Category: Meniere’s Disease Triggers & Causes

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General Information on Meniere's Disease / Syndrome Meniere's Disease Triggers & Causes

Gluten and Meniere’s Disease

Can gluten cause the symptoms of Meniere’s Disease?

Updated September 2020

Could Gluten be a cause Meniere’s symptoms? Tests in the past have shown links to Meniere’s and problems with the digestive system . The health of the gut is essential for overall health, Gut issues such as IBS have been linked to neurological diseases, autoimmune diseases and Meniere’s disease. 

In this article it suggests a connection between gluten and Meniere’s symptoms.

Extract:

Gluten and Balance

Meniere’s disease is a condition that manifests symptomatically as severe dizziness, ear pressure, ringing, and often times is associated with concomitant migraine headache. The symptoms can be debilitating and often lead to nausea, vomiting, and inability to stand or walk due to imbalance. Recent research has identified a connection between grain (specifically wheat) and Meniere’s disease. The study was published in the journal, Laryngoscope. The abstract is below:

Wheat is one of the most common food allergens found in patients with Meniere’s disease (MD). Gluten from wheat has been identified to have a etiopathogenetic role in celiac disease, IgE hypersensitivity to wheat disease, and recently to gluten sensitivity. The aim of this study was to verify the incidence of gliadin prick test response in patients affected by MD.

There were 58 adult patients with definite MD, 25 healthy volunteers, and 25 patients with grass pollen rhinoconjunctivitis tested with skin prick test to gliadin.

A total of 33 MD patients (56.9%) proved to be sensitive to gliadin, eight of whom were positive to prick test after 20 minutes, 13 after 6 hours, 11 after 12 hours, and one after 24 hours.

Gluten and Meniere’s disease – studies

Gluten sensitivity in Meniere’s disease. A cited clinical study paper on NIH

Extract:

Wheat is one of the most common food allergens found in patients with Meniere’s disease (MD). Gluten from wheat has been identified to have a etiopathogenetic role in celiac disease, IgE hypersensitivity to wheat disease, and recently to gluten sensitivity.

A total of 33 MD patients (56.9%) proved to be sensitive to gliadin, eight of whom were positive to prick test after 20 minutes.

Also on the NIH:

Meniere’s disease and gluten sensitivity: recovery after a gluten-free diet

Extract:

We report the case of a 63-year-old female with definite unilateral Meniere’s disease, osteoarthritis of the distal finger joints with mucous cysts and Heberden’s nodes, and constipation with recurrent abdominal pain whose symptoms remitted after 6months of a restrictive gluten-free diet.

The question is, is it the gluten itself; the modification of gluten or the chemicals used in modern farming processes that find their way into the wheat or grains?

We do know that we have received messages from sufferers who have symptom free after changing their diet and in some cases that meant going gluten free.

Gluten in the form we know today is a neurotoxin and of course the central nervous system has been linked to Meniere’s. Over the past 50 years, hybridization wheat grains has taken place to supposedly increase crop yield ( the results of that are highly debatable)  and lengthen ‘shelf life’.

A protein called gliadin was added to grain. It is thought that higher concentrations of this protein has made wheat less digestible, which causes an allergy or reaction. Increased antibodies to gliadin, may have a negative impact on the neural system.

Almost 50% say gluten is an issue with Meniere’s

In September 2020, the question was asked in a Meniere’s social media group, “Has anyone linked their triggers to dairy or gluten instead of the sodium?”

Of the 37 respondents, 17 suggested gluten may be an issue:

Responses:

  1. Yes all three and stress
  2. And processed foods with MSG
  3. Yes! Dairy is a HUGE trigger for me. Moderate gluten is okay but I get super fatigued and just off with lots of it. Sodium is no issue unless in ridiculous high amounts. As long as I salt to taste and cook mostly from scratch I stay in the moderate sodium range (2500mg give or take) and that works well for me
  4. I went gluten and dairy free around March this year and noticed a massive improvement, more so than just watching my salt. But like everything with this disease it’s not the final answer as I’m currently in a three week spiral having changed nothing about my routine.
  5. Gluten yes! Add sugar, salt, caffeine to that and its disaster. And dehydration
  6. I removed gluten and dairy and I have done better! They are definitely triggers for me
  7. Yes 100%
  8. Yeah I got diagnosed with celiac disease
  9. Yes.
  10. Carbs/starches/natural sugars/regular sugar. Anything that breaks down as sugar. Although, I can’t tolerate much dairy, but that’s been for the last 23 years since I had my first pregnancy.
  11. Gluten and diary set me off. I’m on a high sodium diet and it doesn’t bother me
  12. Gluten, diary, sodium all r triggers
  13. Same, I don’t eat any of those, haven’t for years
  14. I tried to stay gluten and dairy free as much as possible only because I believe Menerie’s is a autoimmune disorder and with any autoimmune you need to stay away from that stuff
  15. Sure. You can also get allergy tested through a blood test and do allergy drops which help with food related symptoms like mucus, fluid retention, and dizziness which has helped my daughter. She also eats a low sodium and low sugar diet to help reduce dizziness.
  16. Gluten is my number 1 trigger, and what I am figuring out is that it takes a LONG time to get back to normal after I’ve had an interaction, so sodium becomes a constant trigger until everything really settles down again. Once I get everything balanced out again I can eat and drink as I please, just no gluten
  17. Yea gluten really bugs me. I have tried my best to eat a gluten free diet and it helps but not enough to cure md.

If you found this article useful Click here to support Meniere’s Help paypal.me/menieres

Related articles:

Can Meniere’s Disease be caused by Autoimmunity?
Dealing with Tinnitus
Toxic Mold and Meniere’s

Help other Meniere’s sufferers. Do you have experience of Meniere’s and gluten? Tell us all about it in the comments box below or email Mike at meniereshelp@gmail.com

References/Further reading:

Gluten Sensitivity and Vertigo/Meniere’s Disease

Gluten sensitivity in Meniere’s disease

Categories
Meniere's Disease Triggers & Causes General Information on Meniere's Disease / Syndrome

Sinuses and Meniere’s Disease

Sinus issues and Meniere’s Disease

Problems with sinuses have been linked to triggers or possibly even a cause of  Meniere’s Disease.

Denise, a friend of Meniere’s Help recently published a very good post on her blog regarding sinuses and how to safely clear them. Steaming is preferable to  saline sprays.

Denise says that if she used any sort of saline spray she would get ringing in the ears badly and dizziness . She reminds us that saline sprays have a great potential to drift straight to the ears!  This is something we totally do not want because it contributes to the vicious cycle of Meniere’s symptoms!  She says she is no longer fooled when they say that saline solution is safe because there is no ‘so called’ medication ingredients.  I found this very eye-opening but not surprising: http://www.medicinenet.com/sodium_chloride-nasal_spray/page2.htm#SideEffects 

Denise has some very good advice in her post. When we have congestion in the sinuses we may think there is something inside. However, sometimes it is just the swelling that occurs due to infection, irritants, or histamine reactions.

Read a much more in depth article on sinuses and allergies here: Stopping Meniere’s disease symptoms during allergy season.

The safer alternative to nasal sprays when you have Meniere’s Disease

Allergies from pollen in the air and sinus problems seem to be a factor with many people. Hay fever and other airborne allergens, causing inflammation around the nasal passage and sinuses and clogging up the ears with pollen would seem an obvious candidate and many people do seem to have problems with this.

The sinuses and tonsils are the first line of defense for your immune system. The tonsils pick up bacteria and prevent it from going further into your body. The immune system memorizes the bacteria and now has a ready made army of cells to send to eliminate that bacteria the moment it appears again.

In the case of sinuses, these are filters to stop unwanted dusts and allergens into the body. When your sinuses are blocked or running, they are doing their job. To do  their  job, they must be kept moist.

Most sinus medicines prevent them doing their job in order to make you more comfortable. However if the sinuses are not filtering out the allergens, they can proceed and do damage deeper in the body.

Wearing a mask during allergy seasons and steaming the sinuses clear regularly can help. Steaming is preferable to masks. Masks can hold bacteria that should be exhaled. Wearing masks for too long can result in bacterial infections.

You can steam the old fashioned way, bent over  a bowl of hot water with a towel over your head to stop the steam escaping. Or you can use a personal steamer inhaler. 

Click here to read Managing Meniere’s Disease
Click here to read The Need for Balance – Dealing with the Causes of Meniere’s

Help other sufferers. What is your experience with sinuses and Meniere’s disease? Tell us all about it in the comments box below or email Mike at meniereshelp@gmail.com

Related articles:

Toxic Mold and Meniere’s
Stopping Meniere’s Symptoms During Allergy Season
Can Lymphatic Drainage Therapy Relieve Meniere’s Symptoms?

References/Further reading:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28992951/

Categories
General Information on Meniere's Disease / Syndrome Meniere's Disease Triggers & Causes

Orthokine therapy for Meniere’s disease

Can this therapy heal Meniere’s disease?

Dr. Peter Wehling Founder of The Center for Molecular Orthopedics in Dusseldorf, Germany has developed a procedure where the patient’s own blood is taken, incubated and manipulated then reintroduced into the body and acts as a “natural” anti-inflammatory. Originally this was used for treating sports people to combat chronic pain, usually in joints. The treatment is called “Orthokine” therapy.

Orthokine Therapy is a form of injection therapy, which harnesses and enhances the bodies natural defense mechanisms against inflammation to reduce pain and improve function.

The Orthokine Procedure

  • Blood is taken from the patient. The procedure is carried out similarly to a blood sampling for laboratory testing and is not pain-associated
  • Blood is incubated at 37°C, which stimulates the production of IL-1Ra.
  • Using a laboratory centrifuge to separate the blood components, the protein is extracted
  • This extraction is filed in ampoules, later available in injection form
  • The protein is then injected within the painful area of the joints, using CT guidance

Typically, injections are given 1-2 times a week. Treatment for discogenic diseases requires 4 injections, while lesions of the joints of the extremities, a minimum of 6 injections are usually required. Following injections, patients are advised to avoid strenuous exercise for a period of 48 hours. Some side effects may include swelling and numbness around the injection site, which may last around 2 hours

The ear is affected by inflammation in Meniere’s disease and the procedure is said to have been developed further where it may be possible for the hearing and balance nerves damaged by Meniere’s to be healed. Dana White, the UFC President recently received this treatment in Germany is said to feel “cured”.

Orthokine therapy, if available to you, is certainly an option worth investigating.

Can Orthokine therapy work for Meniere’s disease?

Orthokine therapy may come at a cost of a five figure sum and although is becoming more available it is still quite rare (at the time of writing). If you have the kind of money Dana White has then it has to be an option worth considering but for the vast majority it may be financially and practically out of reach for the time being.

As orthokine therapy is not a recognized specific treatment for Meniere’s disease it is unlikely you will be able to get this offered on national health nor be covered by insurance. You will need to find a private clinic and talk about your options.

However, identifying the root cause of your symptoms, be it viral, spinal and neck misalignment, exposure to chemicals or drugs, autoimmune problems, dental or Jaw misalignments or whatever, is possible and it is also possible to reverse the long standing effects and results of years of vertigo attacks and constant pressure within the inner ear that have caused hearing deterioration and balance nerve damage.

If you found this article and site useful Click here to support Meniere’s Help paypal.me/menieres

Related articles:

Dealing with Tinnitus
Overcoming Meniere’s Disease
Can Meniere’s Disease be caused by Autoimmunity?

Help other sufferers. Let us know your thoughts and any experience with Orthokine therapy in the comments box below or email Mike at: meniereshelp@gmail.com

References/Further reading:

https://hmcisrael.com/operation/orthokine-treatment/

Categories
Meniere's Disease Triggers & Causes

Meniere’s Disease and Cervical Spine

Are the symptoms of Meniere’s Disease connected to the Cervical Spine?

Chiropractics And Meniere’s Disease

The link between Meniere’s symptoms, particularly vertigo and neck irregularities may be one of the several possible causes of Meniere’s Disease and you would be wise to have your neck and spine checked if you are a sufferer. You can also will find more information related to Chiropractics and Meniere’s Disease & vestibular problems elsewhere on Meniere’s Help.

Dietary Changes & Chiropractics to beat Meniere’s Disease: Testamonial 

This lady combined supplementation and diet changes for a yeast overgrowth with Chiropractics to free herself of Meniere’s Disease symptoms. Below is her a summary of her communication with Meniere’s Help:

Hi Michael,

Sorry for the delay in replying to you.

I am doing much better these days. I was initially taking the supplements for over 4 months without real improvement and not being able to pinpoint any factors which was my trigger. Someone told me about a doctor in Belfast who no longer worked for the NHS as he took a more alternative therapy view on health, a more holistic approach. I attended his clinic about 3 months ago and after a consultation and some investigations he diagnosed my problem as candida overgrowth. To deal with the bacteria overgrowth and he put me on a strict diet (no yeast, no dairy, no sugar). He also had me attend a chiropractor as he felt my neck had a lot of tension in it which could be triggering some of my dizziness/vertigo. Since I have been on this diet & the supplements and finished course of chiropractor treatment i am feeling much better, more energy, no vertigo in 2 months, sleeping better….just feeling like my old self again! The only thing that still bothers me at times is the tinnitus but i can live with that!

Thanks once again for the help and support i received from yourself and Karin

Joanne

Used with permission.
Click here to learn how to manage your Meniere’s symptoms

Note: Candida is a yeast infection that can occur in several parts of the body including the stomach (often the root), the genital area, the mouth and the EAR. Natural things that combat candida are ginger, garlic, grapefruit and probiotics. Some things that can cause or encourage candida growth are sweet foods, alcohol (especially beer) and ani-biotics. It is generally advised these day that after a course of anti-biotics you should use probiotics or Probiotic yogurts are plentiful in the shops these days.

Ear candling is said to be a good treatment for candida.

NCR – Neurocranial Restructuring

We had one gentleman this week who combined supplementation and NCR and was so happy that he requested that we put a video or some info on the website, “even if helps just one person” he said.

Below is a video about a unique Neurocranial Restructuring (NCR) method. You may find it worth investigating, especially if you have sinus trouble or persistent slight tinnitus that won’t go away despite living otherwise free of all the other symptoms through diet and supplementation.

While it is true many people are living symptom free from strengthening their immune system with the supplements and this allows our own immune system to take care of the inflammation causing the build of fluid in the inner ear. It is not a cure. If you have Meniere’s as a result of skeletal muscular problems in the back and neck area etc then NCR (seen in this video) may actually help tackle your root cause.

Around the 6 minute mark there is a patient who had Meniere’s Disease and Vertigo. In this video it also mentions TMJ, Migraines, Neck pain, Sinuses, Whiplash, Fibromalgia, Back pain, Tinnitus, Fatigue, Dizziness, and Core posture. All of these are claimed to have a correlation with “Meniere’s Disease” from different sources.

Email us at meniereshelp@gmail.com 

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How Chiropractic Rehabilitation May Help Your Meniere’s Symptoms

We have posted a few times on Chiropractics, and how it may help your Meniere’s disease symptoms. Here is a detailed report on this topic. It may be worth visiting a reputable Chiropractor and have them check your spine and neck, to see if your symptoms are cervical in origin.

* Note: Your Chiropractor should be cervical certified *

In the article below (click the link at the bottom for the full article) The doctor states: “The dysfunction causing vertigo concerns the total balance function and not the inner ear function alone.” The eyes are part of that system and if you have Meniere’s, you will notice how it often feels the state of the eyes can trigger an attack. Simply watching TV, observing a moving object, strain from staring at computer screens etc.

Karel Lewit, MD, one of the foremost authorities in the world on locomotor system dysfunction and its effects on equilibrium, states: “It is important to stress that a cervical factor may be present in all forms of vertigo and dizziness … in no field is manipulation more effective than in the treatment of disturbances of equilibrium.”1
Because the entire locomotor as well as vestibular and visual system is involved in the regulation of equilibrium, all factors must be considered in the patient who suffers from disorders of this system. Michel Norre, noted authority in the field of vertigo and disequilibrium, states: “The dysfunction causing vertigo concerns the total balance function and not the inner ear function alone.”2 The types of dizziness that are generally most likely to fall into the chiropractic rehabilitative realm are disequilibrium and vertigo.

Disequilibrium is most often cervical in origin, as has been demonstrated by Hulse.3 It has been shown in several studies that the cervical spine plays a very strong role in the body’s regulation of equilibrium sense.4-7 In fact, Guyton7 states that the cervical spine plays the most important role in this regulation. One test that can be useful in determining whether a complaint of disequilibrium is of cervical origin is Hautant’s test.1 Have the patient sitting, preferably in a chair with back support to prevent falling, and holding their arms straight out in front of them, palms down. Have them close their eyes and observe for drifting of their arms to one side. Repeat this with the head turned to the right and to the left and often the deviation will become more marked, particularly when the head is turned to the direction of cervical joint dysfunction. This tests the ability of the cervical spine to appropriately regulate muscle tone in the extremities by properly eliciting the tonic neck reflexes.

Dr Burcon’s work with Meniere’s Disease and Cervical Spine

World Renowned Chiropractic doctor and international speaker on the subject of Meniere’s and Cervical problems Mike Burcon published a peer reviewed paper in 2010 after performing a study on 139 patients.

The paper “Upper Cervical Specific Protocol and Results for 139 Patients with Medically Diagnosed Menieres Disease” is well worth a read.

Here is a short extract from the paper’s abstract:

The cause of Menieres disease is unknown; the pathophysiology is poorly understood, and the treatment empirical. One theory is that the most common cause of Menieres disease is a structural problem, i.e., an upper cervical subluxation complex that is irritating the origin of CNVIII and partially blocking the Eustachian tube. The objective is to demonstrate the effectiveness of cervical specific chiropractic management with one hundred and thirty nine patients medically diagnosed with Menieres disease.

Results:

One hundred thirty out of one hundred and thirty nine patients had inferior and posterior listings with laterality on the opposite side of their involved ear. After one or two specific cervical adjustments, one hundred and thirty six out of the one hundred and thirty nine patients presented with balanced legs and an absence or dramatic reduction of symptoms, especially vertigo. After two years, on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 representing the absence of the symptom and 10 being the worst imaginable, vertigo was lowered from an average of 8.5 to 1.4.

Conclusion:

Prior to the onset of symptoms, all one hundred and thirty nine cases suffered cervical traumas; most from automobile accidents, resulting in previously undiagnosed whiplash injuries. It is unlikely coincidental that one
hundred and thirty out of one hundred and thirty nine consecutive Menieres patients would present with a posterior and inferior atlas listing with laterality on the opposite side of the involved ear. More research on Menieres and chiropractic is needed.

Dr Burcon has been very helpful with information and communication with Menieres-Help.Com and has even been kind enough to treat sufferers who have contacted us.

If you found this article and site useful Click here to support Meniere’s Help paypal.me/menieres

 

Related articles:

Can Chiropractics cure Meniere’s disease?
Chiropractics for Meniere’s disease
Acupuncture for Meniere’s Disease

Help other Meniere’s sufferers. Tell us your thoughts or experiences with chiropractics, the neck or back and Meniere’s in the comment box below or email Mike at meniereshelp@gmail.com

Categories
General Information on Meniere's Disease / Syndrome Meniere's Disease Triggers & Causes

Autoimmune connections to Meniere’s disease

There is plenty of evidence to suggest that there are autoimmune connections to Meniere’s disease at least for some people. Below we examine the studies and facts around autoimmunity and Meniere’s disease.

Autoimmune connections to the symptoms of Meniere’s disease

“In order to clarify whether autoimmune mechanisms form part of the etiopathogenesis of Meniere’s disease, sera and endolymphatic sac tissues from 30 patients with Meniere’s disease were analyzed according to the clinical criteria for autoimmune diseases stated by Mackay & Burnet. Several cases showed hyper gamma-globulinemia, antibody elevation to Type II collagen in the serum and endolymph, positive staining to immunoglobulins and C3 or infiltration of immuno-competent cells in the endolymphatic sac, good response to prednisolone and combination with systemic immune disorders. Other examinations showed a significant elevation of OKT 4/8 ratio and a decrease of OKT8-positive cells, and elevated levels of circulating immune complex and antiviral antibody titers. It is suggested that certain cases of Meniere’s disease may have an altered immunological background, which may be attributed to an autoimmune mechanism dependent on humoral and/or cellular responses.”

From American-Hearing,org

Hain T. 2012

What is Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease?

Autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED) is a syndrome of progressive hearing loss and/or dizziness that is caused by antibodies or immune cells which are attacking the inner ear. In most cases, there is reduction of hearing accompanied by tinnitus (ringing, hissing, roaring) which occurs over a few months. Variants are bilateral attacks of hearing loss and tinnitus that resemble Meniere’s disease, and attacks of dizziness accompanied by abnormal blood tests for antibodies. About 50% of patients with AIED have symptoms related to balance (dizziness or unsteadiness).

The immune system is complex and there are several ways that it can damage the inner ear. Both allergy and traditional autoimmune disease such as ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjoegren’s syndrome (dry eye syndrome), Cogan’s disease, ulcerative colitis, Wegener’s granulomatosis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and psoriatic arthritis (Srikumar et al 2004) can cause or be associated with AIED. Another multisystem disease, Bechet’s, commonly has audiovestibular problems. Allergy is traditionally suspected to be food related, but there is presently no agreement as to the importance of food allergy.

AIED is rare, probably accounting for less than 1% of all cases of hearing impairment or dizziness (Bovo et al 2009). The precise incidence is controversial.

Read the full report here

This from Vestibular.org

What is autoimmunity? How is it connected to vestibular disorders?

Parts of the immune system, working constantly and behind the scenes, patrol the body in search of foreign invaders and relentlessly attack them once found. On rare occasions, in some people the immune system runs amok, identifies the body itself as foreign, and launches a lethal attack. This self-attack is referred to as an autoimmune reaction.

The immune system can attack just the ear, attack the ear and some other body part like the eye, or attack the entire body (including the ear). An autoimmune reaction also creates debris. Even if the ear is not being directly attacked, it could end up with debris transported from distant locations and deposited by the circulation. This debris in the ear can cause problems.

Some autoimmune disorders that can affect the ear include Cogan’s syndrome, relapsing polychondritis, polyarteritis nodosa, Wegener’s granulomatosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ulcerative colitis, Sjogren’s syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Hearing loss has been viewed historically as the main inner ear effect of an autoimmune problem, but the vestibular system can also be attacked. Several factors determine the type of vestibular symptoms that may be experienced. Those factors include the speed with which the vestibular loss occurred, the degree of loss, whether one side or both sides are affected, and whether the damage has triggered a problem with fluctuating function (for example, if endolymphatic hydrops developed from the autoimmune reaction). The symptoms of autoimmune problems can be similar, even indistinguishable, from other vestibular disorders.
Read the whole report here

If you found this article useful Click here to support Meniere’s Help paypal.me/menieres

Related articles and posts:

Book Review: The Need for Balance; Dealing with the Causes of Meniere’s Disease
Can Meniere’s Disease be caused by Autoimmunity?

Email Mike at: meniereshelp@gmail.com

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