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Labyrinthitis is an inflammatory disorder in the inner ear. The passage in the inner ear is called the labyrinth, and these canals are filled with fluid. The inflammation and infection of the labyrinth caused by a virus is known as labyrinthitis.

What is Labyrinthitis?

The labyrinth is connected with hearing and balance. If left untreated, labyrinthitis may develop into a serious condition. The infection in the inner ear can disrupt the sense of balance of the patient and cause vertigo, tinnitus, and even hearing loss. Persistent ear infections may also result in hearing difficulty.

Labyrinthitis is a viral infection, and it may become a reason for dizziness and nausea. Patients suffering from labyrinthitis often experience disturbances in both balance and hearing. Mostly, depending on the severity of the infection, labyrinthitis symptoms may last for days or weeks. Inner ear infections rarely last life long and develop into debilitating conditions. Nonetheless, it is important to consult a doctor if the infection persists or worsens.

Causes

In order to treat labyrinthitis, it is important to know the causes of this inner ear infection. Some of the common causes of inner ear infection are:

• Excessive alcohol intake
• Allergies
• Smoking
• Use of certain drugs
• Stress
• Respiratory or ear infections
• Fatigue

People suffering from viral labyrinthitis can recover within a few days or a week. However, those suffering from suppurative labyrinthitis, which is a complication of otitis media, often results in permanent hearing loss.

Symptoms

Given below are some of the common symptoms of an inner ear infection.

• Vertigo
• Unsteadiness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Ringing in the ear
• Involuntary eye movements resulting in difficulty in focusing the eyes
• Loss of balance
• Hearing loss

Moving the head and looking upward may worsen Labyrinthitis symptoms.

Treatment

Usually, patients can get rid of inner ear infection symptoms within few weeks. The symptoms can be reduced using medications such as antihistamines and sedative-hypnotics. Medicines that help to relieve dizziness and nausea are also prescribed to reduce symptoms.

There are some natural treatments to prevent worsening of the symptoms. If you have labyrinthitis symptoms, keep still and take rest. Do not change your position and do not make sudden movements. After sometime, slowly resume your activities. Stay away from bright lights, operating heavy machineries, or driving as a sudden dizzy spell can be dangerous.

In most cases, inner ear dizziness caused by inflammation in the labyrinth goes away without medical intervention. However, it is important to address the symptoms such as vertigo. Usually, vertigo is at its peak during the first few days of the infection. Adequate rest and remaining still promotes recovery from the condition. Keeping the head still also helps to alleviate nausea and vertigo. If the symptoms last for longer periods of time, resuming activities slowly can help to reduce symptoms. Labyrinthisis natural remedies include the following:

• Stay away from coffee, alcohol and chocolate.
• Reduce intake of salt and sugar.
• Certain exercises such as Brandt and Daroff exercises can speed up the recovery process. You have to sit near the edge of your chair or bed. Lean to one side quickly, and lay on that side until the dizziness disappears. This exercise can help to improve vertigo symptoms. The positions involved in these exercises help to rearrange tiny particles inside the ear to reduce the symptoms.
• Meditation and relaxation techniques help to relieve stress that is known to aggravate the tinnitus.
• In order to manage the symptoms effectively, you should take several steps like keeping the house uncluttered and using nonskid mats to avoid slipping and falling.
• Gingko biloba is one of the home remedies for inner ear dizziness as it increases the blood circulation in the head, resulting in reduced dizziness and tinnitus. Take 50 gm of cladonia (reindeer moss lichen) and boil in 250 ml of water. Filter it and drink three times a day for a week. This helps to reduce labyrinthitis symptoms.
• In Chinese medicine, Reishi mushroom is used to treat labyrinthitis as it helps the recovery period. Causticum, granatum, arnica montana, and cocculus are some of the homeopathic medicines used to treat inner ear dizziness.
• The Ayurvedic treatment of inner ear dizziness involves controlling the symptoms of the dizziness and preventing the recurrence of the condition. Zinziber officinalis, Hedychium spicatium, Cayophyllus aromatocus, Piper longum, and Terminalia arjuna are some of the herbs used to treat giddiness and nausea.

If these natural remedies for Labyrinthitis do not bring help improve the condition within a few days, it is imperative to consult a doctor.

References

1. http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/001054trt.htm
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002049/
3. http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/student/health/pdf/I-L/Labyrinthitis.pdf
4. http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=11719#treatment