Supplements for Vertigo

Vertigo is the feeling that the world around you is spinning. One of the most common causes of vertigo is a problem with your inner ear balance mechanisms. In most cases, vertigo symptoms are mild. However, recurrent vertigo may signal the presence of Meniere's disease, a more serious condition that affects your inner ear. Before using supplements to treat your vertigo, meet with your doctor to discuss the potential risks and benefits.

Balance Disorders

Vertigo is a common symptom associated with impaired balance or balance disorders. Other common signs and symptoms associated with balance disorders include dizziness, the feeling that you are going to fall, staggering when walking, faintness or the sensation that you are floating, blurred vision, confusion, disorientation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting and changes in your heart rate and blood pressure. Symptoms, including vertigo, may be intermittent or constant.

Appropriate Supplements

Dietary supplements -- including herbal and nonherbal supplements -- have long been used in treating vertigo, but not all supplements traditionally used for this condition have been studied using methods of scientific testing. Phyllis A. Balch, a certified nutritional consultant and author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," reports that appropriate herbal supplements for this condition may include black cohosh, butcher's broom and ginkgo, while appropriate nonherbal supplements may include dimethylglycine, coenzyme Q10, vitamin B complex and vitamin C with bioflavonoids.

Featured Supplement

Coenzyme Q10, a fat-soluble substance produced naturally in your body, is a dietary supplement that may help treat your vertigo, as it helps boost blood flow to your brain. CoQ10 has been used to help treat many conditions, including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes and cancer, although more research is required to determine its efficacy in treating these conditions. Coenzyme Q10, though generally considered safe, may interfere with certain prescription medications.

Considerations

Because vertigo has several possible causes, it is always wise to report to your health care provider at your earliest possible convenience once you experience vertigo symptoms. A licensed health care practitioner can properly assess your condition and order any necessary tests. Always be judicious in your use of dietary supplements. Ask your doctor about the most effective herbs for you and your condition, what side effect are possible and what drug interactions may occur with their use.