Vertigo is a symptomatic disorder due to problems of the inner ear or the brain. When the inner ear gets affected due to an injury, infection or any other cause, the person experiences vertigo or unsteadiness.
Meniere’s Disease
This is caused by the excess fluid build up in the inner ear that may cause hearing loss and blocked ear feeling along with vertigo. It usually affects one ear.
BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)
In this medical condition, calcium carbonate crystals called otoconia get displaced in the semicircular canals of the inner ear causing vertigo. Older people are more prone to this disease. It is also common after injuries.
Vestibular Neuritis
This is caused by a viral infection on the inner ear which leads to vertigo.
Apply an ice pack to the upper part of the neck between the ears at the base of the skull. A soft ice pack is the best since it conforms to the contour of that area, but even a bag of frozen corn or peas wrapped in a towel will work.
The risk of applying ice to any skin area is always frostbite, so it is important not to apply ice for longer than 20 minutes at a time. The skin must return to room temperature before applying ice again, but it can be used multiple times per day. Even if there is no neck pain, applying ice to the upper neck between the ears is a vertigo home remedy because it helps to calm down the nervous system. It can be helpful to reduce both vertigo and nausea.
The second major strategy for reducing symptoms of vertigo is to keep your head as still as possible. The vestibular system is stimulated by movement, so if the vestibular system is part of the problem causing vertigo symptoms, then reducing head movement will likely quiet that system down and reduce the discomfort.
The third strategy for reducing vertigo is to keep your head upright, either sitting up or propped up on at least two pillows. The reason for this is because the most common inner ear cause of vertigo, or BPPV, is usually triggered by lying down or rolling in bed.
A fourth major strategy is to breathe through your nose into your belly. Mouth breathing into the upper chest can make vertigo symptoms feel worse and last longer, so belly breathing through the nose, deep into the belly, is ideal to reduce vertigo symptoms.
The belly button will go out when you breathe in through your nose and the belly button will return to the starting position when you breathe out through your nose. That style of breathing signals to your nervous system that you are not in danger and may help reduce the severity and duration of vertigo symptoms.
A home remedy for reducing nausea related to vertigo is to ingest ginger, but it is only good for people who are not allergic to ginger. Ginger can be ingested in food, as a tea, or in a candy. All those methods of consuming ginger can help reduce nausea.
Another home remedy that can be used to reduce nausea is to use peppermint, but again this is only good for people who are not allergic to peppermint. Peppermint can be made into a tea or eaten as a candy. Some people like to diffuse peppermint essential oils into the air or dab the oil on their temples but essential oils must be used with caution for those who are unsure about their chemical sensitivity.
Another strategy that might give you some relief from vertigo symptoms is to stare at a vertical line when you are moving around. This gives you an external reference for “upright” and may help your brain re-orient itself.
While you are sitting still, staring at a vertical line can help relieve vertigo symptoms, but some people with acute inner ear infections may need to close their eyes in order to get relief. When people with vertigo are sitting still, I usually ask people if they feel better while staring at a vertical line or closing their eyes and advise them to do whichever provides the best relief.
Vertigo can cause imbalance and lightheadedness or a spinning sensation of the head. It can last for seconds to hours to days depending on the underlying cause. If you have vertigo, you may feel dizzy any time of the day; getting up from bed, walking, bending down etc. Vertigo by itself is not life-threatening but it can affect your daily life adversely. The person is at an increased risk of fall during a vertigo episode.
Vertigo or dizziness need to be evaluated to find out the cause to decide what treatment would be effective. Different diseases will be treated in different way. Before trying any home remedy, it is advised that you consult our specialist doctors, who, after doing the diagnostic tests, can suggest suitable exercises and treatments for more effective and long-lasting solution to control your vertigo.
