Finding Balance: A Holistic Path to Vestibular Health
When it comes to dizziness, vertigo, or imbalance, the path to recovery is rarely straightforward.
Many patients, myself included, begin with unsettling but vague sensations—what I once simply called “dizziness”—that don’t always yield clear answers through standard medical testing. Too often, the complexity of vestibular disorders goes unrecognized, leaving patients searching for years before finding relief.
This is why a holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment is essential. Vestibular disorders can stem from multiple sources: some originating in the inner ear (such as BPPV, vestibular neuritis, or Meniere’s disease), and others more central, involving the neural pathways of the brain (such as vestibular migraine). In many cases, patients may have more than one contributing factor. True healing requires a broad lens—one that looks not only at vestibular function, but also at how the nervous system integrates information from the vestibular, visual and proprioceptive systems, as well as lifestyle factors like stress, diet, and sleep.
The Role of Nervous System Regulation
A turning point in my own life came in my mid 40’s when I discovered how profoundly nervous system regulation influences vestibular health. Practices like yoga first revealed to me that cultivating calm and coherence in the body could help restore balance in ways traditional medicine didn’t always address. This insight opened the door to exploring additional modalities that support the body’s natural ability to heal.
One such modality is Zero Balancing (ZB). Developed by Dr. Fritz Smith, ZB is a gentle, hands-on bodywork system that works with both structure and energy to bring the body into greater alignment. For those with vestibular challenges, ZB can help regulate the nervous system, release held tension, and restore a felt sense of grounding. In my clinical experience, adding Zero Balancing to the therapeutic toolbox provides patients with an additional pathway toward equilibrium—especially when symptoms are multifactorial and complex. This goes for everyone, not just people with vestibular issues!
Building a Comprehensive Toolbox
As vestibular therapists, our role is not only to treat but also to guide patients toward resources that empower their recovery. That’s why I often recommend the Vestibular Disordersb Association (VeDA) for reliable educational materials and a “Find a Practitioner” tool. But alongside these traditional supports, I encourage patients and colleagues to explore integrative therapies like Zero Balancing. By combining medical, rehabilitative, and holistic practices, we can address both the physical and energetic dimensions of balance.
If you or your patients are navigating unexplained dizziness, know this: recovery is possible. If traditional medicine practices are not working then it may take a broader set of tools—vestibular therapy, lifestyle changes, and integrative practices to restore you to wellness.