Vertigo
Related Terms :
Vertigo is the feeling of spinning while being still. It can make you feel off balance or sick to your stomach. Vertigo has many causes. It can be from an ear infection, changes inside your ear, or injury to the head. For some people, the cause may not be known. How it is treated depends on what is causing your problems.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one type. It is caused by a shift of small crystals in your ear. Specific movements of the head can help to move the crystals back in to place.
Natural Therapies
Possibly Effective
- Ginkgo biloba supplement—thought to improve blood flowA1-A2
Unlikely to Be Effective
- Acupressure —pressure on specific points in the body. Does not help vertigo, but may help with related symptoms.B1
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Herbs and Supplements to Be Used With Caution
Talk to your doctor about all herbs or supplements you are taking. Some may interact with your treatment plan or health conditions. Do not take gingko biloba without your doctor’s supervision. It is associated with internal bleeding after surgery, and interactions with blood thinners and type 2 diabetes medications.
References►
Ginkgo Biloba
A1. Cesarani A, Meloni F, Alpini D, Barozzi S, Verderio L, Boscani PF. Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) in the treatment of equilibrium disorders. Adv Ther. 1998;15(5):291-304.
A2. Sokolova L, Hoerr R, Mishchenko T. Treatment of vertigo: a randomized, double-blind trial comparing efficacy and safety of ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 and betahistine. Int J Otolaryngol. 2014;2014:682439.
Acupressure
B1. Alessandrini M, Napolitano B, Micarelli A, de Padova A, Bruno E. P6 acupressure effectiveness on acute vertiginous patients: a double blind randomized study. J Altern Complement Med. 2012;18(12):1121-1126.
Last reviewed February 2019 by EBSCO NAT Review Board Richard Glickman-Simon, MD Last Updated: 2/22/2019