Crystal Healing Vertigo

Experiencing dizziness or vertigo can be disorienting and debilitating. It can also be triggered by seemingly simple things like a change in head position. While there are many underlying causes of dizziness, one cause that is fairly common is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPV). Specifically, this type of vertigo is caused by tiny calcium carbonate crystals that get knocked loose and drift into the wrong part of your inner ear. They then send confusing signals to your brain, making you feel as if the room is spinning or you are tilting or falling – even when you’re perfectly stable.

These little crystals are found in a small part of your inner ear called the utricle, and they help it detect movement by sensing changes in fluid in the semicircular canals inside the ear. When these crystals get displaced, they send false motion signals to your brain, which can trigger the feeling of vertigo. Your health care provider will diagnose BPPV by interviewing you about your symptoms and performing a physical exam, including tests that involve moving your head into different positions to try to trigger the vertigo while they watch for a telltale pattern of eye movements called nystagmus.

A simple series of movements known as the Epley maneuver – or sometimes the canalith-repositioning maneuver – has been shown to be effective in treating BPPV with both long- and short-term success rates. The technique involves rolling your head into a certain sequence that helps to reposition the displaced crystals from their incorrect location into the utricle where they belong. It’s not a fancy or expensive procedure, and it can often be done at home in the comfort of your own bed using the force of gravity.

The Epley maneuver can be difficult for some people, and if your vertigo doesn’t improve, you should see your doctor for a diagnosis. Depending on the underlying cause, they may adjust your medications, treat your anxiety or nausea, or prescribe physical therapy to reduce vertigo symptoms.

If you have a history of vertigo or are experiencing that unnerving sensation of spinning, consider talking to your healthcare provider about it. A simple evaluation and a few quick exercises could have you back to your normal life in no time! The best way to find out if you have BPPV is to visit an ENT or vestibular PT who can perform the Epley maneuver for you. They can also help you identify other underlying causes and come up with a plan for treatment. In most cases, the vertigo that results from the Epley maneuver goes away for weeks or years, but it might come back if another calcium crystal ends up in your semicircular canals. If that happens, just repeat the home Epley maneuver again to reposition the new crystals and ease your vertigo symptoms. Good luck!