Dizziness

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Dizziness

When you were little, being dizzy was fun. Remember how you used to roll down that big hill at the playground, end over end over end, then stand up and watch the world spin around?

Unfortunately, for an estimated one in five people, bouts of dizziness are more than just child’s play. Lots of things can cause dizziness, including a bump on the head, the jarring motion of running, an infection, low blood pressure or conditions such as Ménière’s disease. If you have recurring dizziness, it’s best to see a doctor. But the natural remedies in this chapter—used in conjunction with medical care and with the approval of your doctor—may help relieve dizziness, according to some health professionals.

See Your Medical Doctor When... Your dizziness comes without warning, along with numbness, chest pain, rapid heartbeat or blurred vision. Your dizziness accompanies a change in your ability to speak. You have ringing in your ears or deafness after an attack of dizziness.

Acupressure

You can stop the spinning by pressing both St 36 points, situated four finger-widths below each kneecap, in the indentation at the front of the shinbone, says Glenn S. Rothfeld, M.D., clinical instructor at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston and a family practitioner in Arlington, Massachusetts. These points are on the stomach meridian, and according to Dr. Rothfeld, pressing them “deepens your connection to nourishment, to the earth. When you’re dizzy, you need this kind of centering.” (For help in locating these points, refer to the illustration on page 564.)

Here’s how Dr. Rothfeld says to press these points: Sitting down with your knees bent, press the point on each shinbone with the thumb or forefinger of the same or the opposite hand. Begin gently and gradually increase the pressure. Hold for about two minutes and gradually release. If you wish, you may hold the points longer or repeat the treatment if you begin to feel dizzy again.

Flower Remedy/Essence Therapy

For occasional mild dizziness that’s related to balance problems, the flower remedy Scleranthus may be helpful, according to Leslie J. Kaslof, an herbalist and author of The Traditional Flower Remedies of Dr. Edward Bach.

For best results, combine Scleranthus and the emergency stress relief formula (sold under brand names such as Calming Essence, Rescue Remedy and Five-Flower Formula) together in one bottle and take them as one remedy, says Kaslof. He suggests taking two to four drops under the tongue, holding them in your mouth for a minute before swallowing. He also says you can apply this combination directly to the temples and the inside of the belly button.

Both Scleranthus and the emergency stress relief formula are available in some health food stores and through mail order (refer to the resource list on page 635). For more information on preparing and administering flower remedies, see page 37.

Herbal Therapy

A reduced flow of blood to the brain is a common cause of dizziness, and scientific research shows that the herb ginkgo improves blood flow to the brain, according to Varro E. Tyler, Ph.D., professor of pharmacognosy at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. He suggests taking ginkgo in supplemental form, following the dosage recommendations on the product label. These supplements are available in most health food stores.

Imagery

In his book Healing Visualizations, Gerald Epstein, M.D., a New York City psychiatrist, suggests that you close your eyes, take three very slow, deep breaths and imagine yourself as a tightrope walker standing on a stationary platform high in the air. On this platform, you have a balancing pole, bicycle or parasol. Before crossing the wire, envision yourself reaching the other side. Then start your crossing, knowing that as you do it successfully, your dizziness will disappear. When you reach the other side of the wire, put down your balancing pole, bicycle or parasol, then climb down the ladder to the ground. When you reach the ground, your dizziness should be just a memory.

Dr. Epstein says to do this imagery as needed every ten minutes, one to two minutes each time, until your dizziness vanishes.

Reflexology

Work the ear, cervical spine and neck reflexes on both feet, says St. Petersburg, Florida, reflexologist Dwight Byers, author of Better Health with Foot Reflexology. To help you locate these points, consult the foot reflex chart on page 592. For instructions on how to work the points, see “Your Reflexology Session” on page 110.