Are you a person who suffers from dizziness? Do you ever feel like your world is spinning right out of control? Are there days when the mere act of standing up or sitting down feels nearly impossible to accomplish? If you're nodding your head, take heart and don't feel disheartened. You are not alone in this endeavor. Vertigo affects about forty percent (40%) of people in the United States at least once in their life. You can't catch it from another person—but if you do have it, you don't need to panic because there are various ways to address and resolve it.

We create a quick guide to help you manage positional vertigo episodes, understand their symptoms and identify the best natural remedies for vertigo you can use.

Positional Vertigo, a.k.a. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

BPPV is the leading trigger of vertigo episodes. It primarily stems from malfunctioning vestibular apparatus (organs in the inner ear in charge of balance and proprioception). Patients diagnosed with this condition have displaced calcium crystals in the inner ears. These fragmented particles disrupt the vestibular system’s normal function, causing the brain to detect false or amplified head movement signals. 

Studies explain that BPPV affects a broad spectrum of individuals, and it mainly develops due to the following: 

• Head trauma
• Neck bone misalignments
• Osteoporosis
• Diabetes
• Migraine
• Aging

Current Natural Remedies for Vertigo 

To live with positional vertigo or any kind of this dizzying symptom can be a nightmare. It often leads to feelings of anxiety and depression – which only make your symptoms worse. And sometimes, these feelings can prevent us from finding the best treatment for our condition. 

But don't worry; we will help you pin down which of all the available natural remedies for vertigo is most fitting and appropriate for you. We have listed every possible remedy today, from lifestyle changes to specific procedures and techniques that may help alleviate some or all of your symptoms! 

#1. Epley Maneuver

The Epley maneuver is a simple treatment to stop the dizziness caused by BPPV. It can relieve positional vertigo in many cases and works about 80 percent of the time. You can perform the Epley maneuver with a physical therapist. Here are the essential steps for this vertigo remedy:

• Sit upright on a bed or chair with your head turned 45 degrees toward the affected ear.
• Quickly turn your head 90 degrees so that you're facing down and your nose points toward the floor. 
• While keeping your head turned and facing down, lie on your back. Then, point your nose upward at a 45-degree angle for 30 seconds to a minute.
• Turn your body so that you're lying down with your head turned 90 degrees away from the affected ear and towards the opposite shoulder. Keep everything still for 30 seconds to 1 minute while looking straight ahead.
• Turn back to the starting position sitting upright, and repeat this entire process at least two more times for three sets of movements. 

#2. Meditative Exercises

Calm and gentle exercises help alleviate and eliminate vertigo pain by relaxing your mind. It reduces your anxiety and regulates the production and release of brain chemicals that affect your sense of balance. The most common forms of meditative exercise that are good for positional vertigo include meditation and yoga.

#3. Healthy Lifestyle 

Sometimes, a few lifestyle changes can help alleviate any vertigo pain, including positional vertigo. Below are a few examples of things you can try to cope better with your vertigo attacks: 

Eating a healthy diet

What you eat can significantly affect the symptoms of positional vertigo. You should avoid foods or drinks that trigger or worsen your symptoms, like alcohol and caffeine. Also, consider eating bananas, ginger, and applesauce. These foods could reduce your vertigo as they contain potassium, which reduces dizziness and help with nausea.

Staying hydrated 

When trying to circumvent dizziness or vertigo, it is vital to stay hydrated as dehydration lowers one's blood pressure and volume. When this happens, your brain will not be able to receive the right amount of blood and oxygen to function as it should. Consequently, this will lead to balance problems. 

Drinking eight glasses or two liters of water a day is your best chance of countering vertigo from dehydration. If you are not a huge fan of plain water, you can also have your drink with a bit of lemon, honey, ginger, or isotonic water. 

Managing your stress levels

As vertigo can get triggered by stress and chemical imbalances in your system, managing stressors can help the severity and frequency of your symptoms. You can do this by doing simple breathing techniques, having ample sleep at night, resting when you feel your body needs it, and giving yourself time for hobbies and activities that make you feel good, fulfilled, and happy. 

#4. Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care

More than helping with postural problems, neck chiropractors specialize in natural solutions to many ailments. In fact, a few sessions with a reputable upper cervical chiropractor can help with positional vertigo and improve overall health. Chiropractic care is the most recommended form of natural remedies for vertigo.

A reputable and certified chiropractor checks posture problems and other concerns in your body that may be causing your symptoms or leading to positional vertigo. The doctor can also provide chiropractic adjustments to improve your wellbeing. 

To learn more about chiropractic care, its benefits, and the other symptoms and conditions it can help with, feel free to browse our blog posts on vertigo and neck bone adjustments. Please check the UCA doctors' portal to find the nearest clinic.

to schedule a consultation today.