
If you’ve experienced vertigo firsthand, you know how unpleasant it can be. This condition causes dizziness and can make it feel like the world around you is spinning. Typically, it’s caused by a problem in the inner ear, though there can be other medical reasons for it as well. This is why professional medical help is so important as your first step when seeking relief. For some people in search of alternative medicine for vertigo, supplements can help ease unpleasant symptoms. But before you head to the health foods store and start browsing, let’s explore which over-the-counter natural supplements for vertigo may help.
If you’re dealing with vertigo symptoms, your first question might be “can vertigo be cured?” Technically, vertigo can’t be cured, but there are ways to cope. It may be that you have it just once, or it may come back from time to time. If vertigo becomes an ongoing issue, it’s important to work with your hearing care provider or health team to rule out related problems and keep symptoms under control.
If you’ve asked yourself “how do I get rid of vertigo naturally?” or wondered about how to treat dizziness at home, it can be encouraging to learn that in some cases, supplements might help with symptoms.
However, you should first know what supplements are. Supplements come in different forms like vitamins, minerals, herbs and blends, and have different purposes to support health. Added to your diet, they may help improve energy levels, bone density, blood circulation and more.
Keep in mind that claims made by supplements are not evaluated or verified by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It’s also very important to speak with your doctor before taking supplements to ensure that there’s no risk of health issues or negative interactions with medications you’re already taking.
There are many types of supplements for vertigo, so whether you’re looking for a food supplement for vertigo or a capsule, you have options.
Vitamins are key to keeping the body healthy and are found in everything from dairy to grains. There are 13 essential vitamins, and each one plays an important role in how the body functions at the cellular level. These vitamins fall into two groups: fat-soluble and water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins can be stored in the body, but water-soluble vitamins pass through the urine. These water-soluble vitamins need to be replenished regularly.
One of the 13 essential vitamins, riboflavin is a B vitamin, and is water-soluble. Riboflavin’s role is to help create red blood cells, and it’s been linked to migraine relief, including vestibular migraines that can cause vertigo.
If you’re looking to incorporate riboflavin into your diet, it’s found naturally in many foods like lean proteins and green vegetables.
For those in search of vitamins for dizziness and lightheadedness or wondering what vitamins are good for vertigo, Vitamin D is sometimes recommended. It’s a fat-soluble vitamin that promotes bone health, reduces inflammation and helps the immune system function properly. A lack of Vitamin D can contribute to vertigo, so increasing levels can be a possible way to alleviate symptoms.
To find out how much vitamin D to take for vertigo, talk to your doctor.
Minerals are nutrients that support the body, and include calcium, magnesium and iron. While only small amounts are needed, a deficiency can cause problems. Learn about potential mineral remedies for vertigo below.
You’ve likely heard it before: calcium is important for strong bones, especially for growing children. While that’s true, its benefits go far beyond that. An important mineral for any diet, regardless of age, calcium helps with muscle movement, blood circulation and more.
A study found that vertigo and low bone density can go together, and explained that vitamin D and estrogen are possible treatment options to help the body process calcium more easily.2
Herbal medicine comes from plants or parts of plants. Like vitamins and minerals, people use herbs for relief and support, but they should always be taken with caution. Herbs aren’t always tested or regulated to the same standards as medicine, and they can cause interactions as well. Depending on the person, some herbs might ease vertigo symptoms. Let’s look at a few of the herbs for vertigo dizziness below.
As you’ve seen, there are all kinds of supplements that can be taken for specific health reasons. The effectiveness isn’t guaranteed, but you can discuss your options with a medical expert to create a plan that includes a trial timeline and amount that’s right for you. Below, we’ll look at three more types of supplements to consider.
Supplements can provide vertigo relief in some cases, but not always. It depends on the person and the underlying cause of vertigo, among other factors. Similarly, combining supplements is a personalized process. Talk to your doctor about whether you should try supplements and if so, what combination might be best for you. There’s no proven evidence of the effectiveness of supplements or that combinations of supplements offer more benefits than single ones.
When looking at vertigo treatments, it can help to go back to the basics, like hydration. So, does drinking water help with vertigo? The short answer is yes. Dehydration can cause lightheadedness and reduce blood flow to the brain. To make sure you’re drinking enough, try keeping water and other beverages with electrolytes by your side throughout the day.
While supplements can be helpful for vertigo, they’re not the only option. Other lifestyle factors and choices like diet, medication, exercises and sometimes surgery can be discussed with your doctor — and may make a noticeable difference.
1 “Vitamin B12–Deficiency Anemia.” National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/anemia/vitamin-b12-deficiency-anemia.
2 Jeong SH, Kim JS. Impaired Calcium Metabolism in Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: A Topical Review. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2019 Apr;43 Suppl 2:S37-S41. doi: 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000273. PMID: 30883492. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30883492/.
3 “Ginkgo: Usefulness and Safety.” National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/ginkgo.
4 Öner U, Cengiz Z. The effects of aromatherapy with thyme oil on disease symptoms, vital findings, and hemodynamic parameters in COVID-19 patients. Explore (NY). 2024 Jul-Aug;20(4):544-553. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2023.12.004. Epub 2023 Dec 16. PMID: 38129231. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38129231/.
5 “Feverfew: Usefulness and Safety.” National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/feverfew.
6 Rahimi V, Tavanai E, Falahzadeh S, Ranjbar AR, Farahani S. Omega-3 fatty acids and health of auditory and vestibular systems: a comprehensive review. Eur J Nutr. 2024 Aug;63(5):1453-1469. doi: 10.1007/s00394-024-03369-z. Epub 2024 May 2. PMID: 38693450. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38693450/.
7 Abouzari M, Tawk K, Lee D, Djalilian HR. Migrainous Vertigo, Tinnitus, and Ear Symptoms and Alternatives. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2022 Oct;55(5):1017-1033. doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2022.06.017. Epub 2022 Sep 21. PMID: 36150941; PMCID: PMC9580398. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9580398/.
8 Swartz R, Longwell P. Treatment of vertigo. Am Fam Physician. 2005 Mar 15;71(6):1115-22. PMID: 15791890. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2005/0315/p1115.html.
9 Silverstein H. Surgery for vertigo (you don't have to live with it). J Otolaryngol. 1981 Oct;10(5):343-58. PMID: 7328719. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7328719/.