Cervical dizziness is often accompanied by pain, vision problems or lack of coordination, among other symptoms. Certain natural exercises and treatments can help.
- What are cervical dizziness?
- Symptoms of cervical dizziness
- Causes of cervical dizziness
- Natural remedies for cervical dizziness
The neck and the structures that make it up (cervical spine, muscles, nerves …) have a key role in our balance and coordination. That is why, when this area becomes inflamed, injured or atrophy, we can have dizziness or feel lightheadedness or unstability, something known as cervical dizziness. There are natural remedies to treat the symptoms.
WHAT ARE CERVICAL DIZZINESS?
Cervical dizziness (also called cervical vertigo or cervicogenic dizziness) is a feeling of vertigo or instability that can result from various causes and is mainly related to problems in the neck or its nearby structures. Although its symptoms are similar, it should not be confused with vestibular vertigo, which is the result of problems in the inner ear.
SYMPTOMS OF CERVICAL DIZZINESS
The main symptoms of cervical dizziness are:
- Feeling that the world is moving around you.
- Instability.
- Pain or discomfort in the neck.
- Ringing in the ears.
- Stiffness in the neck.
- Headache.
- Trouble concentrating.
- Vision problems.
CAUSES OF CERVICAL DIZZINESS
Cervical dizziness is usually due to problems in the structures of the neck such as:
- Trauma or injuries to the cervical spine, such as whiplash, very common in traffic accidents.
- Muscle or joint problems derived from poor posture or overexertion.
- Arthritis in the neck (cervical spondylosis).
- Degenerative disease of the cervical discs.
- Herniated disc.
In the case of cervical spine injuries, symptoms may appear months or years later.
Symptoms of cervical dizziness often coincide with those of vestibular disorders such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) or vestibular neuritis.
CERVICAL DIZZINESS: NATURAL REMEDIES
An evaluation of the symptoms and history by the doctor is important to determine the cause of cervical dizziness and find the most appropriate treatment, which can range from physical therapy to the use of analgesics and, in the most severe cases, surgery.
Some of the natural treatments that can help relieve cervical dizziness are:
- Exercises to reduce muscle tension and neck stiffness, such as head rotations (i.e., gently turning your head to the right and left while keeping your shoulders relaxed), neck tilts (slowly bringing your ear toward your shoulder), or extension and flexion movements (bringing the head forward or backward). It is advisable that they are guided by a physiotherapist specialized in this type of disorders to make sure that you do them well and are not harmful.
- Acupuncture, according to some studies, can reduce tension and neck pain, which may also help relieve cervical dizziness.
- Similarly, massages in the cervical area (performed by professionals) can also relieve headache in people with tension-type headache.
On the other hand, meditation and other relaxation techniques (such as deep breathing or yoga) can help reduce anxiety and stress, which can help decrease the frequency and intensity of cervical dizziness related to muscle tension.
In addition, there are some plants that may prove useful:
- Ginger is used to treat nausea and dizziness and is also anti-inflammatory. You can take it in infusion or season your dishes (both sweet and salty) with zest.
- Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory that can be very useful in case cervical dizziness is due to muscle injury or arthritis. You can use it to spice up your dishes. Keep in mind that it is better assimilated if you combine it with black pepper and some fat.
- Valerian is an effective natural muscle relaxant, very useful for relieving tension, something that could be beneficial to relieve cervical dizziness. You can find it in different forms: the dried plant, pills, essential oil… Before taking it, it is advisable to talk to a specialist to find out if it is appropriate in your case (since it can cause side effects, such as drowsiness) and what dose is correct.