 Can you catch vertigo*? Gosh, it seems like it cuz all of the sudden, everybody around me is complaining of dizziness. (See also: It’s Never Too Late, part 2: Balance.) I’ve been there done that — it’s a miserable experience. Some people experience it as being lightheaded or unsteady on their feet. Others experience it as the room spinning around them and still others experience it as if they themselves are spinning. Some may feel they are falling to the left, or the right. Some people have it only when they’re in bed and others have relief when they get into bed. What causes vertigo/dizziness? Lots of things: Upper respiratory viruses can set it up. Head injuries. Ear infections or inner ear problems. Motion sickness. Anxiety. Infections, in general — viral or bacterial. Migraines. These are all some “benign” causations. Vertigo can also be caused by some more serious issues: some medications, heart problems, stroke, MS — so if you are a vertigo sufferer, be sure to work with your physician to uncover the cause. Another cause of vertigo is a “silent” migraine, also known as vestibular migraine, which can affect the inner ear and the balance system but without the typical headache usually associated with migraines. Typical migraine triggers may set this off (caffeine, bright lights, changes in weather) and these episodes can last for minutes or for days. So, how can homeopathy help when your world is spinning? Murphy’s Repertory lists 974 rubrics for vertigo with some pretty specific symptoms and I’ve seen some pretty pleasing results for this nasty condition. (There are so many homeopathic remedies that can help with vertigo that it can make your head spin!) Perhaps some of the frequent vertigo I am hearing about lately is coming from the world at large feeling all topsy-turvy right now — these are some dizzying times, politically and culturally speaking. (See also: Homeopathy can make a heavy world a little lighter.) When anxiety is related to the dizziness, Cocculus may be of some assistance. A trembling/fluttering sensation in the heart (palpitations) during vertigo; mental confusion; mental exhaustion. Vertigo following emotional excitement; vertigo from loss of sleep. Travel may bring on dizziness (see also, Seasickness). Another remedy which can be useful for vertigo and anxiety is Nux vomica. I have watched Nux vomica work beautifully (and quickly!) for dizziness as a result of fatigue. (See: Too Much.) As we all know, fatigue can be brought on from not enough sleep — not enough is another way of saying “too much.” More broadly, Nux vomica can be useful for dizziness as a result of eating, drinking alcohol or smoking. If there is tendency to fall or if there is staggering or if fainting accompanies the vertigo. Dizziness from the smell of flowers or gas; Mental exertion; or, from being in a room with too many lights. Think of Nux vomica also for vertigo that is worse in bed. If turning in bed is worse, look to either Belladonna or Conium. Belladonna is a good one to think of when a headache accompanies the dizziness. Anxiety might be part of this picture. Pupils may be dilated. Walking may be tricky, or, the vertigo may actually come on while walking. Visually speaking, dizziness may be accompanied by dim or obscured vision. Nux vomica is very highly indicated if there is “vanishing” sight with vertigo. Gelsemium for vertigo with vision issues: double vision; obscured or dim vision, or, even a loss of vision during the vertigo. Head position can play a big part in vertigo. There is something called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) (which is different from “silent” migraine mentioned above). BPPV is very common and results in “the sudden sensation that you are spinning or that the inside of your head is spinning” (Mayo Clinic 2018) . If moving the head makes the dizziness worse, think of either Bryonia or Conium. (Remember, Bryonia is very commonly worse for movement no matter what is going on, they prefer to remain still.) Another way of looking at this one, is that keeping the head perfectly still makes the vertigo better. Borax is a little remedy which has a great affinity for downward movement. If the vertigo kicks in when descending stairs, Borax is the place to start. (Think of Borax also for sleeping babies who startle awake as they are being placed in the crib.) If dizziness occurs when going up the stairs, look to Calc carb. There are so many reasons why one may be experiencing vertigo/dizziness. Be sure to work with your physician to rule out anything serious. In the meantime, a well-chosen homeopathic remedy may help stop the merry-go-round while you figure out what is causing the dizziness/vertigo. Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits * I will be using vertigo and dizziness interchangeably in this article, though National Dizzy & Balance Center (Balance 2021) -- (I have no idea who they are, but it’s an interesting website) describes vertigo as “a false sense of movement — almost making it feel as if you, yourself, are spinning even when you’re standing still.” They describe dizziness as a “term often used to describe a variety of balance issues… a term that may apply to motion and balance sensations including light-headedness, faintness, wooziness, or unsteadiness. While not all dizzy spells point to vertigo, vertigo can fall under the umbrella of general dizziness for diagnostic purposes.” Balance, 2021. Dizziness vs. Vertigo - National Dizzy & Balance Center [online]. National Dizzy & Balance Center.
Mayo Clinic, 2018. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) - Symptoms and Causes [online]. Mayo Clinic.
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 Our first houseguests in over 2 years have arrived. A lovely thing, I can assure you! After enduring this enforced time of not traveling, I (happily) forgot how horrible jet lag is, but I am reminded of its nastiness as I watch our over-seas visitors make the adjustment to the new time zone. Why do we feel so exhausted after getting off a plane? All we do is sit (and eat), watch movies and maybe snooze a little bit for all those hours. We should be refreshed, like we had a day of relaxation! Yet, when finally stepping off that smelly tube with wings, it’s not at all uncommon to feel like you’ve run a marathon and got hit by a truck when you crossed the finish line! The experts say it’s precisely because we’re sitting for long periods of time in dry air and become dehydrated, etc., etc., etc. Whatever the true pathophysiologic reasons are, jet lag is a miserable feeling. Mainstream medicine has nothing to offer, really. Melatonin (Cipolla-Neto and Gaspar do Amaral 2018) apparently can help, and you can see how it would work (Herxheimer and Petrie 2002). Though short-term melatonin use is generally regarded as safe, I must admit, I wouldn’t mess with my hormones in this way (because melatonin is indeed a hormone)… especially when homeopathy has some simple answers. For more information on possible side effects of melatonin: (Bauer 2017; American Sleep Association 2022; Drugs.com 2021). So, what did I do for our tired guests? In anticipation of their arrival, I left two remedies on the dresser in their room: JetZone: Jet Lag Prevention & Helios’ Jet Candy JETZONE, remedy information as listed on the packet: Arnica: Sleepless and restless when overtired Cocculus: Constant drowsiness after loss of sleep Kali phos: Weak and tired from overexertion. Headache from fatigue. Gelsemium: Insomnia from exhaustion Nux vomica: Heartburn, anxiety and restlessness Argentum nitricum: Mental anxiety Jet Candy, by Helios: JetCandy doesn’t list their reasonings for including the remedies, but I will fill in the blanks. Arnica Bellis perennis: Another trauma remedy. Some call it a “deeper” Arnica. Cocculus Gelsemium Petroleum: I wrote about Petroleum’s role in seasickness here. In short, Petroleum is particularly helpful for nausea. There are other homeopathic combination remedies for jet lag, these are just the two I happened to have lying around. No-Jet-Lag, by Miers Labs: No-Jet-Lag doesn’t list their reasonings for including the remedies, but I will fill in the blanks. Arnica Bellis perennis Chamomilla: Oversensitivity, anger and for when falling asleep is difficult. Ipecac: Nausea, headache Lycopodium: Gas and bloating; frequent waking and unrefreshing sleep Jet Lag Relief, by Boiron Arnica: Relieves muscle pain and stiffness Cocculus: Relieves nausea associated with jet lag Nux vomica: Relieves drowsiness and digestive problems associated with travel What do all of these jet lag combination remedies have in common? Arnica montana. Arnica is a well known homeopathic remedy for injury and trauma. Let’s face it — changing time zones is absolutely an assault on your person. It affects your body, your mind and your emotions. If you are unable to get your hands on one of these combo remedies prior to your trip, bring along a tube of Arnica and half your battle will be won. Jetlagreview.com (who knew such a thing existed?!), claims to be “the #1 source for helping people find effective ways to effectively combat jet lag.” I have no idea who is behind this site, but I was very intrigued to see 1/2 of the products they review are homeopathic (the others are vitamins and/or herbs). No-Jet-Lag is jetlagreview’s #2 Silver Award Winner, for whatever that’s worth. If you find yourself headed overseas, pick up one of these combination remedies and slip it in your carry-on. They’re all slightly different, but basically the same and any one of them will certainly be better than nothing. Or, take along just a tube of Arnica and see if one of these can’t put a little spring in your exhausted tourist step! Julia Coyte, CHom Classically Practical homeopath #wellnessawaits * I have no affiliation with any of these products. I have used Jetzone and No-Jet-Lag, to good effect. Follow the directions listed on the packet. Reference list
American Sleep Association, 2022. Melatonin Side Effects [online]. American Sleep Association. Bauer, B., 2017. Pros and cons of melatonin [online]. Mayo Clinic. Cipolla-Neto, J. and Gaspar do Amaral, F., 2018. Melatonin as a Hormone: New Physiological and Clinical Insights[online]. academic.oup.com. Cleveland Clinic, n.d. Jet Lag: What is it, Symptoms, How Long Does it Last & Treatment [online]. Cleveland Clinic. Drugs.com, 2021. Melatonin Side Effects, Uses, Dosage (Kids/Adults) [online]. Drugs.com. Herxheimer, A. and Petrie, K. J., 2002. Melatonin for the prevention and treatment of jet lag. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Jet Lag Review, 2022. Top Products [online]. jetlagreport.com. |
Julia Coyte, CHomI am passionate about homeopathy and I love sharing this passion. Having a working knowledge of homeopathy shouldn't be kept a secret. If people have the ability to help themselves, their children and their friends when they have minor ailments, life just gets better for everyone. That is the purpose behind Ruminating on Remedies. Archives
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