Meniere’s Disease – Wonderful Homeopathic Remedies For Its Treatment

Meniere’s disease is a condition that affects the inner ear and is characterized by episodes of vertigo, a variable degree of hearing impairment and tinnitus (triad of symptoms). It develops due to the inadequate regulation of the endolymph (fluid) present in the inner ear. Therefore, it is also pathologically termed as Endolymphatic Hydrops. A well-indicated remedy for Meniere’s disease can help reduce the severity of the troublesome symptoms associated with tinnitus and vertigo and improve the quality of life of anybody dealing with the disease. The top homeopathic medicines for Meniere’s Disease include Chininum Sulph, Conium, and Gelsemium.

Though this condition is very rampant, there is no known cause of its origin. And though it is not a life-threatening disorder, it can cause a considerable amount of disturbance in those people who are affected by it. Due to recurrent episodes of vertigo and tinnitus, it may affect the ability to perform the daily routine work.

Top Homeopathic Medicines for Meniere’s Disease

There is an excellent scope for treating Meniere’s disease in homeopathy. Effective treatment for this condition varies upon the duration and intensity of the complaint. Homeopathy for endolymphatic hydrops treats the severity of acute symptoms of Meniere’s disease and also help stop further progression of the disease.

1. Chininum Sulph – For Ringing Noises in Ear

Chinimum sulph is one of the top-indicated remedies for tinnitus present along with meniere’s . The leading symptom to use this medicine in most of the cases is the presence of tinnitus. There is an unusual sensation of ringing or roaring in the ears, and it is invariably associated with vertigo. People in whom Chinimum sulph may generally be indicated have complaints of postural dizziness and heaviness in the ears. Vertigo could be very sudden in onset and in severe cases the person may fall due to loss of balance. Generally, they may feel uncomfortable in a standing posture. Chininum sulph gives desired results when there is a considerable degree of hearing loss (especially that affects the left ear).

2. Conium Maculatum – For Vertigo Attacks in Meniere’s Disease

Conium Maculatum is prepared from a flowering plant of natural order Umbelliferae native to Europe and North Africa. Conium is usually suitable for people who experience severe Vertigo in Meniere’s disease. Sideways motion of the head tends to worsen the condition. A feeling of moving around in a circle may be present, and vertigo may also get worse from any movement in bed.

3. Gelsemium – For Meniere’s Disease with Dizziness

Gelsemium is a natural medicine for Meniere’s disease. It is prepared from a plant commonly named ‘yellow jasmine,’ of natural order Loganiaceae. Use of this medicine is considered when there is marked dizziness Meniere’s Disease. Difficulty in walking with a loss of balance may arise from dizziness. Dim vision and heaviness of eyelids may attend above features may also be present.

4. Chenopodium Anthelminticum – For Meniere’s Disease with Buzzing Noises in Ear

Chenopodium anthelmenticum is prepared from a plant named ‘Jerusalem oak.’ This plant belongs to natural order Chenopodiaceae. It is suitable for Meniere’s disease when the person hears a buzzing noise in the ear. Sudden vertigo episodes, better for high pitched sounds than low pitched sounds, and Tinnitus that is synchronous with heartbeats are the symptoms indicative of using Chenopodium.

5. Salicylicum Acid – For Meniere’s Disease for Tinnitus and Vertigo with Nausea

Salicylicum Acid works well in those cases of Meniere’s disease where tinnitus and vertigo are present with troublesome nausea. The noises in the ear can be roaring, ringing, or buzzing (similar to flies or a swarm of bees) in nature. In some cases, a person hears musical noises. There is vertigo, diminished hearing, and with intense nausea.

6. Theridion – For Vertigo upon Closing Eyes

Theridion is prescribed to people who are generally sensitive to noises and may feel a sudden discomfort when they hear loud and unpleasant sounds. The guiding symptom for Theridion to be prescribed is that vertigo appears when the person closes the eyes. Theridion may be indicated in people who detest traveling because it triggers attacks of vertigo. There may be an uneasy sensation in the ears with fullness or heaviness in one or both ears.

7. Kali Muraticum – For Meniere’s Disease with Fullness in Ears

Kali Muraticum is a remedy that works well in cases where there is deafness due to swelling of internal ear and eustachian tube. It causes a diminution (reduction) of the fluid secretion and gradually reduces the swelling. It is also useful for noises in the ears. There is a crackling noise in the ears on swallowing. Vertigo is present, along with head congestion. A sensation of having a plug inside ears may be present along with the above symptoms. There may be a history of chronic catarrhal conditions of the middle ear.

8. Natrum Salicylicum – For Tinnitus of Low Tone in Meniere’s Disease

Natrum Salicylicum is a well-indicated for tinnitus of low tone. Along with noises, there is giddiness and deafness. Vertigo that gets worse from raising the head, and gets better upon lying down is present.

9. Silicea – For Meniere’s Disease with Hissing Noises

Silicea is a significant medicine for Meniere’s disease with prominent hissing noises in the ear. In some cases, the sounds may be loud and pistol-like. There is a feeling of blockage in the ears. Itching in the ears and vertigo spells upon closing the eyes are also present. The person needing Silicea may have a history of ear discharges of offensive, fetid nature.

10. Cocculus Indicus – For Meniere’s Disease with Vertigo, Nausea, and Vomiting

Cocculus Indicus is prepared from the plant named ‘Indian cockle’ of natural order Menispermaceae. Cocculus Indicus is an excellent medicine for Meniere’s disease when vertigo and dizziness with nausea and vomiting are present. There are noises in the ear that resemble the sound of rushing water. This is attended with loss of balance, hardness of hearing, a feeling of blockage in the ear, and dread of sudden noise.

11. Phosphorus – For Meniere’s Disease with Vertigo, Noises in Ear and Fainting

Phosphorous is used in cases where the person experiences noises in the ear along with severe vertigo and fainting spells. The sounds may be roaring or ringing in nature. Along with this, there is vertigo that is worse from looking up or down. Tickling and itching in ears may be there. Difficulty in hearing human voices may also be present.

12. Argentum Nitricum – For Meniere’s Disease with Sharp Pain in Ear

Argentum Nitricum is a medicine for Meniere’s Disease where a sharp pain in the ear is present along with other significant symptoms. The primary symptoms include noises in the ear, vertigo, and hardness of hearing. The sounds may be buzzing, ringing, whizzing in nature. Fullness or obstructed sensation in the ear may be present. In some cases, head congestion and vertigo that gets worse upon closing the eyes may be present.

Meniere’s Disease: Symptoms

Vertigo

Vertigo is one of the most bothersome symptoms suffered by people dealing with Meniere’s Disease. It comes in attacks, with sudden onsets. There is a feeling of spinning (to-and-fro or up-and-down) during an attack. The episodes can last from few minutes to hours. At times the attacks are accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Most of the times there are no warning signs of vertigo, but sometimes the sensation of fullness in ears may precede an attack. In severe cases, there may be abdominal cramps, diarrhea or bradycardia (slow heart rate) associated with the episode.

Hearing Loss

Hearing loss may accompany or precede an attack of vertigo. The hearing loss gets better after the attack and usually becomes normal during remission period. This kind of fluctuating hearing loss is characteristic of Meniere’s disease. However, with recurrent episodes, the improvement in hearing loss may not occur during the remission, and one can develop permanent hearing loss. There is slow and progressive hearing loss in most of the cases.

Tinnitus

There is ringing or roaring in ears which gets worse during the attacks. The intensity and pitch of tinnitus can vary during and after the attacks. Tinnitus can be a constant symptom in some of the cases. This can further hinder the hearing and also affects the quality of life.

Fullness in Ears

The patients can experience a sensation of fullness or blockage in the ears. It can occur with vertigo or exist independently. This symptom can also fluctuate, and the intensity varies.

Intolerance to Loud Sounds

In some patients, there is an increased sensitivity to loud noises, and it becomes difficult for them to tolerate the same. This because it is hard for them to tolerate amplification of sounds.

Meniere’s Disease: Causes

The cause behind Meniere’s disease is not yet clear. Environmental and genetic factors both seem to play some role in the development of Meniere’s Disease. The disease is thought to run in families.

Meniere’s Disease occurs when there is distention of the fluid (Endolymph) in the inner ear. The function of endolymph is to aid hearing and to maintain the body balance. The distention can be either due to overproduction or faulty absorption of this endolymphatic fluid. Sometimes, both overproduction and reduced absorption can co-exist and cause Meniere’s Disease.

Genetic Factors

Certain abnormalities in the structure of inner ear running in the families can make a person more disposed to develop Meniere’s disease. They are at high risk if they have a strong family history of Meniere’s disease.

Allergy

Allergies can also predispose a person to develop Meniere’s. In such cases, the offending allergens stimulate the inner ear causing excess production of endolymph.

Sodium and Water Retention

Certain theories relate increased sodium levels as a contributing factor towards the development of Meniere’s Disease. This causes excessive water retention in the ear leading to endolymphatic hydrops.

Vasomotor Disturbance

There is some sympathetic overactivity (the involuntary part of the nervous system associated with constriction or dilatation of blood vessels) resulting in spasm of the internal auditory artery. This interferes with the function of the cochlear or vestibular epithelium (in the inner ear) leading to vertigo and deafness.

Conditions Similar to Meniere’s Disease

Conditions like a migraine and BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) can have a similar clinical picture as that of Meniere’s Disease. An episode of a migraine can have similar symptoms of vertigo, nausea, and tinnitus. In some instances, there is co-existence of both Meniere’s disease and migraine.

BBPV is one condition which can clinically mimic Meniere’s disease. The marked positional vertigo is more specific for BBPV whereas the vertigo of Meniere’s is not related to the position of the head.

Diagnosis: Meniere’s Disease

The diagnosis of Meniere’s is commonly made based on the triad of symptoms. There will be frequent episodes of vertigo along with tinnitus. The audiometry would show low to moderate frequency of sensory neural hearing loss. The hearing loss can be severe in chronic cases. Also, other causes of vestibular diseases should be ruled out.

Foods to Avoid in Meniere’s Disease

Sodium: There is a strong relation seen between increased intake of sodium and vertigo episodes. It causes more retention of water in the body, that can be one of the triggering factors for Meniere’s disease. A low-sodium diet should be followed to limit the condition.

Nicotine: It can cause vasospasm (sudden constriction of a blood vessel) and the attacks of the disease are more frequent in smokers. Excessive smoking makes one more vulnerable and quitting smoking has helped a lot of patients in managing their condition better.

Caffeine: Avoiding excessive intake of stimulants like coffee and tea is beneficial in such cases. These can predispose an individual to an attack. Caffeine can also increase the loudness of noises associated with tinnitus.

Alcohol: It can affect the volume of fluid in the inner ear and increase vertigo and tinnitus. Patients who have Meniere’s should cut down on their intake of alcohol.

MSG: Most of the Chinese foods contains MSG (monosodium glutamate). They increase the sodium levels in the body and can bring an episode of vertigo or fullness in ears.

Avoid canned or processed foods.

Consume low-sugar fruit juices.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can Menier’s affect both ears?

Meniere’s usually affects one ear initially, but in chronic cases, one can develop the disease in both ears.

2. Should I avoid driving if I have Meniere’s?

In patients who have vertigo as a prominent and frequent symptom, it is usually advised to avoid driving. As it is difficult to predict a vertigo episode, one should not indulge in activities requiring body balance or minute concentration.

3. Who can be affected by Meniere’s?

Anyone can be affected by this condition. However, Meniere’s is more common in males and frequently seen in the age group of 30-60 years.

4. Can stress trigger Meniere’s disease?

Emotions like extreme anger and stress seem to act as a triggering factor in some cases. The episodes tend to be more frequent during a stressful period.

5. Do I have to live with it for the rest of my life?

Though a chronic disorder, Meniere’s is not something that one has to live with. Homeopathy can treat Meniere’s very effectively. Complete recovery occurs in a majority of the cases with the correct treatment. The chances of recurrence post-treatment are negligible.

6. I am taking the medicine vertin; will it treat my Meniere’s?

Medicines like vertin are betahistine drugs which can help in managing the acute episodes of vertigo. They are meant to control vertigo attacks and are commonly prescribed to patients to help them manage the condition instead of treating it.

7. Is the hearing loss permanent?

Usually, there is a fluctuation in the hearing loss, and it gets better after the episodes are over. In a majority of cases, it is the sensory neural type of hearing loss.
It has been observed that the hearing loss is intermittent, which means that it comes and goes in episodes. Early interventions and treatment can prevent the hearing loss. However, after prolong years of suffering one can develop permanent hearing loss.

8. Does the weather affect the condition?

Meniere’s is seen to get worse during the winters. Symptoms like the fullness of ears and vertigo episodes are more frequent and troublesome for the patients in winters. Also, the tinnitus seems to be louder in some. These are comparatively less severe during summers.