Vertigo
What is dizziness and vertigo?
Dizziness and vertigo are not the same thing, but they are often mixed up.
- Dizziness can make you feel lightheaded, woozy or unsteady on your feet.
- Vertigo is the feeling that you or the room is spinning even when nothing is moving.
These feelings may get worse when you walk, stand up, or move your head, and they can make you lose your balance. You may also have nausea, vomiting, sweating, trouble walking, or ringing in your ears.
What causes dizziness and vertigo?Dizziness and vertigo can happen to anyone, but they are more common as you get older. As people age, they may have more health conditions and take more medicines, which increases the chance of dizziness.
Common causes of dizziness and vertigo may include:
- A sudden drop in blood pressure
- Dehydration
- Getting up too quickly
- Certain medicines
- Inner ear problems, such as Meniere's disease, or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), the most common cause of vertigo
- Motion sickness
- Migraines
- A head injury or ear surgery
Sometimes dizziness or vertigo is a symptom of another condition.
How is the cause of dizziness and vertigo diagnosed?Your provider will ask about your medicines and symptoms and may do a physical exam. They may check your hearing, balance, and how you walk.
You may need an imaging test if your provider thinks you may have had a stroke or if you've had a head injury.
What are the treatments for dizziness and vertigo?Dizziness often gets better on its own, but if it keeps happening, your provider can help you find the cause and the right treatment. Treatment depends on the cause and may include balance exercises and medicines.
Get emergency help right away if you have sudden or severe dizziness or vertigo along with vision problems, slurred speech or weakness. These may be signs of a more serious condition.
NIH: National Institutes of Health
WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.
Felter's Materia Medica on Vertigo
CACTUS (Selenicereus spp.)
The fresh, green stems and the flowers of Selenicereus grandiflorus (L.) Britt. & Rose (and other Selenicereus speciesMM) (Cereus grandiflorus,... / ...lse, constrictive headache, or constrictive sensation in the chest, cardiac pain -with palpitation, vertigo, dimness of sight, over-sensitiveness to noises, and a disposition to be sad or to imagine e... / ...organ were held with a strong band, it is often the most prompt of all cardiac remedies. It is a good remedy in the heart troubles produced by to1
The fresh, green stems and the flowers of Selenicereus grandiflorus (L.) Britt. & Rose (and other Selenicereus speciesMM) (Cereus grandiflorus,... / ...lse, constrictive headache, or constrictive sensation in the chest, cardiac pain -with palpitation, vertigo, dimness of sight, over-sensitiveness to noises, and a disposition to be sad or to imagine e... / ...organ were held with a strong band, it is often the most prompt of all cardiac remedies. It is a good remedy in the heart troubles produced by to1
GELSEMIUM
The dried rhizome and roots of Gelsemium sempervirens (Linné,) Aiton (Nat. Ord. Loganiaceae). Dose, 1/10 to 1 grain. Common Names: Yellow... / ...wering of the force and frequency of the pulse. Larger doses induce a desire to lie down, and cause vertigo, disturbed sight, and sometimes orbital pain. Continued small doses may, after several hours... / ...great restlessness and excitation are the classic indications for it as first formulated by Scudder, and these stand among the truest of speci1
The dried rhizome and roots of Gelsemium sempervirens (Linné,) Aiton (Nat. Ord. Loganiaceae). Dose, 1/10 to 1 grain. Common Names: Yellow... / ...wering of the force and frequency of the pulse. Larger doses induce a desire to lie down, and cause vertigo, disturbed sight, and sometimes orbital pain. Continued small doses may, after several hours... / ...great restlessness and excitation are the classic indications for it as first formulated by Scudder, and these stand among the truest of speci1
MACROTYS (Cimicifuga racemosa)CIRAC
The rhizome and rootlets of Cimicifuga racemosa (Linné), Nuttall (Nat. Ord. Ranunculaceae). A conspicuously handsome perennial widely found in... / ...ecidedly, and probably other parts of the nervous system not yet definitely determinedoccasioning vertigo, impaired vision, pupillary dilatation, nausea, and vomiting of a mild character, and a redu...1
The rhizome and rootlets of Cimicifuga racemosa (Linné), Nuttall (Nat. Ord. Ranunculaceae). A conspicuously handsome perennial widely found in... / ...ecidedly, and probably other parts of the nervous system not yet definitely determinedoccasioning vertigo, impaired vision, pupillary dilatation, nausea, and vomiting of a mild character, and a redu...1
PHYTOLACCA
The recently dried root and fruit of Phytolacca americana, Linné (Nat. Ord. Phytolaccaceae). North America, along roadsides and fences, and in... / ...d frequently a tingling or prickling sensation over the whole surface. Dimness of vision, diplopia, vertigo, and drowsiness are occasioned by large doses not sufficient to produce death. Phytolacca sl...1
The recently dried root and fruit of Phytolacca americana, Linné (Nat. Ord. Phytolaccaceae). North America, along roadsides and fences, and in... / ...d frequently a tingling or prickling sensation over the whole surface. Dimness of vision, diplopia, vertigo, and drowsiness are occasioned by large doses not sufficient to produce death. Phytolacca sl...1
RHUS TOXICODENDRON
The fresh leaves of Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze (Rhus radicans, Linné, Rhus Toxicodendron, Linné) (Nat. Ord. Anacardiaceae) A common... / ...s of the affected parts. Large doses occasion stupefaction, or a sort of intoxication, exhibited by vertigo, impairment of the special senses, pupillary dilatation, chilliness, sickness at the stomach... / ...dried wood is said to retain it. It has been named toxicodendrol, and is asserted to be in reality the only tangible substance found thus 1
The fresh leaves of Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze (Rhus radicans, Linné, Rhus Toxicodendron, Linné) (Nat. Ord. Anacardiaceae) A common... / ...s of the affected parts. Large doses occasion stupefaction, or a sort of intoxication, exhibited by vertigo, impairment of the special senses, pupillary dilatation, chilliness, sickness at the stomach... / ...dried wood is said to retain it. It has been named toxicodendrol, and is asserted to be in reality the only tangible substance found thus 1
SANGUINARIAALFI8
The rhizome and roots of Sanguinaria canadensis, Linné (Nat. Ord. Papaveraceae), gathered in autumn after the leaves and scape have died to the... / ...ating the liver to increased action. If the dose be large, it provokes nausea, with violent emesis, vertigo, disordered vision, and great prostration. It also increases the broncho-pulmonary, cutaneou... / ...in debilitated subjects. When due to vicarious menstruation, hemorrhage from the lungs is said to have been controlled by it. It may be used als1
The rhizome and roots of Sanguinaria canadensis, Linné (Nat. Ord. Papaveraceae), gathered in autumn after the leaves and scape have died to the... / ...ating the liver to increased action. If the dose be large, it provokes nausea, with violent emesis, vertigo, disordered vision, and great prostration. It also increases the broncho-pulmonary, cutaneou... / ...in debilitated subjects. When due to vicarious menstruation, hemorrhage from the lungs is said to have been controlled by it. It may be used als1
WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.
Physician's Materia Medica on Vertigo
CINCHONIDINE
Alkaloid from CINCHONA BARK, having the general properties of Quinine (q. v.) but not so liable to produce ringing in the ears and vertigo as that alkaloid. Dose of the sulphate as tonic, 0.015 to 0.13 Grm. (1/2 to 2 grs.) three times a day; as antiperiodic, 0.6 to 1.3 Grm. (10 to 20 grs.) during the six hours preceding the expected paroxysm.2
Alkaloid from CINCHONA BARK, having the general properties of Quinine (q. v.) but not so liable to produce ringing in the ears and vertigo as that alkaloid. Dose of the sulphate as tonic, 0.015 to 0.13 Grm. (1/2 to 2 grs.) three times a day; as antiperiodic, 0.6 to 1.3 Grm. (10 to 20 grs.) during the six hours preceding the expected paroxysm.2
WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.
Physician's Therapeutics Memoranda on Vertigo
VERTIGO
Treatment depends on the cause, which is oitenest disturbance of the stomach, and calls for antacids or stomachics. It is serious only when it indicates cerebral trouble, when bromides may relieve, but are only palliative.2
Treatment depends on the cause, which is oitenest disturbance of the stomach, and calls for antacids or stomachics. It is serious only when it indicates cerebral trouble, when bromides may relieve, but are only palliative.2
References
1) Felter, Harvey Wickes, 1922, The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Cincinnati, Ohio.
2) Nelson, Baker & Co., 1904, Physician's Handy Book of Materia Medica and Therapeustics, Detroit, Michigan.
2) Nelson, Baker & Co., 1904, Physician's Handy Book of Materia Medica and Therapeustics, Detroit, Michigan.