Feeling disoriented or unbalanced is called dizziness. These feelings are commonly accompanied by nausea or vomiting. Other symptoms of dizziness, include lightheadedness or feeling faint, loss of balance, or a spinning sensation, also known as vertigo. Dizziness is a common symptom of vertigo, which is caused by a problem in the inner ear. Vertigo is often associated with a head injury or a brain tumor. But, there are other things that can cause vertigo.
Meniere’s disease is an inner ear disorder caused by a buildup of fluid in the ear, causing vertigo. Vestibular neuritis is another cause of vertigo, which is caused by an ear infection. This infection interferes with the nerves that are important for body balance sense.
While vertigo is a common cause of dizziness, there are other reasons that can cause the sensation, too. Stroke, motion sickness, a sudden change in blood pressure, low sugar levels, circulation problems are all symptoms of dizziness.
So, what is the reason behind your dizziness?
Consulting your doctor will help you find out the cause of your dizziness by studying your symptoms or conducting tests. According to Mayoclinic(1), some of the tests to determine your dizziness include Posturography, a test that determines which part of your body you rely on for balance. Head moving test and eye moving test are some other tests to analyze what is causing the dizziness.
In most cases, dizziness usually gets better without treatment. But, there are still certain medications that can help treat the condition. Your doctor will prescribe the best medication based on your symptoms and other factors. Medication and balance exercises form a major part of dizziness treatment.
There are also natural remedies for dizziness that can help cure it.
Most of the time, the cause of sudden dizziness is a decrease in your blood sugar. If that’s the case, certain foods can help improve your sugar levels and get your dizziness under control. Here are some foods that are packed with nutrients to cure dizziness.
If you eat too many fast-digesting foods, like sugar, rice, or potatoes, or blood sugar levels might drop, according to a study by Harvard Medical School(2). This decrease in body sugar levels can cause dizziness. If you’ve had many foods of this kind recently, try balancing them out with slow-to-digest, high-fiber foods like whole grains. The fiber in them will help your body absorb the nutrients and help replenish the sugar levels in your body.
[Also Read: Home Remedies for Dizziness]
Try to replace your regular sandwich bread for whole-grain bread. You can also add broccoli and carrots to your salad for a healthy dose of fiber.
Try to add as many whole grain foods to your diet.
Vitamins are an essential part of your diet, and they can even help to treat dizziness. Studies(3) show that those people who had sufficient vitamin C in their diet saw a reduction in dizziness and nausea.
If you feel dizzy or lightheaded, citrus foods, like lemons, grapefruit, oranges, etc. can relieve accompanying nausea and help rejuvenate your body.
Take a citrus food when you feel dizzy. You can also add citrus food to your daily diet.
Almonds are a rich source of vitamin B and E, which improve health and increase your energy levels. Almonds can improve the deficiency of vitamin B in your body, thus helping to cure dizziness.
Soak four to five almonds in water overnight. The next morning, grind these almonds add them to a cup of warm milk.
Drink the milk on an empty stomach every morning.
Foods that contain carbohydrates can quickly increase your sugar levels. Fruits or dried fruits provide a good snacking option when you experience constant dizziness.
Take a cup of fresh fruit or dried fruits as a mid-morning snack. A granola bar or celery sticks dipped in peanut butter are another snack option to try when you feel dizzy.
Eat healthy carbohydrate-rice food whenever you feel dizzy.
If you don’t eat for a while, your blood sugar might decrease, which causes dizziness. To treat dizziness of this kind, eat something that contains both proteins and carbohydrates. Proteins will also provide energy to your body.
Try to drink a cup of milk every night before bed to help treat recurring dizziness by getting enough protein in your system. Seeds, nuts, eggs, nuts, milk, and cheese are all good sources of protein.
If you experience frequent dizzy spells, keep a bag of nuts on hand for when you experience dizziness.
Fruit juices contain carbohydrates and sugars, both of which are an instant fix to dizziness caused by low blood sugar levels.
If you feel extreme dizziness or feel that you might faint, take one cup of fruit juice or soda.
A cup of these drinks contains around 15 grams of carbohydrates, which is one serving and can help relieve your dizziness quickly. If you still feel lightheaded, repeat after 10-15 minutes.
Honey has curative properties that help improve the blood flow to the brain.
Mix two spoons honey and one spoon apple cider vinegar and drink it to cure the symptoms of vertigo. Both apple cider vinegar and hone have the same properties to help improve blood flow to your brain. If you don’t like the taste of apple cider vinegar, add one spoon honey to a cup of milk and drink this one a day.
Drink the apple cider vinegar and honey mix once a day.
Coriander seeds contain manganese, iron, and calcium. Iron will help increase your blood flow while manganese can help digestion so that your body can better absorb the sugars and nutrients from foods.
Mix one tablespoon of coriander seeds and one glass amla powder in a cup of water overnight. Strain the mix the next morning and drink on an empty stomach. Amla contains vitamin C, which will increase your energy levels.
Take the coriander-infused water every morning.
The capsaicin in cayenne can improve the blood flow in your brain and inner ear.
Mix a spoonful of cayenne in half a spoon honey and half a spoon apple cider vinegar. You can add a pinch of salt to this mix if you wish. Drink on an empty stomach.
Drink this once a day to improve your blood circulation.
Many diets, where you don’t get enough water in your body, can cause long-term dizziness.
These herbal remedies can help to treat dizziness at home.
Ginger has been used in many ancient remedies because of its powerful healing properties. Mainly, the herb is used for treating nausea, stomach problems, and fever, due to its antibacterial and cholesterol-lowering properties. Experts recommend ginger for nausea and dizziness. Ginger helps circulation and can reduce high blood pressure. A sudden spike in blood pressure can also cause dizziness.
Try to add some grated ginger root to your daily tea or take a cup of the healthier ginger tea in place of your daily tea or coffee.
Ginger can be added to your daily diet in various forms.
[Also Read: Herbal Remedies for Vertigo]
Gingko is a native Chinese tree, and the herb Ginkgo Biloba is used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is primarily used to treat disorders like memory loss, cerebral insufficiency, dizziness, and insomnia. Ginkgo Biloba can also improve blood circulation and provide oxygen to your brain.
The herb is available in pill and powder form.
It is recommended to consult with your doctor before taking this herb since it can cause side-effects with some antibiotics.
Also known as Cimicifuga racemosa, black cohosh is used to treat nervous disorders. It’s a perennial with white flowers. This herb is helpful if your dizziness and vertigo are related to menopause. Black cohosh has a potent effect on the central nervous system, which can help treat balance disorders.
Black cohosh is available in pill and powder form.
Take a spoonful of black cohosh once a day with water.
Bramhi facilitates calmness. This ayurvedic herb is used to treat many brain disorders. It helps control stress and anxiety. It also has rejuvenating properties that relax your mind the nervous tissues. Regular use of Brahmi also helps alleviate headaches.
Bramhi is available in powder form which should be taken with a glass of water.
Check with your Ayurvedic doctor for the right dose for you.
The active constituents in butcher’s broom can help improve circulation in the brain and inner ear. The active constituents, ruscogenin, and neoruscogenin confer vasodilator effects, which makes this an appropriate remedy for dizziness, especially if its caused due to vertigo.
The herb is available in powder form which should be taken with a glass of water.
Check with your herbal practitioner for the right dose for you.
There are numerous factors that can cause dizziness, such as low blood sugar, vertigo, balance disorders, etc. There are many natural remedies for dizziness which can cure the condition if it’s not caused by a nervous disorder.
Dehydration can cause the symptoms of vertigo, and if you experience dizziness often, staying hydrated can help you cure it. Also, it can help treat balance issues. The oxygen in water improves the oxygen in your brain, thus improving focus and balance.
You can even add some lemon juice or mint leaves to your water if you don’t like the taste of plain water. Caffeine is bad for dizziness, so replace your cup of coffee with a glass of energizing lemon water with or without mint leaves.
Try to drink at least eight to ten glasses of water daily.
Exercise, especially cardio exercises, improve your blood circulation. It can help to stop dizziness and also improve your overall health. Running, brisk walking, swimming are some cardio exercises that are good for treating dizziness. Or, you could try the below exercises for improving balance and curing dizziness.
Move your head up then down. Start slowly then gradually increase the speed of the movement. Do this for two minutes. This is one set. Then, look first left then right. Again, start slowly and increase your speed. Do it for two minutes. Try doing ten sets of each daily.
Sit on the floor with your legs crossed. Stand up and sit down again. Do this ten times with your eyes open. Now, close your eyes and repeat the exercise ten times. If you feel dizzy while doing this with closed eyes, then leave your eyes open.
Try to allocate at least 30-minutes of your daily schedule for working out.
Yoga has been known to cure many balance problems and nervous disorders. Here are some yoga asanas to help treat dizziness.
Child pose: This pose calms the mind and being a restorative pose, it will help on the onset of a dizzy spell. Sit on the floor on your knees with your legs touching the ground. Now stretch your arms in front of you and bend forward till your palms touch the floor. Hold the pose for five seconds then slowly come back up.
Seated forward bend: this pose targets your core and also helps relieve stress. sit on the floor with your legs stretched in front of you. Raise your arms straight up and slowly bend forward till your hands touch your feet. Hold for five seconds then slowly come back up.
Try to practice yoga for 20-50 minutes daily.
While acupuncture needs a trained practitioner to perform it, you can do acupressure at home once you understand the basics of it. Acupressure is the science of stimulating your nerves by focusing on certain pain points in your body. These pain points vary by your particular symptoms and causes.
Primarily, acupressure facilitates calmness and overall relaxation. It helps to cure dizziness by stimulating pressure points throughout your body.
But, to treat the symptoms, it is necessary to understand what is causing your dizziness, so consult your doctor to understand your problem before starting this treatment.
Massage therapy is another recognized way to treat dizziness. Not to mention that a comforting head massage can help reduce stress and induce relaxation. It also increases the blood flow to your brain.
A lavender oil massage, for instance, will facilitate calmness and also treat dizziness. It is recommended to get your massage done from a recognized practitioner to get the most benefit out of it.
You can safely take a head massage once a week.
The Epley Manoeuvre is designed to tilt your head at an angle to relieve symptoms of dizziness.
In this practice, the trained practitioner will tilt your head first at 45 degrees, then 30 degrees, and lastly 90 degrees to reduce dizziness.
Your practitioner will advise you when to practice the Epley Manoeuvre to treat dizziness.
Balance disorders are the most common type of medical problem in people over 70.
Essentials oils are known to have a calming and relaxing effect on your nerves, and when faced with dizziness, that’s precisely what you need. Here are some essential oils to cure dizziness.
Peppermint oil has two active compounds, methanol and methane. These compounds contain anti-inflammatory and rejuvenating properties that relieve nervous problems and also energize your mind.
You can topically apply this oil on your neck and temples. Just take 2-3 drops of this oil on your palms and massage it onto your skin Or, you could add it to your room diffuser to inhale it.
Being a potent oil, three drops of peppermint oil should be enough.
[Also Read: Essential Oils for Treat Vertigo]
This oil has been used in many ancient remedies to treat cognitive problems. It also helps relieve stress and anxiety.
Add three drops of rosemary oil to a pot of steaming water. Cover your head with a towel then inhale the steam. This will alleviate your dizziness and also reduce headaches. Rosemary oil can also be used to treat chronic headaches.
Take a rosemary oil steam three to four times a week.
This is essentially a mint oil, like peppermint. Along with reducing stress, this oil also improves appetite and reduces nausea.
Take a fresh leaf from its plant and inhale the smell to feel an instant burst of energy. Add a few drops of this oil to your bath water once or twice a week to treat dizziness.
Use lemon balm oil daily to get rid of dizziness.
[Also Read: Essential Oils for Dizziness]
Cypress oil stimulates your brain and improves blood flow. When your brain gets enough blood and oxygen, it is more alert, thus minimizing the risk of cognitive disorders and dizziness.
You can add this oil to a room diffuser or steaming pot of water and inhale it. Cypress oil is very potent, so applying it directly on the skin is not recommended. If you wish to apply it topically, dilute it with coconut oil before massaging onto the skin.
Inhale the oil daily or apply it topically two to three times a week.
Lavender is the most popular and widely-used oil in aromatherapy. It’s calming properties also make it a good treatment for dizziness. It also has a pleasant scent that is used in cosmetics and diffusers.
Apply two to three drops of lavender oil onto your pillow every night, since this oil is an excellent sleep aid. This is especially recommended if you’re suffering from chronic nervous disorders or vertigo-induced dizziness.
Inhale lavender oil whenever you feel dizzy.
Ginger is a powerful herb for treating dizziness and nausea, and ginger oil have just as many benefits as the herb. According to a study(4), ginger oil can calm your nerves and settle the stomach, both of which prevent dizziness.
Ginger oil can irritate the skin if applied directly, so dilute it first if applying topically.
Apply ginger oil two to three times a week.
If you’re suffering from any nerve disorders like convulsions, nervousness or anxiety, clary sage oil can help treat it. It also improves sleep and helps relax the mind.
This oil works best when inhaled, so use it in a steam treatment or add it to your room diffuser. You could also apply it on your neck and chest after diluting it.
Inhale clary sage oil daily before bed.
Basil can effectively treat nausea and motion sickness. It also helps treat breathing disorders like asthma or sinus.
Again, inhaling basil oil is the best treatment for nervous tension and mental fatigue. Add a few drops of the oil to your room diffuser or use it in a steam treatment.
Take basil steam daily or whenever you feel dizzy.
The refreshing properties of tangerine oil help treat dizziness and headaches. Tangerine oil boosts the red blood cell’s ability to retain oxygen, which helps in improving spasms and treating breathing problems.
Take a few drops of this oil on your palm and hold your hands under your nose for a few seconds.
You can even apply a few drops of this oil on your pillow every night.
The anti-inflammation properties of this oil can help reduce dizziness caused by an inner ear infection. It also helps you relax and facilitates better sleep.
Massage a few drops of this oil on your neck, chest, and temples. The aromatic effects of this oil are enough to treat dizziness. It also helps balance hormone levels in women.
Use the oil every night before bed.
Dizziness can be caused due to a nutrient deficiency and taking supplements can help to treat dizziness.
A vitamin D deficiency is the most common deficiency. This is because very few foods provide this vitamin, leading to a deficiency. A study(5) has shown that vitamin D deficiency can cause vertigo.
If you do have a vitamin D deficiency, getting started on its supplements can help you treat dizziness.
The recommended vitamin D intake is 10-20 mg daily. It’s best to consult your doctor on how much supplements you will need for your particular case.
This is an essential vitamin for common neurological functions, and its deficiency can cause dizziness and other neurological disorders. Yoghurt, cheese, eggs, fish, chicken, leafy greens are some foods that are rich in vitamin B12.
Taking B12 supplements can quickly increase the level of B12 in your body.
If you want quicker results, or if your deficiency is too high, B12 injections are a good option.
Your doctor can advise you on the best treatment for your case and the required dose of supplements every day.
These supplements may be helpful in cases of vertigo-induced dizziness. Individuals who consumed vitamin B6 daily had a lesser risk of developing nervous disorders than those who consumed little to no B6 on a daily basis, according to research.
Take B6 pills daily with your meal.
Generally, 40 mg of B6 is recommended, but depending on how much deficiency you have, your dose could be higher or lower.
Iron deficiency is another common deficiency among most adults. If your body doesn’t get enough iron, it disrupts your blood circulation.
Even if you don’t have an iron deficiency, eating foods rich in iron can facilitate better blood flow. Beans, lentils, spinach, whole grains are some foods that contain iron.
An average daily intake of iron for an adult is 13-14 mg.
If your dizziness is accompanied by headaches or migraines, it could be because of a magnesium deficiency. Studies have also found that the chances of dizziness in cardiac cases reduces by over 70% when your body gets adequate levels of magnesium. It also facilitates better blood flow.
Apart from supplement pills, legumes, avocados, nuts, broccoli are rich sources of magnesium.
The daily magnesium intake is 300-44 mg, but your doctor will be able to best advise you on how much supplements you need.
Most of the time, dizziness goes away spontaneously. But, experiencing dizziness even for a short-term disrupts your life. To prevent that from happening, here are some healthy lifestyle choices to make. These do’s and don’ts to help you when you are dizzy and to avoid future bouts of dizziness.
Your body needs an adequate level of fluids to function properly. Try to drink enough water, be it plain water or in the form of another fluid, throughout. The recommended fluid intake is 12 cups every day, most of which should come from water.
If you feel dizzy when you wake up in the morning, stay lying till it passes. Then, move up to a sitting position first and then slowly get up and out of bed. Avoid quick movements, since your brain can still be disoriented in the mornings.
If you feel dizzy when you are standing up, lie down, if possible, or just sit down and put your head down. This will facilitate blood flow to your brain. Stay seated for a few minutes to alleviate the dizziness before getting up.
A good sleep of 7-8 hours every night is recommended for improving health. Sleeping better also calms the mind and reduces stress and anxiety, which could be the cause of your dizziness. Try using essential oil for inducing a deeper and calmer sleep.
Low glucose levels can cause dizziness, so make sure you include natural sugars in your diet. Try taking a cup of fresh fruit or fruit juice during snack time.
Include more vitamins and iron in your diet. Iron will improve your blood flow while the antioxidants in vitamins will clear out the toxins in your body. Citrus foods, leafy greens, fish, etc. are good sources of iron and vitamins.
A shower will help wake you up faster and also improve circulation in your brain.
Reducing stress can help to reduce dizziness since stress hormones can trigger headaches and reduce your blood sugar.
Working out regularly can improve your blood flow, which can help to reduce dizziness.
Alcohol and tobacco have been proven to increase dizziness and symptoms. It interferes with your sleep and also prevents oxygen from reaching the brain.
A very hot shower or bath can interfere with your blood circulation. Opt for a warm water shower instead. Or a cold shower, which stimulates your nerves and improves blood circulation.
Popping too many medications and over-the-counter pills can be a cause of medications. Try to treat your health issues with more natural treatments and fewer medications. Natural treatments also don’t cause any side-effects.
Caffeine interferes with your ability to sleep. In fact, it is a proactive stimulant which increases your alertness. This interferes with a healthy, deep sleep at night, so avoid caffeinated drinks before going to bed. Also, caffeine disrupts your blood circulation.
Panicking every time something goes wrong or taking too much stress at work can make your dizziness worse. It can even cause your dizziness. This can also lower your sugar levels or spike your blood pressure. Try to relax by taking the help of calming oils to induce calmness.
Something as simple as a boat ride can cause dizziness if your brain doesn’t get enough oxygen.
Natural remedies are a great way to treat dizziness naturally, but these are just short-term solutions. If you have constant dizziness that lasts for a while, see a doctor make sure you don’t have any underlying condition.
According to a study by Rev Neurol(6), over 66% of cases of dizziness are a sign of vertigo. A medical diagnosis will help you target the cause of dizziness and treat it accordingly.
Among people who are in their 20s, dizziness is often linked to anxiety as well.
Experiencing dizziness is common, and lying down when you experience sudden dizziness can help alleviate it. If you have too many dizzy spells, consult your doctor for the best medication to get rid of dizziness.
According to Mayoclinic, if your dizziness is accompanied by nausea, an over-the-counter drug like antihistamine will help reduce it. It is always better to consult a doctor before taking any medication.
Lightheadedness, unsteadiness or loss of balance, wooziness, or feeling that your surroundings are moving are all symptoms of dizziness. This sensation is often accompanied by nausea or headache.
The most common type of dizziness is when your brain doesn’t get enough oxygen, which affects your circulation. A sharp drop in blood pressure, any medication you are taking, vertigo, or inflammation could be some other causes of dizziness.
Physical therapy medication and time can treat vertigo and any symptoms associated with it. Vertigo causes resolve spontaneously, so continuous physical therapy and medication is a must.