Vestibular Neuritis: This involves inflammation of the vestibular nerve, which connects the inner ear to the brain.
- Meniere’s Disease: This disorder of the inner ear can cause vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus. Symptoms result from a build-up of fluid in the inner ear, and doctors typically prescribe medication (or at least in part) to help treat the condition.
Try The Brandt-Daroff Exercise
This is part of neck therapy for vertigo, also known as vestibular rehabilitation. Your doctor may suggest you perform Brandt-Daroff exercises at home to help relieve symptoms. These exercises don’t move the crystals that have become displaced in the inner ear; rather, they help your brain acclimate to your dizziness, which can help decrease symptoms over time. Brandt-Daroff exercise involves:
- Sit in an upright position. Lie down on your right side, pointing your nose up at above a 45-degree angle.
- Remain in this position for about 30 seconds, or until the vertigo passes.
- Return to the seated position and then repeat on the other side.
Ginger Tea
According to research published in the Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, ginger root may reduce symptoms of vertigo better than manual repositioning. You can steep raw ginger root in a cup of boiling water for five minutes. Honey will help mellow the spicy flavor of ginger. Experts recommend drinking ginger tea twice daily to help reduce dizziness, nausea, and other vertigo symptoms.Â
Hydrate
Dehydration can cause or worsen symptoms of vertigo. This is true even if the body is in a mildly dehydrated state. When you properly hydrate the body, you can help minimize dizziness and balance issues. In order to effectively hydrate, drink half your body weight in ounces of water per day. If you weigh 150 pounds and divide that by two to get 75, you should drink 75 ounces of water each day. Water is the best option because it is calorie- and caffeine-free, and it is not a diuretic.Â
Acupressure
Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, only it involves applying pressure to specific pressure points and doesn’t use needles. The goal of this therapy is to promote overall relaxation and wellness. The P6 acupressure method, for example, involves an effective pressure point located in the two tendons between the inner forearm and wrist. Stimulating these pressure points may help manage vertigo symptoms.Â
Do Balance Exercises
If vestibular neuritis causes you to experience vertigo, experts encourage you to practice balance exercises. You have to exercise the balance system in your body to make it stronger. The balance system is the interconnection between the information your brain receives from your muscles, joints, eyes, and inner ear. Vestibular therapists often recommend yoga for people with vertigo, as the postures help strengthen balance.Â
The Epley Maneuver
Potentially one of the most common ways to manage vertigo, the Epley maneuver involves a series of steps that you do before bed every night. Ideally, you do this maneuver nightly until you can resolve symptoms of vertigo for at least 24 hours. One report found that 52 out of every 100 people who use the Epley maneuver gain relief from vertigo symptoms. If symptoms of vertigo occur from the left side and left ear, follow these steps:
- Sit on the edge of a bed and turn the head 45 degrees to the left. Lie down quickly, head facing up on the bed at a 45-degree angle.
- Maintain this position for 30 seconds before turning the head 90 degrees to the right without raising your head. Remain here for 30 seconds.
- Turn the head and entire body to the right side and look downwards for 30 seconds.
- Slowly return to a seated position and remain here for a few minutes.
- If vertigo starts on the right side of the ear, do the aforementioned instructions, but on the reverse side.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
