Have you ever had ongoing bouts of dizziness and ringing in your ears sometimes accompanied with a sense of stuffiness in one ear and/or some hearing loss? This odd combination of symptoms are the key features in Meniere’s Disease. Now, not everyone who experiences one or more of these symptoms will receive a Meniere’s diagnosis.
There are many other conditions that mimic this disease. This makes it especially important that you speak with your physician openly and honestly about how you feel and what’s been happening. Your doctor will talk to you about further scrutiny to see what’s really going on.
Meniere’s Disease Diagnosis
If your doctor suspects Meniere’s Disease the next step will be a plethora of testing. Remember, Meniere’s is rare, affecting only .2% of the population and its one of those invisible conditions where on the outside you seem fine. So, your primary is right to be cautious.
Complete Evaluation for Meniere’s
Prepare yourself. There are many exams ahead, but they’re very worthwhile. It’s best to eliminate any underlying issues that exhibit similarly to Meniere’s, so you can have a FIRM diagnosis (one way or another). You can expect hearing and balance tests, an MRI or CT scan, eye exams, etc. All the information gathered along the way puts together various pieces of your personal physical condition. If you get Meniere’s diagnosis confirmation, then you can move forward into various ideas for treatment and management of your condition.
Vitamins and Supplements
Whenever someone discovers they have a chronic condition, one thing that helps is putting control over your symptoms and his or her severity back into his or her own hands. There are many vitamins and supplements available to you without a prescription. We do not advise ever starting on a regimen of supplements without first consulting the physician monitoring your Meniere’s. However, you can use the information in this article as a “talking point”– finding out what might be best for your current plan of care and symptom specifics.
Antihistamines/Anti-Allergy Preparations: Products like Dramamine, known for motion sickness, often help ease Meniere’s symptoms. Most target nausea caused by vertigo attacks.
B Vitamins: Vitamin B12 sometimes reduces ringing in the ears. Many people experiencing tinnitus with hearing loss exhibit B12 deficiencies. While the exact reason B12 seems to work is unknown, there seems to be a tie between this vitamin and healthy nerve functions. A study in 2009 also hinted that Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) and B3 (Niacin) may decrease Meniere’s symptoms while improving overall energy.
CBD Oil: Is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that comes from marijuana. Many studies show that CBD has a wide variety of medical applications including as an anti-nausea and anti-inflammatory substance. Beyond this, it may allay some of the stress that Meniere’s symptoms’ uncertainty causes.
You never know when an attack might hit, and it’s natural for that alone to build anxiety. What’s interesting is that some sufferers find that CBD decreases the loudness of tinnitus too. There are several companies emerging in this market, so it’s good to do your research. Read customer reviews and the “small print” before buying.
Charcoal Capsules: Activated charcoal capsules appear to clear out the “brain fog” that Meniere’s patients experience, especially after an attack. You must use this with moderation as it has a high salt content. It has the capacity for absorbing other prescription medications.
Dandelion Root Capsules: Dandelion is a natural diuretic that keeps you from heavy water retention. Many people find it’s easier to take a capsule than eat dandelion greens or flowers.
Essential Oils: There are essential oil blends that some people find helpful with dizziness and vertigo. The most common components in these blends are natural Birch, Lavender, Ylang-Ylang, Peppermint, Frankincense, Chamomile and Myrrh. Other potential essentials for Meniere’s-activated lightheadedness include:
- Lemon Balm Oil
- Bergamot Oil
- Neroli Oil
- Ginger Oil
- Cypress Oil
- Clary-Sage Oil
- Basil Oil
- Rosemary Oil
- Rose Oil
- Tangerine Oil
Just try a little dab behind each ear when you start to feel dizzy and/or nauseous.
Ginkgo Biloba: This natural supplement decreases blood viscosity (thickness). This may improve blood flow to both the brain and inner ear, decreasing tinnitus.
JOH:The Meniere’s foundation discusses JOH, a vitamin combination as a potential treatment for Meniere’s. This blend includes Vitamin C, Vitamin E, MSM and several other extracts that target tinnitus. There has been little in the way of clinical studies on JOH, so the positive reports are subjective history.
Magnesium: Many people do not get enough magnesium in their diets. The body can accept certain types of magnesium better than others including Magnesium Malate, Chelated magnesium, and magnesium glycinate. Meniere’s patients who report positive results tell us of improved sleep and lower levels of stress. This supplement also needs expanded studies.
Tinnitus Formulas: The Tinnitus formulas on the market typically have one or more central ingredients. These include ginkgo biloba, zinc, garlic, Lemon Bioflavonoids, and/or Lipo-Flavonoids. These components target the inner ear function and blood flow. Lemon bioflavonoids have the extra benefit of having antioxidant qualities. People who have tried these products say it takes upwards of three months to see any measurable results. They report their tinnitus diminishing in its intensity.
Vitamin C and D3: These two vitamins are important, particularly for your overall well-being. Vitamin D deficiency can increase Meniere’s depression. Vitamin C is an overall tonic-like antioxidant.
Other Botanicals: Every day new extracts come on the market that may help Meniere’s patients without the need for a prescription. One is Vinpocetine. Russian Cosmonauts use this for vertigo and mental clarity. Vinpocetine comes from Periwinkle seeds and those of other plants. The second comes from a French pine tree bark. It’s called Pycnogenol. This preparation may help blood flow to the inner ear. Those who have tried it say it takes several months of daily applications to experience improvement.
Summing It All Up: Meniere’s and Supplement Use
Things like vitamins and OTC preparations are only one part of the bigger picture in managing Meniere’s. In concert with other treatments suggested by your doctor, however, they can often decrease the frequency or intensity of your Meniere’s symptoms. It may take a while for you to find just the right combination, but it’s worth the effort.
