Monday, November 30th, 2009
Question: I’ve been having problems lately with dizziness and a lack of balance. I feel like I’m going to fall. . . very unstable, like I’m walking on a wave. Could you help me? Thank you.
Answer: Considering that the earth is spinning at approximately 1,000 miles per hour, it’s amazing that we don’t all feel perpetually dizzy. The fact that we don’t is a testimony to the fact that we have an amazing brain, nervous and balance systems that give us the illusion that we’re standing still. There are many causes of dizziness, and it’s important that you get a full evaluation by a neurologist or an ear, nose, and throat specialist to make sure that the cause is benign.
Dizziness is often caused by problems in the inner ear. Studies show that over time, doing exercises that challenge your balance system may lessen your symptoms. I would seek out a local yoga studio, explain your condition, and ask them to teach you a set of yoga poses that will gently stimulate your balance system. If after practicing your yoga poses for a month you don’t get the relief you deserve, you may want to consider two herbs. The first is ginger, which can help reduce nausea and dizziness. You can make a simple ginger tea to sip throughout the day. Find a ginger tea recipe here. The second herb is ginkgo biloba, which increases the flow of blood to the brain and vestibular system, and may overcome the imbalances in signals that contribute to the sense that things are moving.
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