Causes and Remedies: Cervicogenic Dizziness

Cervicogenic dizziness is an ailment that is as uncomfortable as it is paralysing. It can interfere with daily life, your work and your responsibilities.

Do you experience tingling, chills, sensitivity to cold, tension at the nape of the neck or dizziness – even when you’re not watching a horror film? These are the most common symptoms of cervicogenic dizziness and, sadly, in many cases they become chronic.

The function of the vertebrae – more specifically, the cervical vertebrae – is to keep our heads in an upright position. They are comprised of seven pieces and this is where stress commonly concentrates. It’s where poor posture, fatigue or anxiety can lead to problems that inevitably involve horrible dizziness.

What causes cervicogenic dizziness?

• Degenerative changes in the vertebrae can cause neurovascular compression, which results in an inevitable rigidity.
• When there is some conflict between the information given by the inner ear and vision to the parts of the body that control the movement of the neck, a decompensation occurs and we feel a continuous instability. The sensation is not unlike suddenly being in a moving vehicle. Although the eyes register movement, the liquid in the inner ear and the atlas and axis vertebrae remain rigid. They can’t adjust, which results in an imbalance that leads to dizziness. The culmination of all this makes us less confident about engaging in normal, everyday activities. On days when the neck is less painful, we tend to stay in a high state of awareness and vigilance for fear of doing something that could aggravate things and cause the dreaded dizziness. Oddly, this can actually set the stage for even more dizziness!

Simple remedies for cervicogenic dizziness

Recommended treatments

• The “hot-cold treatment” begins by applying a bag of ice for three or four minutes. When that’s done, take a hot shower, apply a hot compress or sit with a hot water bottle. Do be mindful, however, that it is not a good idea to have a heating pad on your skin through the night whilst you sleep.
• Avoid intense physical activity as far as is practical. You should avoid further inflaming the cervicogenic area.
• Rosemary or lavendar water baths are both enjoyable and beneficial. Because they serve as anti-inflammatories, they’re very useful in treating muscle spasms, lower back pain, cervical pain and the like.
• Attempt to keep on a regular sleep schedule. This provides stability to the body on the whole, which, in turn, will reduce stress levels.
• Physical therapy can work wonders. When done sensibly, even aerobic exercise will help your body and nervous system to achieve the mobility and dynamics necessary to restore your well-being. Exercise and physical manipulation are also necessary to address the rigidity in the neck and maintain suppleness. After all, the more rigid and less mobile you are, the more imbalance is created between the sight and inner ear – both of which play primary roles in causing dizziness.

Plant power treats vertigo

• Ginko biloba extract helps the circulation at a cerebral level and can resolve dizziness, vertigo, ringing in the ears, headaches and other similar maladies. You can drink infusions or take a supplement, which you should easily find at chemists or health food shops.
• Ginger is useful, too, in eliminating nausea and addressing episodes of dizziness. It’s best taken in the morning as an infusion.

• Passion flower (passiflora) helps prevent dizziness, but it is also brilliant for easing stress or anxiety – both of which are culprits in triggering cervicogenic pain. You can take passion flower as an infusion two or three times a day.
• Red wine is well-known for its ability to improve cerebral circulation, so it’s no wonder that it’s so helpful to those who suffer from dizziness, vertigo, nausea and migraines. The juice of the grapes is just as effective as the leaves of the red grape. It’s drunk as an infusion when the leaves are dried. Boil them in water, let sit and sip a bit at a time throughout the day.
• Chamomile and mint infusions are similar to ginger because they’re good for reducing nausea and vomiting. They can also ease the sensation of dizziness. A bonus is that they can be drunk as often as you like.
• Vitamin B6 is supported by many studies that have researched its role in resolving dizziness and vertigo. Pyrodoxine improves the metabolic action of enzymes and amino acids related to mood, energy, muscle performance and balance. Everything it does is unrivalled for improving and maintaining bone and vertabrae health. It’s also indispensable for regulating and reducing feelings of anxiety, instability and vomiting. You’ll find it in tablets at health food shops. The recommended dosage is 1.3 mg daily for adults, and 0.6 mg daily for children from 8 to 13 years.

Food sources include whole grains, bananas, potatoes, garlic, chestnuts, prunes, pistachios, cauliflower and spinach.