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Phone: (604) 677-7742 Email: LMhomeopath@gmail.com

Vertigo Treatment & Meniere’s Disease

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What is Vertigo?

Vertigo, or dizziness, is characterized by the feeling that one’s surroundings are spinning, often accompanied by improper balance, nausea and vomiting. There are many possible causes of vertigo, but vertigo is usually the result of a disorder of the vestibular system. The vestibular system is responsible for integrating sensory stimuli and movement, and for keeping objects in focus as the body moves.

What is Meniere’s Disease?

Meniere’s Disease is a fairly common disorder of the vestibular system with no known cause. It is characterized by episodes of vertigo, hearing impairment and tinnitus.

Homeopathic treatment as prescribed by a professional classical homeopath can often be of help with recurrent vertigo as well as with Meniere’s Disease. Contact the clinic or a local homeopath in your area to book an appointment.

Scientific Research Studies of Homeopathy for Vertigo

Issing, Wolfgang, M.D., Peter Klein, Dipl.Math, and Michael Weiser, Ph.D. “The Homeopathic Preparation Vertigoheel® Versus Ginkgo biloba in the Treatment of Vertigo in an Elderly Population: A DoubleBlinded, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial.” The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Volume 11, Number 1, 2005, pp. 155–160.

Objective: Alternative medical practices are common in the treatment of vertigo. This study compared the effects of Ginkgo biloba treatment with the homeopathic remedy Vertigoheel® (Biologische Heilmittel Heel GmbH, Baden-Baden, Germany). Design: Randomized, double-blinded, parallel group study. Subjects: One hundred and seventy (170) patients, ages 60–80 years, with atherosclerosis-related vertigo. Interventions: Patients were randomly allocated to receive treatment with either Vertigoheel (n  87) or G. biloba (n  83).
Outcome measures: The results were analyzed for the non-inferiority of Vertigoheel to G. biloba on the combined endpoint of changes from baseline to week 6 in dizziness score (assessed by questionnaire), frequency, duration, and intensity of vertigo episodes (recorded in patient diaries). Results: Both treatments improved vertigo status. From a baseline mean value of 26.1 5.2 (on a 50-point scale) in the Vertigoheel group, the dizziness questionnaire score improved by 10.6 10.0, and by 10.7 9.0 from 25.8 4.7 in the G. biloba group. Statistical analysis of this endpoint showed that Vertigoheel was not inferior to G. biloba. The 95% confidence interval for the difference between treatment did not reach the inferiority threshold of 0.36 at any of the time points tested. The results were supported by the results of a line walking test, Unterberger’s stepping test, and patient and physician global assessments of therapeutic effect. Both treatments were well tolerated.
Conclusions: Vertigoheel is an appealing alternative to established G. biloba therapy for atherosclerosis-related vertigo. 155

Schneider B, Klein P, Weiser M. “Treatment of vertigo with a homeopathic complex remedy compared with usual treatments: a meta-analysis of clinical trials.” Arzneimittelforschung. 2005;55(1):23-9.

The increasing interest in alternative medical practices has led to a number of controlled studies on herbal and homeopathic agents. This paper presents the results of a meta-analysis of four recent clinical trials evaluating the homeopathic preparation Vertigoheel (VH) compared with usual therapies (betahistine, Ginkgo biloba extract, dimenhydrinate) for vertigo in a total of 1388 patients. Two trials were observational studies and the other two were randomised double-blind controlled trials. The duration of treatment (6-8 weeks) and dosage were comparable in all studies. Treatments were evaluated for the variables “number of vertigo episodes”, “intensity of episodes” and “duration of episodes”. As the studies differed in the age of patients and in the baseline values of vertigo, the individual reductions of number, intensity and duration of episodes were adjusted on equal age and baseline values (total means). An analysis of variance (with studies as random effects) showed no relevant influence of studies on the adjusted reductions and no relevant interaction between studies and treatment effects. The meta-analysis of all four trials showed equivalent reductions with VH and with control treatment: mean reduction of the number of daily episodes 4.0 for VH and 3.9 for control (standard error 0.11 for both groups); mean reduction of the duration (on a scale 0-4) for VH 1.1 and for the control 1.0 (standard error 0.03 for both groups); mean reduction of the intensity (on a scale 0-4) for VH 1.18 and for the control 1.8 (standard error 0.03 for both groups). In the non-inferiority analysis from all trials, VH was non-inferior in all variables. The results show the applicability of meta-analyses on the data from studies with homeopathic drugs and support the results from the individual studies indicating good efficacy and tolerability of VH in patients with vertigo.

Weiser, Michael, MBChB; Wolfgang Strösser, MD, MBChB; Peter Klein, MSc. “Homeopathic vs Conventional Treatment of VertigoA Randomized Double-blind Controlled Clinical Study.” Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1998;124(8):879-885.

Objective:  To compare the efficacy and safety of a homeopathic remedy (Vertigoheel, Heel Inc, Albuquerque, NM) vs betahistine hydrochloride (active control) in the treatment of patients with vertigo of various origins in a confirmative equivalence trial.
Design: Randomized (1:1) double-blind controlled clinical trial.
Setting:  Fifteen study centers (general practice) in Germany between November 1995 and November 1996.
Subjects:  A total of 119 patients with vertigo of various origins (from whom 105 patients could be analyzed as intended per protocol).
Main Outcome Measures:  Frequency, duration, and intensity of vertigo attacks.
Results: Both homeopathic and conventional treatments showed a clinically relevant reduction in the mean frequency, duration, and intensity of the vertigo attacks. The therapeutic equivalence of the homeopathic remedy and betahistine was established statistically.
Conclusions: Concerning the main efficacy variable, therapeutic equivalence between the homeopathic remedy and betahistine could be shown with statistical significance (confirmative analysis). Both remedies reduced the frequency, duration, and intensity of vertigo attacks during a 6-week treatment period. Also, vertigo-specific complaints were significantly reduced in both treatment groups.

Case of Vertigo by Dr. Shah

(Vertigo being a common condition, we have treated a large number of cases. This case is just an illustrative case.)

Mr. CVR, 72 years old gentlemen, a retired quality control manager in a large petroleum company, presented at Life Force with the following complaints:

  1. Vertigo since six months
  2. High blood pressure since over five years, on medication
  3. >Diminished hearing since over 30 years

We decided to work on his vertigo and blood pressure, as his blood pressure rise was relatively of recent origin, which fell into a treatable condition.

He experienced vertigo once in two to three days, lasting for about 40 minutes. It was a sense of imbalance, spinning in head with blurring of vision. It was about seven, moderate to severe, on a scale of 1 to 10. He would feel giddy on turning to right side, especially in the bed. While having giddiness, if he lies down in the bed, on his back, keeping his head downwards, he would feel better. This was a finer detail collected which is called ‘modality’ in technical homeopathic language.

He was already receiving certain conventional medicines for vertigo, which had brought his vertigo under control the extent stated above; and not beyond that, which brought him to opt for homeopathy.

His blood pressure was 160/90, elevated, in spite of on conventional anti-hypertensive medicine from a cardiologist. He also reported that his blood pressure remained around the same high levels on most occasions, whenever routinely checked by his family physician.

On the whole, he was a tall framed person with strict vegetarian food habits. He loved extra salt. He was oversensitive to heat. No other specific physical features.

He lived with his family consisting of his wife, son and daughter-in-law.

On the mental front, he was noted to be cool tempered, religious, reserved, introvert, little shy and pleasant. He had good memory.

He had a recent history of stress whereby the building in which he lived for most years of his life, was undertaken for demolition and re-construction. This led to some disturbance and somewhat insecurity for over a year and half. He did feel deep apprehension which disturbed his sleep at times.

He did not suffer with any significant disease in the past, except cataract in both eyes, for which he was operated. This history has certain significance in prescribing.

He did not have major diseases in the family. It may be pointed out that the personal and family history of various serious diseases, what may have some bearing in understanding the genetic tendencies in a given patient.

The focus of treating was Vertigo and Hypertension in his case.

Based on the totality of his disease + individual case study, some research based (new) medicine along with other homeopathic medicine called Baryta carbonicum were selected and prescribed in suitable doses.

In about eight week time, his vertigo almost completely disappeared. His blood pressure reduced and maintained at around 144/80; interestingly, his conventional anti-hypertensive medicine was stopped by patient, without intimation!

His case has been followed up regularly. The final report on October 31, 2008, he is free from vertigo, maintaining normal blood pressure all this time (without conventional anti-hypertensive medicine) and enjoying good health.

Case of Meniere’s Disease by Gaela Nelson
Chininum sulphuricum: playing chess at a thousand miles per hour
(interhomeopathy)

I first met CM, a 44 year old man, in his home; due to his condition he was not able to drive. It was September of 2007. He had been diagnosed with Ménière’s disease; he had debilitating attacks of extreme vertigo with spinning, during which he would fall down and experience violent vomiting and diarrhea, lasting an hour and a half. He was having four episodes per week at first, although now he is having fewer – perhaps one every week. He takes Gravol (a medication for car sickness), when he feels a certain way in his stomach, his ‘warning sign’. For the last two years, he has had tinnitus with ringing and waves crashing in his ears, with about 25% hearing loss in the right ear. His Eustachian tube collapsed on a flight five years earlier.

My first impression of him was to wonder if he had recently consumed a large amount of coffee – he seemed very excited, spoke quickly, and it was evident that his thought processes were very fast, with many ideas. He told me right away that he is the CEO of several companies, and enjoys playing soccer at a high level, but that all his activities and his social life have had to be curtailed because of his illness.

CM: “It’s debilitating. It affects my lifestyle, I have to stay here (at home); I can’t go and do what I want. It’s the randomness. It happened in the theatre, it could happen anywhere.”

He acknowledged that work stress was probably a factor in his condition, but explained that he enjoyed stress and pressure, and being involved in many things.

CM: “My mind never stops, I don’t know how to shut off my brain; even when I sleep I work, I devour information, I go through stuff. In a typical day, I read a lot; I read the whole Economist from front to back, I consume information. I’m a serial entrepreneur; I like starting things, not operating things. If I have to operate things – that’s not scratching me where I itch, it’s boring…mundane. If I’m not learning, doing something interesting, I’m out. I worked in an accounting firm, I was incredibly bored; I want to keep my mind sharp. Economics is much more theoretical and abstract. Soccer is both physical and cerebral, it’s like playing chess at 1000 miles an hour; you are intellectually stimulated. I read soccer theory books, connecting soccer with globalization. It’s spontaneous, like jazz. I’m focused on health, wealth and self… to make myself happy, to do things that make me happy. I don’t care about status. I’m an easy going boss, let people work at home. I don’t like authority.”

CM described a happy family life and a good relationship with his family and with his wife, who is also independent and a high achiever. They have no children.

He has cravings for sugar and chocolate but tries to maintain a healthy diet, with low salt and lots of veggies and fruits. He enjoys smoothies. He is a hot person and is often restless at night. He likes coffee but can only drink one cup a day.

He feels better when he can keep very still, as moving his head can bring on the feeling of imbalance and vertigo.

He does not have many fears or anxieties; he says he is ‘fearless’ but he doesn’t like to fail, or to disappoint others.

He had some acupuncture, which helped somewhat with the frequency of the attacks, but he stopped going. He was encouraged to take up meditation and yoga but, he said, “It’s like watching paint dry.”

Rubrics (MacRepertory)

Mind, Excitement, as after coffee
Mind, Ideas, abundant
Mind, Theorizing
Vertigo, as if turning in a circle
Vertigo with vomiting
Vertigo, Ménière’s Disease
Vertigo, with tendency to fall
Hearing, Noises, with vertigo
Generalities, Food and drinks, sugar, sweets, desires

The remedies that I compared were: Chininum sulphuricum, Sulphur, China, Crotalus horridus, Phosphorus, Theridion, and Cocculus.

I looked at China Officinalis, which covered many of his symptoms. CM seems to fit well with Sankaran’s description of the malarial miasm and the sensation of China: “His mind is full of many plans but he feels stuck in a position in which he can’t fulfill any of them and, moreover, he has to face attacks from time to time.” (Insight into Plants, Volume II, p. 477)

Yet, there were qualities of his presentation that fitted more with Sulphur; his enjoyment of abstract theorizing, connecting ideas like soccer and globalization, a fair bit of boastfulness, his dislike of authority, and his focus on self.

Chininum sulphuricum fits best with my overall impression of him. I could see the sensations of the Rubiaceae family, as well as many Sulphur qualities. Stronger than either element singly, the combined salt – China with Sulphur – has a much stronger emphasis on Meniere’s disease. The feeling captured in his words: “Playing chess at 1000 miles per hour” really sums up the qualities of Chininum sulphuricum!

Prescription: Chininum sulphuricum 200CH, one dose.

Follow-ups

One month later, he reported feeling somewhat better; he had had no severe attacks, and he had not taken a single Gravol since the remedy. He was feeling some anxiety about a stress test he had taken, and about the health of his heart. He also felt some pain in his left shoulder. He felt slightly imbalanced and was aware of it when walking in the dark.

Two months later, he drove to my office for his follow-up. He had been on a flight to Italy, to visit his family, with no problems. He is playing soccer again and going out. He reported feeling completely better, with only a few moments of ‘imbalance’ here and there. His sleep is better. He said the bad feeling was gone from his stomach – the feeling which had been a warning sign that, if he didn’t take a Gravol, he would soon be vomiting. Now, he has neither taken the Gravol nor has he had the stomach symptoms. He has been able to focus on wrapping up the project which was causing him the most stress. He was very happy with his progress.

One year later, we had a brief telephone conversation in which he stated that he was doing well, with no relapse of symptoms.

In 2011, I telephoned him to ask for his permission to publish this article; he said, “Definitely! I am still feeling great!”

He has never needed to repeat the remedy.

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