Researchers at the University of Colorado claim they may have discovered a plan to “disable” Meniere’s Disease and it all has to do with blood flow.
According to Carol Foster, MD, from the department of otolaryngology and Robert Breeze, MD, a neurosurgeon, there is a strong association between Meniere’s disease and conditions involving temporary low blood flow in the brain such as in migraine headaches.
The connection between blood flow and Meniere’s has long been believed to be at least part of the reason for Meniere’s symptoms and is something concentrated on by both Chiropractors and in part, nutritionists.
It forms a big part of the reasons for some of the supplements such as ginkgo, Lipoflavonoid and grapeseed extract in the supplement regimen used with such success for over a decade spoken about so much on the main website Meniere-Help.Com.
It is also the reason Pycnogenol seems to help relieve symptoms.
All of these supplements have nutrients that help blood flow.
The Research
“If our hypothesis is confirmed, treatment of vascular risk factors may allow control of symptoms and result in a decreased need for surgeries that destroy the balance function in order to control the spell” said Foster. “If attacks are controlled, the previously inevitable progression to severe hearing loss may be preventable in some cases.”
The researchers propose that a fluid buildup in part of the inner ear, which is strongly associated with Meniere attacks, indicates the presence of a pressure-regulation problem that acts to cause mild, intermittent decreases of blood flow within the ear.
When this is combined with vascular diseases that also lower blood flow to the brain and ear, sudden loss of blood flow similar to transient ischemic attacks (or mini strokes) in the brain can be generated in the inner ear sensory tissues.
In young people who have hydrops without vascular disorders, no attacks occur because blood flow continues in spite of these fluctuations. However, in people with vascular diseases, these fluctuations are sufficient to rob the ear of blood flow and the nutrients the blood provides.
When the tissues that sense hearing and motion are starved of blood, they stop sending signals to the brain, which sets off the vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss in the disorder.
Blood flow and the symptoms of Meniere’s disease
Restoration of blood flow does not resolve the problem. Scientists believe it triggers a damaging after-effect called the ischemia-reperfusion pathway in the excitable tissues of the ear that silences the ear for several hours, resulting in the prolonged severe vertigo and hearing loss that is characteristic of the disorder.
Although most of the tissues recover, each spell results in small areas of damage that over time results in permanent loss of both hearing and balance function in the ear.
Since the first linkage of endolymphatic hydrops and Meniere’s disease in 1938, a variety of mechanisms have been proposed to explain the attacks and the progressive deafness, but no answer has explained all aspects of the disorder, and no treatment based on these theories has proven capable of controlling the progression of the disease.
This new theory, if proven, would provide many new avenues of treatment for this previously poorly-controlled disorder. Interesting theory, lets hope we hear more about this.
In acupuncture, sometimes the rush of blood to the ear can cause initial dizziness followed by relief from most symptoms. Encouraging better blood flow is one of the aims of the therapist.
Can PYCNOGENOL help reduce the symptoms of Meniere’s Disease?
Table of Contents
One of the primary treatments for Meniere’s, especially in Japan is to improve blood flow in the inner ear. This is why people have such good results with Lipoflavonoid Plus and Ginkgo taken as part of the supplement regimenthat has been used successfully for over a decade to help people to live either symptom free, or at least reduce their symptoms to manageable levels.
In Japan pharmaceuticals are prescribed with the purpose of improving blood flow as part of standard treatment of Meniere’s.
In July 2014 New research published in Minerva Medica found daily supplementation of Pycnogenol® to significantly improve inner ear blood flow, providing relief from symptoms of Meniere’s disease such as tinnitus, dizziness, hearing loss, inner-ear pressure and unsteady balance.
An extract from the above clinical study reads:
PYCNOGENOL for Meniere’s Disease: clinical study
Results: There was a more significant improvement in all registry items at 3 and 6 months in the Pycnogenol group (P<0.05). The number of lost working days was lower in the Pycnogenol group. At 3 months, 45.4% of subjects using Pycnogenol were completely asymptomatic in comparison with 23.07% of controls. At 6 months 87.3% of the Pycnogenol subjects were asymptomatic compared with 34.6% of controls. Cochlear flow velocity was significantly better (higher flow, higher diastolic component) in the Pycnogenol group (P<0.05). The subjective tinnitus scale decreased in both groups (P<0.05); the decrease was more significant in Pycnogenol subjects (P<0.05) at 3 and 6 months.
Conclusion: Symptoms of Meniere’s disease, flow at cochlear level and tinnitus improved in Pycnogenol subjects in comparison with best management.
Pycnogenol is a natural plant product made from the bark of the French maritime pine, Pinus maritima. Rich in proanthocyanidins, a special class of water-soluble antioxidant flavonoids that are excellent free radical scavengers. Standardized extract yields 90% proanthocyanidins and organic acids. Lemon flavonoids and grapeseed flavonoids are often used to help with the symptoms of Meniere’s Disease.
If you have had success using Pycnogenol we would love to hear from you so we can inform other Meniere’s sufferers as best we can. Equally, we want to hear any negative testimonials. Please tell us about your experiences in the comments box below or email Mike at meniereshelp@gmail.com
Stress and Meniere’s Disease – The vicious cycle that never ends
A lengthy study paper on the effects of stress on Meniere’s patients was published on the US National Library of Medicine & National Institute of Health website (PubMed) in February 2014.
Stress is a very important factor with regards to Meniere’s and at the very least it is a contributing trigger to Meniere’s attacks. Only those who have never lived with this condition would argue otherwise.
In the paper ‘The Influence of Psychological Factors in Meniere’s Disease‘ the author comes to the same conclusions that I have maintained for 12 years that it is a vicious cycle. Meniere’s causes stress and stress triggers attacks. The conclusions were reached following study of 26 articles and 33 studies.
The Influence of Psychological Factors in Meniere’s Disease – Study
Here are a few extracts from the lengthy paper (view the full paper through link at the top of the page):
“Many physicians have observed that psychological factors play a significant role in the course of Meniere’s disease (MD), with Meniere’s patients being subject to anxiety and tension states.
However, the question whether MD is caused by psychological factors or whether the psychological manifestation in MD is as a result of the illness is still unresolved.
A vicious circle of interaction seems to exist between the somatic organic symptoms of MD and resultant psychological stress. The frightening attacks of vertigo seem likely to produce and increase the level of anxiety thereby worsening the emotional state and the resultant anxiety provokes various symptoms probably through disorders of the autonomic nervous system occasioned by the increased levels of stress-related hormones.
In MD the frightening attacks of vertigo seem likely to produce and increase the level of anxiety thereby worsening the emotional state and the resultant anxiety provokes various symptoms probably through disorders of the autonomic nervous system occasioned by the increased levels of stress-related hormones.
Hence, a vicious circle of interaction between somatic organic symptoms of MD and resultant psychological stress develops. Understandably, those with predisposing psychological personality characteristics are more likely to suffer more impact of this vicious cycle on their QOL (quality of life) than Meniere’s patients whose personalities are in the normal range.
Conclusion
In MD, there seem to exist a vicious circle of interaction between the somatic symptoms especially vertigo and resultant emotional disturbances, which in turn tend to provoke some other somatic symptoms.
The QOL of the sufferers is severely incapacitated by the illness, especially the psychological well-being, which manifest mainly with anxiety and depression, dominating the physical and environmental disturbances. Worse QOL tends to occur in Meniere’s patients with more severe vertigo symptom.”
Other Studies
It would seem that although stress may not be the definitive cause of Meniere’s “Disease” it can cause some of the symptoms. If you consider that Meniere’s is an idiopathic condition then this seems somewhat contradictory. In another paper from PubMed: ‘Microarray analysis of stress-related gene expression in patients with Ménière’s disease‘ it states:
“All these findings suggested that the distinct group of stress-related genes contributed to the development of vertigo attacks of Ménière’s disease and that stress-related gene expression profiles in peripheral leukocytes can be a predictive and therapeutic tool for episodic vertigo attacks in patients with Ménière’s disease.”
In yet another paper from PubMed titled: ‘The relevance of an elevation in the plasma vasopressin levels to the pathogenesis of Meniere’s attack.‘ the author stated,
“Results suggest that the elevation of plasma vasopressin in the acute phase of Meniere’s disease is therefore related to the pathogenesis of Meniere’s attacks”
In at least some cases it may be a chicken and egg question regarding which comes first the stress or Meniere’s but it is clear that stress is a trigger.
How relevant is Stress in the symptoms of Meniere’s Disease?
Absolutely relevant. Stress is at the very least a trigger and in some people it would seem a root cause. Reducing your non Meniere’s related stress would seem vital in reducing the severity and regularity of Meniere’s symptoms.
Meniere’s Disease? Vestibular Migraine? Or is it the same thing?
Table of Contents
Many people who have been diagnosed with Meniere’s disease often complain of suffering from migraine headaches yet many do not.
It is true that the severity of symptoms can vary from person to person and the absence of one or more symptoms is common. We are all different and can have different environments, lifestyles, eating habits, fitness levels, additional health problems, stress levels, triggers and root causes.
“ENT doctors know that many patients with inner ear problems have headaches, and neurologists know that many patients with migraine have inner ear problems,” according to Jason D. Rosenberg, MD, assistant professor of neurology and director of the Johns Hopkins Headache Center. Many experts think that BPPV, Meniere’s disease, migraines, and vertigo are all related conditions on the same spectrum.
Study suggests an overlap with vestibular migraine and Meniere’s disease
A study published in Frontiers of Neurology in 2014 looked at the overlap of Meniere’s disease and vestibular migraine, the two most common causes of spontaneous recurrent vertigo. In 268 patients with either disorder, it was found that a subset of patients with Meniere’s experienced migraine headaches, and some vestibular migraine patients complained of auditory symptoms like tinnitus and hearing loss, as seen in Meniere’s.
“Meniere’s disease is a common confounder. An audiogram is a simple test that can be helpful. Patients with Meniere’s will usually have a unilateral, significant sensorineural hearing loss. Patients with vestibular migraine may have a milder, bilateral hearing loss,” says Jonathan H. Smith, MD, assistant professor of neurology at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine..
In addition to otologic causes of vertigo, other disorders in the differential diagnosis include acoustic neuroma, brainstem lesions, post-traumatic headache or vertigo, and vascular abnormalities. “Throw in MS, stroke, and infection. Neurologic findings that are red flags include ataxia, skew, diplopia, cranial nerve abnormalities, visual field loss, and static imbalance,” says Rosenberg.
Meniere’s Disease or Vestibular Migraine?
From the NIH this article (Meniere’s Disease and Vestibular Migraine: Updates and Review of the Literature), it states: “The diagnosis of Meniere’s disease (MD) and vestibular migraine (VM) is primarily based on clinical criteria and their differentiation is often difficult. Currently, there are no known definitive diagnostic tests that can reliably distinguish the two conditions. Patients with MD and patients with VM are treated differently, therefore improving the diagnosis of these two pathologies should avoid errors in management.”
“Among other differences, MD showed later age of onset, more hearing loss, tinnitus, aural fullness, abnormal nystagmus, abnormal caloric testing results, abnormal vestibular evoked myogenic potential and endolymphatic hydrops. VM showed more headaches, photophobia, vomiting and aura.”
A closer look at Meniere’s will show you that like many conditions, it is merely a set of symptoms lumped together under one label. It is an idiopathic condition, meaning a set of symptoms that has no definitive known cause. Yet the root cause or causes can be found. Once you have identified your cause or causes (there may be more than one contributing to your condition) by the very definition of idiopathic, you can no longer class yourself as having Meniere’s. Herein lies the problem. It is a problem of perception.
The bottom line is that you can find your individual cause and eliminate it from your life and as a result eliminate Meniere’s or rather all your symptoms from your life and regain your health.
What are your experiences with Meniere’s and Migraines. Have you been able to free yourself of your symptoms?
Can Cannabis help with the symptoms of Meniere’s disease?
Table of Contents
The many benefits of medical marijuana are well documented and the number of breakthrough studies seem to be growing by the day.
First hand accounts that are often filmed and posted on youtube and social media show fast relief from epilepsy and Parkinson’s symptoms and show us that autism is an area where cannabis oil seems to have incredible results.
This would suggest that neurological conditions particularly can be reversed or the symptoms of which can be reduced at least using cannabis. However, its potential use is obviously far beyond that.
Some countries and states are now allowing it to be used on prescription and it is often being debated in parliaments and governments around the world. Awareness that cannabis can be used to treat and allegedly even cure many conditions is growing fast; faster among users possibly and researchers rather than the medical community it has to be said.
The human body has Cannabinoid receptors, not only in the brain, but throughout the body that are part of the Endocannabinoid system. Cannabis is a natural herb and anything that grows in nature where the body has receptors to utilize its components must have use for human health.
The demonizing of cannabis is a long sordid story of influence from powerful corporate leaders who feared loss of profits from such a plant. Even now, mega biotech companies are working to grow genetically modified strains of the plant.
They see the writing on the wall and a time when they can no longer contain the truth about its medical benefits. You cannot patent anything from nature, but you can patent the GMO version.
Cannabinoid receptors can be found in immune cells
The Journal of Neuroendocrinology published a study in 2008 regarding cannabinoid receptors and pointed out that C2 receptors can be “found in a number of immune cells“. So the use of marijuana for Meniere’s goes way past merely relaxing the sufferer to avoid anxiety sparking an episode in the way valium and other anti-depressants might be prescribed.
The decades of demonization of the plant has produced generations that fear it. This is changing fast but take Japan, somewhere I have extensive experience with as an extreme example. Talk to the average Japanese person and they would consider marijuana in the same light as heroin. It is a drug, drugs are bad, period.
Yet before WW2 hemp and cannabis grew freely throughout the country. It was held in such high regard that even today children’s tradition attire are still decorated with hemp leaf prints. The reason for this is it symbolizes strength and good health for the child. Propaganda has done a fine job in its brainwashing over the past half century or so. Most parents do not know the symbolism or even what the leaf is.
Used for medical relief it is vaporized rather than smoked and in home remedies that have had such reported success with beating cancer and even curing epilepsy and autism oil extract is mixed with things like coconut oil.
Perhaps the fastest growing and most easily accessible form of medical cannabis is CBD oil. CBD hemp oil is made from high-CBD, low-THC hemp, unlike medical marijuana products, which are usually made from plants with high concentrations of psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Because hemp contains only trace amounts of THC, these hemp oil products are non-psychoactive.
Famous singer songwriter Ryan Adams who suffers from Meniere’s Disease told Britain’s Culture Magazine that he smokes cannabis to help him cope with the symptoms.
Adams said, “It’s therapeutic. There are a lot of people who say, ‘Oh he’s a pothead,’ but I think, ‘Be careful, as karma is real, and begrudging people who are sick is awful.”
cannabis has anti-anxiety properties.
cannabis has anti-nausea effect.
cannabis helps to stop the vertigo (spinning sensation)
These are the claims of R. Stephen Ellis, MD.
Cannabis is recommended for dizziness and Meniere’s disease
According to MedicalMarijuana.com doctors in California routinely recommend cannabis for Meniere’s . “Meniere’s causes dizziness. Dizziness causes nausea, cannabis relieves nausea”, Robert Sullivan, MD sais, “I’ve issued many recommendations for Meniere’s, as well as tinnitus (ringing in the ears) “ It works well enough to make a significant improvement in patients’ lives.”
As of June 2017, 29 states in the US allow Medical Marijuana:
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia.
It is also allowed in Washington DC. 12 other states have pending marijuana legislation.
Note: The medical conditions that are allowed to be treated by medical marijuana in each state varies.
Some European and South American countries allow some form of medical marijuana as well as Australia, Canada and New Zealand. (As of 2017)
As of 2018, 30 countries had legalized Medical marijuana and more are following suit.
Finally, it is interesting to consider that nobody dies directly from marijuana use, while the statistics of deaths from prescription opioids has reached epidemic proportions in the US. According to the CDC, deaths nearly tripled during 1999–2014. In 2015 33,091 deaths involved an opioid.
Considering the fact that medical marijuana is often used to replace synthetic prescription opioids, given the choice, which would you use?
Stress and Meniere’s Disease – The vicious cycle that never ends
