It’s the name of a classic Hollywood film, and we hear people use it all the time to describe feelings of dizziness and unsteadiness – but what exactly is it? In reality, vertigo is a symptom of a problem in the vestibular system (which is made up of the inner ear, vestibular nerve, brainstem, and cerebellum). Vertigo sufferers experience a sensation of dizziness, spinning or whirling without any actual movement. Vertigo is also usually accompanied by feelings of lightheadedness and faintness. Vertigo can be a debilitating condition for those who suffer from it. Luckily, however, there are several natural and medical treatments to help alleviate vertigo so that it doesn’t always have to interfere with a sufferer’s normal life. Check out the list below to find out more.
1. Ginger
One of the most common and longstanding natural treatments for vertigo is ginger. Ginger has long been considered a treatment for motion sickness, and when consumed while suffering from vertigo, it can help alleviate the feeling of nausea that usually accompanies the dizziness. There are many forms of ginger to consume – a fresh ginger tea, ginger ale, powdered ginger or ginger capsules. You can use ginger both for treatment while suffering and prevention purposes.
2. Coriander Seeds
Another traditional home remedy for vertigo is coriander seeds. Soak a tablespoon of coriander seeds in water overnight. In the morning, remove the seeds from the water and drink it. The coriander is said to both alleviate nausea and dizziness and increase a feeling of steadiness on your feet. It’s also important to stay hydrated with regular water when you’re experiencing vertigo, so be sure to drink plenty of that, too.
3. Head Exercises
Recent studies show that people who experience “top-shelf vertigo” – or, dizziness caused by changes in head position – can do their own head exercises at home to alleviate their vertigo. The exercise is simple – sit straight up on a bed and put a pillow down behind you in the place that your shoulders will hit when you lie down. Then, turn your head 45 degrees to the left if you suffer from right ear vertigo and 45 degrees to the right if you suffer from left ear vertigo. With your head turned, lie back quickly on the bed so that your shoulders hit the pillow and your turned head rests on the bed. Rest for 30 seconds. Then, turn your head 90 degrees to the opposite direction while still resting on the bed. Hold for 30 seconds. After 30 seconds, keep your head in place and turn your body 90 degrees so that it is aligned under your right ear. Then sit up. Studies show that repeating these exercises three times a day should provide a huge amount of relief from the dizziness and unsteadiness of vertigo.
4. Stare at a Fixed Point
At the onset of a vertigo attack, it can be tremendously helpful to stare at a fixed, stationary point nearby. When it feels like you are moving, looking at something very still can send a signal to your brain that you are not, helping calm the feelings of spinning or dizziness that accompanies vertigo.
5. Divertigo
Sometimes, for frequent vertigo sufferers, natural home remedies are not enough to alleviate the dizziness and discomfort of the condition — or, they’re impossible to get to when you’re not near your kitchen or in the middle of doing something else. One of the best products on the market specifically designed to help vertigo is DiVertigo – a liquid vertigo remedy you can use after a vertigo attack starts. If you start feeling dizzy, you can put a few drops of DiVertigo on the head behind your ears to calm the symptoms, and you will experience relief in no-time. DiVertigo comes in a small vial and is convenient to carry around with you in case vertigo sets in when you’re out of the house or involved in another activity.
