Vertigo is characterized by a feeling of spinning or moving, & a general feeling of dizziness even without any specific movements. It happens when the body’s vestibular system, which lies inside the inner ears, misfires & sends the wrong signals to the brain indicating to it that the body is off-balance when this isn’t the case. Vertigo isn’t a condition in itself, rather a symptom of some underlying illness, or in some cases, illnesses. It can also be the result of one or several injuries, viral infections, or any other serious illnesses that occurred in the patient’s past. in this article, we share the best remedies for dizziness and balance.
The most common type of Vertigo that patients suffer from is BPPV, also called the Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. BPPV Vertigo is caused by deposits of calcium carbonate crystals mistakenly depositing in the inner ear, thus causing a disturbance in sending sensory signals to the brain. There could be multiple causes of BPPV Vertigo; Vestibular Neuritis, stroke, head, or neck injuries, & Meniere’s Disease; are all probable causes of BPPV Vertigo.
In certain cases, there are no known determining causes for BPPV Vertigo, & it just occurs naturally. BPPV Vertigo leads patients to feel dizzy or light-headed every time they move their heads. Certain cases of Vertigo occur only once, while some others keep on recurring until a definitive underlying cause is found & Vertigo treatment is accordingly given. Vertigo specialists & expert doctors can very easily determine the true dizziness cause using dizziness tests, & design an adequate dizziness treatment plan to help you get relief.
However, there are also certain Vertigo home remedies that can help you anytime you experience any dizziness symptoms & signs. In this article, we bring to you the top home remedies for a balance that can prove to be very helpful in dizziness treatment.
Read on to know more.
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Epley Maneuver
The Epley Maneuver, also known as the ‘canalith’ repositioning maneuver, is the most recommended Vertigo & dizziness treatment exercise. It is also considered the most effective of all Vertigo home remedies, & also the one that gives the most effective results. It is more often than not, the first go-to strategy for those experiencing Vertigo & dizziness signs.
You can perform the Epley Maneuver at home following a few simple steps:
- Sit upright on a flat surface & keep a pillow behind you, while keeping your legs outstretched.
- Now, turn your head 45 degrees to the right.
- While your head is still tilted, quickly recline & place your head on the pillow. Hold this position for at least 30 seconds.
- Now, slowly turn your head to the left a complete 90 degrees, without lifting your neck.
- With your whole body, turn to the left such that you are completely on your left side.
- Now, slowly return to your original position, while looking forward & sitting straight up.
- Repeat this maneuver at least three times in a row, about twice a day.
Considering that you’re sticking to a definite schedule with the movements, the Epley Maneuver should provide you relief from your Vertigo & dizziness symptoms in very little time. As a precaution, do keep in mind that performing the Epley Maneuver results in dizziness for a while, so be careful not to perform any laborious activity immediately after the exercise.
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Semont-Toupet Maneuver
Similar to the Epley Maneuver, the Semont Toupet maneuver is another home remedy for balance & Vertigo. Although somewhat less known than the Epley Maneuver, researchers claim it is just as effective, if not more, in Vertigo & dizziness treatment. The Semont-Toupet Maneuver is physically very similar to the Epley Maneuver, however, performing it requires less neck flexibility than the latter.
Follow the below-mentioned steps to perform the Semont-Toupet maneuver for dizziness treatment:
- Sit upright on a flat surface with a pillow behind you & your legs outstretched.
- Now while turning to your right, lie down, & face upward.
- Now, quickly sit up & turn to your left side, while keeping your head towards the left. At this point, you should be facing the ground.
- Now, slowly return to your original position, while looking forward & facing straight up.
- Repeat the steps 3 times in a row, twice a day for eventual relief from BPPV Vertigo symptoms.
Just like the Epley maneuver, the Semont-Toupet maneuver results in dizziness signs for a while. Hence it is advisable to refrain from performing any strenuous activities immediately after performing the maneuver.
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Brandt-Daroff exercise
This is one of the simplest Vertigo home remedies that can be done by BPPV patients at home, completely unsupervised. It is important to remember, however, that like the previously mentioned home remedies for balance & dizziness treatment, the Brandt-Daroff exercise can provoke dizziness for some time afterward. Hence, you should not indulge in any activities that require you to be alert & on your toes for some time until after the dizziness has passed.
Follow the steps mentioned below to perform the Brandt-Daroff exercise:
- Start by sitting on a flat surface, while your legs dangle like in a chair.
- As far as it’s possible for you, turn your head towards the left side, then lay your head & body down on your right side. All this while, your legs must not move. Hold this position for at least 30 seconds.
- Now, sit up & turn your head to the center position.
- Repeat the maneuver by turning your head as far as possible to the right side, while laying your head & body down on your left side.
- This exercise can be done in a set of 5 repetitions, as often as 3 times a day, & twice a week.
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Ginkgo Biloba
Researchers have studied the effects of Ginkgo Biloba on Vertigo & dizziness patients, & it is shown to be as effective as any other liquid prescription of Vertigo medicine. Ginkgo Biloba extracts can be purchased in liquid or a capsule format. You should take about 250mg of Ginkgo Biloba every day to considerably lessen & reduce your dizziness symptoms, & help in your dizziness treatment.
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Stress Management techniques
Certain conditions that can cause dizziness signs & Vertigo, including Meniere’s Disease, can be triggered by stress. Participating in stress management activities that can help reduce stress in your everyday life, is an effective dizziness treatment strategy, & can help in decreasing the episodes of Vertigo & dizziness. You can begin by practicing meditation & deep breathing exercises and then move onto specific activities like singing, dancing, knitting, painting, coloring, gardening, etc. to help reduce your daily stress levels.
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Yoga & Tai Chi
Yoga & Tai Chi are known activities that help reduce stress levels, increase balance postures, stability, & flexibility. Physical therapies for Vertigo attempt to help the Vertigo patient navigate their loss of coordination, by instructing the nerves to compensate for the disorientation by activating specific balance postures. When done through specific exercises at home, Yoga & Tai Chi helps the body mimic natural balance postures & restore the body’s balance to a certain extent. Specific simple Yoga postures, such as the Child’s Pose & the Corpse pose, help you restore your body’s natural balance when you’re feeling dizzy.
However, you should avoid poses that involve sudden head or body movements, as they can trigger dizziness symptoms & Vertigo episodes.
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Get adequate amounts of sleep
Sometimes, dizziness symptoms can also be triggered by a lack of sleep. This is especially true if you’re experiencing Vertigo & dizziness for the first time, as it can be triggered by sleep deprivation. Taking some time out of your day to sleep for a little while might help to resolve the dizziness signs & symptoms.
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Hydration
Drinking enough amounts of water every day can also help resolve the feelings of Vertigo & dizziness symptoms. Oftentimes, when the body experiences a lack of hydration, the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen to translate signals properly, thus leading to feelings of a loss of balance & dizziness. Drinking enough water & fluids might help with this problem, & also help you maintain greater focus, concentration, & steadiness in day-to-day activities.
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Vitamin D
Studies have shown that a lack of Vitamin D in the daily diet can worsen the dizziness symptoms of people already suffering from BPPV Vertigo & other dizziness causes. If your doctor determines that you’re Vertigo & dizziness symptoms are caused by a lack of Vitamin D in your diet, then you should take some steps & make changes to your diet in order to rectify it. Try including more sources of Vitamin D in your diet, like fortified milk, orange juice, canned tuna, & even egg yolks, to help give the levels of Vitamin D in your body a boost.
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Avoiding Alcohol
Alcohol makes the balance system in our body as well as the nerves carrying the signals to the brain weak, thus leading to feelings of dizziness & loss of balance. Besides weakening the balance system in the body, alcohol also changes the composition of the fluid in the inner ear, which is essential to the flow of balance signals to & from the brain. Alcohol is also a known dehydration agent, leading to feelings of dryness in the mouth & dizziness afterward. Avoiding alcohol goes a long way towards treating multiple disorders & health troubles, not the least of which is BPPV Vertigo & recurrent dizziness.
Need experienced Vertigo specialists & doctors to effectively diagnose, treat, & help you manage your BPPV Vertigo? Get in touch with the Neuro Equilibrium range of clinics today.
