Essential Oils for Vertigo
Vertigo is a medical condition that causes individuals to experience a sudden sensation of spinning or irregular motion. It’s usually referred to as a kind of dizziness and is known to make people feel unbalanced. Depending on the individual, it can last for a short period of time or for several days.1 The risk of developing vertigo may increase with age, 30% of people aged 60 and over have had cases of vertigo and dizziness, and the number of patients are increasing.2
There are two types of vertigo, peripheral and central. Peripheral vertigo is due to a problem in the part of the inner ear that controls balance, but can also be caused by head injuries, medications, or benign positional vertigo.1,3 This is the most common form of vertigo and has no major risk factors.3 Central vertigo may be caused by an issue in the brain, certain medications, multiple sclerosis or migraines.1
Symptoms of vertigo may include sensations of spinning, nausea, vomiting, a loss of balance, headache, sweating, loss of hearing or vision impairments.3 Certain head positions may trigger peripheral vertigo and bring on symptoms suddenly.3 Central vertigo may cause unique symptoms such as slurred speech, double vision, difficulty swallowing or muscle weakness.1
For vertigo relief, individuals are often encouraged to conduct vertigo home remedies until the sensation passes. This may include taking medications such as antihistamines or sedative-hypnotics to alleviate the spinning sensation. Often, these medications are not completely effective for vertigo.3
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For patients wondering how to stop dizziness naturally, essential oils may be an effective option. Essential oils are all-natural, affordable, convenient to use, and widely available. With essential oils, vertigo symptoms such as nausea, headaches, or dizziness may be reduced. For patients who have trouble swallowing during episodes, inhalation or diluted, topical application of essential oils may be a safe alternative to taking medications.
Best Essential Oils for Dizziness & Vertigo
- Thyme Essential Oil
- Peppermint Essential Oil
- Ginger Essential Oil
- Lavender Essential Oil
- Lemon Essential Oil
Essential oils are extremely concentrated oils that may positively influence the human body. For ongoing vertigo, natural treatment options may cause less side effects or dependency and treat multiple symptoms at once.
The best essential oils for dizziness and vertigo include thyme, peppermint, ginger, lavender, and lemon essential oil. As vertigo symptoms may vary from patient to patient, users may have to experiment with different essential oils to find the best essential oil for vertigo.
Thyme Essential Oil for Vertigo
One of thyme essential oil’s benefits is its natural anti-dizziness properties. In a 2014 study, thyme essential oil was shown to significantly reduce dizziness and nausea. Participants reported that thyme essential oil worked better than Ibuprofen for symptom relief.
Peppermint Essential Oil for Vertigo and Dizziness
Peppermint essential oil’s qualities have been reported to help reduce nausea, improve blood flow, and stimulate the central nervous system. Vertigo may cause feelings of disorientation which can lead to nausea and vomiting.
When inhaled or applied topically, menthol, the dynamic chemical in peppermint essential oil, creates a cooling sensation that often provides nausea relief and helps users feel revitalized.
In 2012, a scientific trial was conducted on peppermint essential oil’s anti-nausea properties. The study recruited patients in hospitals who were experiencing chronic nausea as a result of traditional cancer treatments. At the end of the study, 83% of participants noted a reduction in nausea after inhaling peppermint essential oil in combination with traditional cancer treatments. Thanks to its anti-nausea properties and cooling sensation, peppermint is often considered the best essential oil for vertigo.
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Ginger Essential Oil for Vertigo
Using ginger for vertigo and nausea is a traditional, natural remedy that has been used for many years. One valuable benefit of ginger essential oil is its natural nausea relief. In a 2012 study, inhaling ginger essential oil was proven to alleviate symptoms of nausea, the number of episodes and reduce the use of prescriptions drugs.
With anti-nausea, analgesic and stimulative properties, ginger may be one of the best essential oils for vertigo and dizziness.
Lavender Essential Oil for Dizziness and Vertigo
Well known for its calming aroma, the benefits of lavender essential oil include natural pain relief, relaxation and anti-anxiety properties. These properties may be useful for calming down users who experience stress or anxiety as a result of vertigo episodes. Its natural analgesic properties may be useful for pain caused by vision impairment, headaches, vomiting, or falling because of a vertigo episode.
Lemon Essential Oil for Vertigo
Notable benefits of lemon essential oil include anti-nausea properties and natural stress relief activity. During a 2014 study, women who regularly experience nausea (due to pregnancy) reported a decrease in nausea and vomiting after inhalation of lemon essential oil. While separate conditions, both vertigo and pregnancy may cause sudden feelings of nausea and vomiting.
In animal studies, lemon essential oil has been observed to improve overall mood and relieve stress. While further research is required, lemon essential oil may help improve users cope with stress of vertigo episodes and help patients feel back to normal.
Essential Oil Recipe for Vertigo
For patients wanting to know how to get rid of dizziness quickly, Essential Oil Experts recommends using the following three essential oil recipes for vertigo.
1. Roller Bottle Essential Oil Technique
- 6 drops peppermint essential oil
- 5 drops ginger essential oil
- 2 drops lemon essential oil
- 1 Tsp. Coconut oil
- 10 ml roller bottle
- Roller bottle opener
- Remove the roller ball from the bottle and pour the essential oils into the empty container.
- Add the coconut oil to the container.
- Firmly push back the roller ball, put on the cap and shake to blend the oils.
- Massage on the temples, behind ears and on forehead.
2. Diffuser Essential Oil Vertigo and Dizziness Blend
- 5 drops peppermint essential oil
- 3 drops lemon essential oil
- Diffuser
- Remove the top from the diffuser and add the essential oils and recommended amount of water.
- Put the top back on and plug in the diffuser.
- Turn on and take several deep breaths. Let run for up to 30 minutes.

Scientific Research Referenced in this Article
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2016, January 1). Vertigo-associated disorders. Retrieved April 26, 2017, from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001432.htm
- Fernández, L., Breinbauer, H. A., & Delano, P. H. (2015). Vertigo and Dizziness in the Elderly. Front Neurol, 2015,6, 144. DOI: 3389/fneur.2015.00144
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2015, August 13). Benign positional vertigo. Retrieved May 8, 2017 from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001420.htm
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