If you’ve ever felt as if the world was spinning around you, you’ve probably experienced vertigo, a condition that can be disorienting and frightening. Although some types of vertigo may signal a more serious underlying condition, most forms are benign and can be treated with home care. One alternative therapy that has shown promise is the same ginger root used in tea, cooking and as a medicine to treat cold and flu.
Identification
Vertigo is a type of dizziness that makes you feel light-headed or unsteady and results in the sensation of the world rotating around you. Common causes include benign positional vertigo, caused by an ear condition that occurs when you change head positions; Meniere’s disease, an inner-ear disorder; acoustic neuroma, a noncancerous growth on the vestibular nerve; and migraines, inflammation, infections, skull fractures and allergies.
Motion Sickness
Most cases of vertigo are the result of motion sickness that happens when your inner ear is sensitive to motions like swaying on a boat or sudden stopping and starting as on a roller coaster. A study published in “Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology” in 2003 found that giving patients who were susceptible to motion sickness 1,000 to 2,000 mg of ginger before an event that led to motion sickness reduced nausea and levels of vasopressin, a molecule that can result in the fluid imbalances contributing to nausea.
Additional Expert Insight
Dizziness is often caused by a reduced blood flow to the brain, and ginger is known to improve circulation via its blood-thinning effects. In research published in the journal “ORL” in 1986, volunteers who took ginger before being subjected to induced motion sickness and vertigo had significantly reduced vertigo symptoms compared to a placebo. The results were based on improvements noted in 48 vertigo scores and 48 electronystagmograms, a test that monitors the position and movements of the head.
Considerations
Ginger has few side effects, but in doses higher than 1,000 mg a day, it can cause gas, bloating, heartburn and nausea. It may help to take ginger extracts with food and to avoid the powdered form of ginger. Since ginger is a blood thinner, don’t use it before scheduled surgery or if you’re on anti-coagulant therapy. Since vertigo may be a symptom of a health problem like uncontrolled blood sugar levels, multiple sclerosis and viral infections, don’t rely on ginger to self-treat your vertigo. Consult your doctor before using ginger for your condition.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Dizziness; July 2010
- “ORL”; Vertigo-reducing Effect of Ginger Root. A Controlled Clinical Study; A. Grontved and E. Hentzer; 1986
- “Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology”; Effects of Ginger on Motion Sickness and Gastric Slow-wave Dysrhythmias Induced by Circular Vection; Han-Chung Lien, et al.; March 2003
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