Natural Health Remedies - For Your Body and Mind

A Natural Regimen To Halt A Spinning Room

By Consumer Health Advocate, Frank Mangano

Vertigo is the sensation of unsteadiness, dizziness or a feeling of surroundings moving. The most common form of vertigo is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

Vertigo is characterized by rapid episodes of intense dizziness associated with a head change position. The condition may occur when the head is moved in a certain direction, when a person lies down from an upright position, turns over in bed or sits up when they awaken.

Although BPPV can be quite irritating, it’s usually not a serious problem.

The signs and symptoms of BPPV may include:

Dizziness
A sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving
Lightheadedness
Unsteadiness
A loss of balance
Blurred vision associated with quick head movements
Nausea
Vomiting

The signs and symptoms of BPPV can be cyclical with episodes commonly not lasting more than a minute’s time.

In most cases, vertigo is the result of a nerve problem as well as a problem with the structures of the mechanism in the inner ear, which sense movement and changes in the position of a person’s head.

The cause of BPPV can vary from person to person but in most cases, it is always brought on by a change in position of the head. BPPV is usually associated with abnormal rhythmic eye movements (nystagmus) and it’s also possible but unlikely to have BPPV in both ears (bilateral BPPV).

The vestibular labyrinth is the organ of balance within the inner ear. Inside it, are loop-shaped structures (semicircular canals) that monitor the rotation of the head using fluid and hair-like sensors which are connected to the utricle. Inside the utricle are tiny granules or crystals of calcium carbonate which are attached to sensors that help detect gravity and motion.

Sometimes, the particles within the labyrinth loosen and float in the fluid. They can also irritate the nerve endings associated with balance. This causes a person to experience a false sense of movement and causing a brief spinning sensation.

Some causes of BPPV include:

Aging
A blow to the head
A virus affecting the ear (less common)
The combination of ear trauma from surgery and prolonged positioning on your back during the procedure (less common)

The regimen outlined below includes a holistic approach to treating and preventing vertigo:

Avoid rapid or extreme movements or changes in body position.
Sodium intake should be no more than 2,000 mg per day to avoid disrupting the mechanics of the inner ear.
Alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and all fried foods should be avoided.
If dizziness occurs, sit down with your feet flat on the floor and stare at a fixed object until it subsides.

The list of supplements below may also be very beneficial:

DMG (take as directed on label) - Increases oxygen supply to the brain.
Vitamin B Complex (100 mg of each major B vitamin 3 times daily with meals) - Aids normal brain and nervous system function.
Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids (3,000 - 10,000 mg daily in divided doses) and Vitamin E (begin with 200 IU daily and increase slowly to 400 - 800 IU daily) - Improves circulation.
Choline and Inositol (take as directed on label) - Necessary for nerve function and improves brain function.
Coenzyme Q10 (100 - 200 mg daily) - Improves circulation to the brain.
Zinc (30 mg daily) _ promotes a healthy immune system & helps maintain vitamin E levels.
Butcher’s Broom and Cayenne (take as directed on label) - Improve circulation.
Dandelion Tea or Extract is good for high blood pressure.
Ginger (take as directed on label) - Relieves dizziness and nausea.
Ginkgo Biloba (take as directed on label) - Improves circulation and increases oxygen supply to the brain.