Dizziness

The terms "dizziness" and "vertigo" are often used interchangeably, but they are not synonymous. Dizziness simply refers to a feeling of unsteadiness or faintness, whereas vertigo usually involves a more serious disorientation, as if the world were spinning around you. (If you've ever been in a high place and felt as if you were falling, you've experienced vertigo.) Unfortunately, for some people, dizziness can persist and become disabling.

Ordinary motion sickness-the queasy, light-headed feeling that comes while traveling-is by far the most common cause of dizziness. The problem arises when the eyes, which try to focus on constantly moving scenery, and the inner ear, which helps orient the body to movement, send conflicting signals to the brain. The result is a confusing, whirling sensation, often accompanied by nausea.

A number of medical conditions-including decreased blood flow to the brain or inner ear, ear infections, a head injury, high or low blood pressure, arrhythmias, nerve disorders, and allergies-can also bring on dizziness or vertigo. And certain medications, such as diuretics, tranquilizers, antidepressants, and antibiotics, can cause dizziness as well.

Supplements and herbs

A centuries-old remedy for delicate stomachs, ginger can act relatively quickly-even within minutes-to combat the dizziness and nausea associated with motion sickness or mild vertigo. In some tests, the herb has proved more effective-and longer lasting-than over-the-counter remedies. Moreover, ginger produces few of the side effects of conventional medications, such as drowsiness or blurred vision.

More persistent vertigo or dizziness requires medical attention to rule out serious underlying causes. Your doctor may prescribe drugs, though certain supplements, in addition to ginger, may also be beneficial. A French study showed that the herb ginkgo biloba, which boosts blood flow to the brain, helped almost half of the patients with chronic vertigo. It may, however, take eight to twelve weeks for ginkgo's effects to be noticed. In addition, vitamin B6, essential to normal brain and nervous system function, may be useful in some cases of chronic dizziness.

What else you can do

For motion sickness

• Stop reading or staring at a computer screen if you begin to feel sick while in a moving car, train, or boat. Instead, face forward and focus on a fixed point, such as the distant scenery or the horizon, to keep your body and eyes simultaneously oriented to the movement.
• Opt for the front seat when riding in a car; at sea, stay amidships; and when flying, sit above the wing, where there is the least amount of motion.

For vertigo



• Steer clear of amusement park rides or virtual reality games that can wreak havoc with your sense of balance.
• Avoid sudden changes in body position (especially going from lying down to standing up) and extremes of head motion (particularly looking up, turning, or twisting).
• Try desensitization techniques: Move your head in a way that induces dizziness. Repeat several times a day for several weeks.
• Cut down on nicotine, caffeine, and salt, which can impair blood flow to the brain.

How much to take

Ginger

100 mg standardized extract every 4 hours as needed.
Or try fresh ginger root (1/4 - to 1/2 - inch slice), ginger tea (1/2 tsp, ginger root per cup of hot water or powdered ginger (1 gram)-all taken 3 times a day, Ginger ale (8-ounce glass 3 times a day) can be equally effective if made with real ginger.

Ginkgo biloba

80 mg 3 times a day.
Standardized to have at least 24% flavone glycosides.

Vitamin B6

50 mg 3 times a day.
200 mg daily over long term can cause nerve damage.

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