Have you or anyone you know ever felt like world is spinning around you? Or like you are walking on top of the waves?
You are not alone, so many people feel vertigo in their life – especially older people are more prone to.
Here I have another term from my childhood doctor – ‘fair vayu’; that translates to ‘spinning air’. It is a term to indicate someone is going through or having episodes of vertigo.
Vertigo comes as a side effect of some medical treatments or conditions too.
I am not talking about medical condition induced vertigo here; I am talking about unexplained vertigo – where you do not know any oblivious cause of.
What Vertigo Actually Is
Vertigo is not a disease—it’s a symptom that feels like you or the environment is spinning. It happens when the brain receives conflicting information from the inner ear, eyes, and sensory nerves about your body’s position.
Common accompanying symptoms include nausea, balance problems, nystagmus, ear fullness, and motion sensitivity.
Medically Established Causes of Vertigo
1. Inner‑Ear Disorders (Most Common)
These conditions disrupt the vestibular system—the body’s balance center.
- BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)
Tiny calcium crystals shift into the wrong part of the inner ear, triggering brief spinning when the head moves. It’s the most common cause of vertigo. - Vestibular Neuritis / Labyrinthitis
Viral inflammation of the vestibular nerve or inner ear causes sudden, severe vertigo lasting hours to days. - Ménière’s Disease
Fluid buildup in the inner ear causes vertigo episodes lasting hours, with hearing loss and tinnitus.
2. Neurological Causes
- Vestibular Migraine
Vertigo episodes lasting minutes to hours, often without headache. - Stroke or TIA
Can mimic inner‑ear vertigo; requires urgent evaluation. - Multiple Sclerosis, brain tumors, or cerebellar disorders
Less common but documented causes.
3. Circulatory Causes
- Orthostatic hypotension (blood pressure drops when standing)
- Arrhythmias, heart disease, or reduced blood flow to the brain
These can cause dizziness or vertigo‑like sensations.
4. Medication‑Induced Vertigo
Certain antibiotics, anti‑inflammatories, antidepressants, and cardiovascular drugs can affect the inner ear or brain.
5. Other Causes
- Head or neck injuries
- Dehydration
- Anemia
- Carbon monoxide exposure
- Anxiety disorders (can mimic vertigo)
Why Some Vertigo Is “Unexplained”
Even with testing, many people receive multiple overlapping diagnoses or none at all.
A 2026 study from the Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA) found:
- Patients saw ~15 providers on average before getting answers.
- 66% received more than one vestibular diagnosis.
- 19% were unable to work due to symptoms.
This highlights why vertigo can feel mysterious—symptoms overlap across many conditions.
Latest Research & Data on Vertigo (2025–2026)
1. Wearable Balance Technology
“Balance belts” with vibrotactile feedback help retrain balance pathways.
Studies (2024–2025) show reduced fall risk and faster rehabilitation in chronic vestibular disorders.
2. Advanced Diagnostics
- vHIT (Video Head Impulse Test) improves detection of vestibular nerve dysfunction.
- VEMP testing evaluates utricle and saccule function.
- AI‑assisted nystagmus analysis increases diagnostic accuracy.
3. New Treatment Research
- Refined canalith repositioning using 3D tracking for BPPV.
- VR‑based vestibular rehabilitation for faster brain adaptation.
- CGRP‑inhibitor medications under study for vestibular migraine.
4. Genetics & Ménière’s Disease
Research links PHEX gene variants to Ménière‑like audio vestibular patterns in certain populations.
Ayurvedic View of Vertigo (Bhrama / Bhramika)
In Ayurveda, vertigo is understood as a disturbance in the body’s inner orientation system—primarily governed by Vata, supported by Pitta (clarity) and Kapha (stability).
When these forces lose harmony, the mind-body connection that tells you “Where you are in space” becomes momentarily confused.
It is not treated as a disease but as a signal that one or more doshas—especially Vata—are out of balance.
1. Vata: The Primary Driver of Vertigo
Vata governs movement, nerve impulses, sensory coordination, and spatial awareness.
When Vata becomes aggravated (Vata vriddhi), it behaves like wind shaking the inner compass.
Common Vata-aggravating patterns linked to vertigo:
- irregular meals or long gaps between meals
- dehydration
- excessive screen time or overstimulation
- lack of sleep
- rushing, multitasking, or chronic stress
- sudden head movements
- traveling, especially air travel
- skipping grounding routines
Ayurveda sees vertigo as a sign that the nervous system is over‑mobilized and under‑nourished.
2. Pitta Involvement: Heat Rising to the Head
When Pitta is high, heat accumulates in the eyes, temples, and inner channels.
This can create:
- visual disturbances
- light sensitivity
- dizziness triggered by bright lights or screens
- irritability or headaches accompanying vertigo
Ayurveda describes this as Pitta rising upward, disturbing clarity and perception.
3. Kapha Involvement: Heaviness and Fluid Imbalance
Kapha governs fluid balance, inner ear lubrication, and stability.
This can contribute to vertigo that feels like foggy, heavy, or muffled spinning.
Kapha-related vertigo often appears during:
- seasonal allergies
- sinus congestion
- spring dampness
- after heavy meals
Ayurvedic Interpretation of “Unexplained” Vertigo
When modern tests show no clear cause, Ayurveda often sees:
1. Vata derangement in the head region (Urdhva Vata)
This is the most common Ayurvedic explanation for unexplained vertigo.
2. Prana Vayu imbalance
Often linked to:
- chronic stress
- emotional strain
- sensory overload
- irregular routines
3. Subtle Kapha accumulation
Especially in:
- sinuses
- inner ear
- head channels
4. Ama affecting the mind and senses
This creates fogginess, heaviness, and disorientation.
Dosha Behind Vertigo
Not sure which dosha is influencing your vertigo right now?
Take the quick Current Dosha (Vikriti) Quiz to understand your pattern before exploring the dosha‑specific guides
Take the Easy Dosha Quiz to know your prakriti, so you can adjust rituals based on your natural fallback dosha.
Once you know your current dosha – Vikriti, follow this detailed posts on Vikriti causing your vertigo.
- Kapha‑related vertigo: signs + natural rituals (coming soon)
- Pitta‑related vertigo: signs + natural rituals (coming soon)
Natural Ways to Ease Vertigo
Warm-up
- Get up slowly, sit on the bed for few minutes.
- Head massage – keep your both thumbs close to ear, and fingers on your head. Massage your scalp from front-hair line to backward in circular motion gently. Massage this way about 4-5 minutes.
- Get down the bed slowly, do not bend too much. If you need to grab something, use your knees.
- Drink about two glasses of room temperature water, first thing in the morning.
- You may drink tea-coffee or can have breakfast 30 minutes after.
Lunch
- Have your main meal at lunch.
- Take a walk around lunch.
Dinner
- Have very light meal at dinner.
- Limit the use of spices in dinner or after dinner food.
- Do not try new food or spice in dinner.
Bed time
- Do not eat or drink any food with spices.
- You may take any calming tea without sugar.
Tips
🌿Only if you are not having vertigo currently, but having it often – you can try yoga pose called Shirsashana for improving circulation in head.
🌿Keep your days planned, do not rush.
🌿Have enough sleep and rest eyes in between activities.
Q&A
1. Why do I get vertigo even when my tests are normal?
Many people experience vertigo from functional issues—inner‑ear sensitivity, migraines without headache, dehydration, or stress—none of which show up on scans. Ayurveda adds that Vata imbalance can create lightness, spinning, or disorientation even when medical tests look normal.
2. Is vertigo the same as dizziness?
Not exactly.
- Vertigo feels like spinning or movement, still aware of surroundings.
- Dizziness feels like lightheadedness or imbalance, may lose sense of surroundings for a moment or two.
They can overlap, but vertigo specifically involves the inner ear and balance pathways.
3. Can stress really trigger vertigo?
Yes. Stress affects the nervous system and can confuse the brain’s balance signals. Ayurveda calls this Prana Vayu disturbance, where the mind and senses lose their usual grounding.
4. Why does my vertigo come and go?
Vertigo often fluctuates with sleep, hydration, hormones, weather changes, or sudden head movements. Ayurveda explains this as Vata becoming unstable, especially when routines are irregular.
5. Can dehydration or irregular meals cause vertigo?
Yes. Low hydration or long gaps between meals can drop blood pressure or affect the inner ear’s fluid balance.
This can create lightheadedness or vertigo‑like sensations.
A healthcare professional can help determine whether hydration or nutrition patterns are contributing.
Takeaway
🌿Unexplained vertigo can feel unsettling, but it’s often the body’s way of asking for steadiness, nourishment, and a slower rhythm.
🌿Whether the cause is inner‑ear sensitivity, stress, or a Vata‑style imbalance, small grounding habits can help your system find its center again.
🌿You don’t have to solve it all at once — even one gentle shift can bring your inner compass back into focus.
If this post helped you feel a little more understood, you may enjoy the simple grounding tools and gentle routines I share each week.
They’re designed to bring steadiness to busy days and support your mind‑body balance in small, doable ways.
New to Brioveda? Start here for simple, grounding steps to feel more like yourself.
Sign up for simple, nourishing Ayurveda at home.
If this brought you clarity today, feel free to share it with someone who might need it.
