Vertigo
Vertigo
is a condition that causes feelings of being off-balance
due to a sensation that the individual is moving around
in space or the room and objects in it are moving around
the individual.
Symptoms
Attacks
of vertigo usually come on suddenly and are accompanied
by difficulty in walking steadily and feeling dizzy
or faint. Other symptoms can include nausea, a generally
ill sensation, and pallor (losing color, turning white).
Types
There
are two types of vertigo - Subjective Vertigo,
which is characterized by a feeling that the person
is moving around in space
- Objective Vertigo,
in which rooms and objects appear to be swirling around
the person.
Causes
Vertigo is caused by disturbances within the equilibratory
system (ears, inner ear canals, the cranial nerves servicing
the ears, the associated brain parts, and the eyes)
due to mild disturbances on the cranial nerves, middle
ear infections, shingles, inflammation of the ear canals,
obstruction in an ear tube, a tumor, or a nerve inflammation.
All of these factors must be screened for and addressed
before lasting relief from vertigo symptoms can be achieved.
Note Vertigo can be an indication of
a variety of other health problems. Prolonged or severe
attacks of vertigo require immediate medical attention.
Natural
Cures
Diet
Avoid caffeine, chocolates, salt, fried foods,
nicotine, drugs and alcohol, and aspartame (NutraSweet).
Flower
Essences
Rescue Remedy is useful for calming accompanying
stress. Scleranthus can also be helpful.
Herbs
Ginkgo biloba and ginger can be helpful. Take
one 40 mg tablet of ginkgo or two capsules of ginger
three times a day.
Homeopathy
Useful homeopathic remedies include Gelsemium,
Phosphorus, Cocculus, Aconite, Nat. mur., Sulfur, Silicea,
Lycopodium, and Belladonna.
Lifestyle
Stay still during vertigo attacks. Avoid rapid
body movements, especially of the head, and reduce stress
and get adequate sleep.
Nutritional
Supplementation
Recommened nutrients include Vitamin B complex, vitamin
B3 (niacin), vitamin B6, vitamin C plus bioflavonoids
and rutin, vitamin E, calcium, choline, and adrenal
glandulars.
Caution
If your symptoms persist despite the above measures,
seek the help of a qualified health professional.
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