Vertigo causes a spinning sensation. For those who have vertigo, the experience can be unbearable as it would make you feel as if you are spinning or things around you are. Vertigo is not a condition but a symptom of an underlying illness. It is often caused by a problem in the inner ear. These are some of the common reasons for vertigo:

• BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo): It occurs when small calcium particles get in the canals of the inner ear. The inner ear plays a role in keeping your balance. It allows sending of signals to the brain about head and body movement by sensing how gravity affects the inner ear fluid.
• Meniere’s disease: This disorder is due to an accumulation of fluid in the inner ear, leading to a change in pressure. Its common symptoms include tinnitus, hearing loss, and vertigo.
• Labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis: This problem of the inner ear is often caused by a viral infection that results in inflammation of the nerves that help keep our balance.

Vertigo can also be brought about by other things, including the following:

• Migraines
• Medications that can harm the ear
• Tumors or other brain problems
• Strokes
• Head and neck injuries

Vertigo Signs and Symptoms

The wide range of sensations that come about during a bout of vertigo may include the following:

• Spinning
• Being off balance
• Being pulled in one direction
• Swaying
• Tilting

Other vertigo symptoms include those listed below:

• Headache
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Hearing loss
• Sweating
• Nystagmus (abnormal eye jerking movements)

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and vertigo, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

Vertigo Home Remedies

If you prefer not to take medications, some natural home remedies can help you improve your vertigo and manage the symptoms. Try some of these safe, practical ideas.

• Vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables: The Hiroshima University School of Medicine in Japan conducted research and found that patients with Meniere’s disease who took vitamin C every day improved their vertigo. Add in your diet foods that are rich in Vitamin C, including these fruits and vegetables:
  • Sweet potatoesStrawberriesTomatoesGreen peppersBroccoliDark green leafy veggiesCantaloupe
• Almonds and milk: Almonds are rich in Vitamins B and E and make an effective treatment option or vertigo. Dip four raw almonds in water all night. In the morning, crush the almonds and make a fine paste.  Mix this paste to a glass of warm milk and consume.
• Epley maneuver: If you have BPPV, this maneuver can help you. As vertigo caused by BPPV usually occurs with sudden changes in head movement, you can do the Epley maneuver to stop it. There are various ways to do it, and you can get help from a doctor if doing it on your own is too challenging.
  • While seated on the edge of your bed, bend your head 45 degrees in the direction of the affected ear. Place a pillow underneath you near where your shoulders would rest.
  • Lie down briefly, face up, with your head on the bed still at a 45-degree position. The pillow should be beneath your shoulders.
  • Wait for vertigo to stop. It should last for about 30 seconds. Then, move your head 90 degrees in the opposite direction without raising it and remain in that position for another 30 seconds.
  • Sit up slowly but stay on the bed for a few minutes.
  • Do these three times every night until you experience a full day without dizziness.
• Ginger tea: Not only does ginger combat nausea, but it also helps with vertigo. The US Library of Medicine did a study that showed ginger root was able to reduce vertigo compared to placebo. Put the ginger root in a cup of boiling water for about 5 minutes. You can also add raw honey. Drink twice a day to reduce vertigo.
• Gingko Biloba: It is one of the most widely known herbs that researchers have been using for thousands of years. Gingko Biloba can increase blood flow to the brain and reverse temporary memory loss, tinnitus, loss of taste or smell, and macular degeneration. It must be first-rate gingko, containing 24% ginkgo heterosides or ginkgolides.
• Lemon balm: Considered one of the fastest home remedies, lemon balm is effective in treating vertigo, migraines, insomnia, nervous tension, and even depression. Boil a cup of water in a pot and mix a teaspoon of dried lemon balm. Stir slowly for 10 minutes, then strain into a cup and drink a couple of times a day when having vertigo.  
• Coriander seeds, gooseberry powder, and raw honey. Coriander is an excellent supply of various chemical elements such as copper, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, and phytonutrients. Vitamin C is abundant in gooseberry, and that helps the body absorb nutrients better and nurtures the brain for stronger mental function. When consumed together with raw honey, vertigo can be alleviated. Combine a tablespoon of coriander seeds and gooseberry powder in a cup of water overnight. Strain and add honey. Drink this during a vertigo attack.

Unconventional, Effective Relief for Vertigo

The home remedies mentioned above can be best maximized when done and accompanied by another natural and effective treatment option for vertigo – upper cervical chiropractic care. This unconventional solution addresses the very root cause of vertigo.

Doctors have long seen the connection between vertigo and a misalignment in the bones of the upper cervical spine, the C1 and C2 vertebrae to be precise. If these bones have moved out of alignment, the brainstem can be put under pressure, distorting the signals sent to the brain. The brainstem can tell the brain that the body is in motion even when you are not moving, resulting in vertigo.

We here at Precision Spine Specialists, a team of vertigo chiropractors in Brentwood, TN, use a gentle technique that encourages the bones of the neck to return to place easily. We do not practice popping or cracking the back or neck to see improvements in our patients’ vertigo. Often, after one or two adjustments, most of our patients experience a reduction or remission of their vertigo.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Hall, call our Brentwood office at 615-488-7891 or just click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com