VERIFY QUESTION

Do you ever have a headache, migraine, dizziness or vertigo? What do you do to curb it? What if you seemingly have tried every medicine on the market with no relief?

Good Morning Show viewer Angela Kinley Jenkins submitted this inquiry:

"I have suffered vertigo for a couple years. I have used several over-the-counter products to try to avoid the dizziness. Everything makes me sleepy. If cream of tartar would work, this would be a natural solution for those that suffer from vertigo and all the symptoms that are listed."

Jenkins saw this idea referenced in a Facebook post on a holistic medicine page. The post claims putting a pinch of cream of tartar under your tongue can help relieve dizziness, vertigo, headaches and migraines.

Before we VERIFY Jenkins' question, we need to clarify the definitions of cream of tartar and vertigo. Cream of tartar is a potassium bitartrate, a byproduct of winemaking. Vertigo is a disorder of dizzy spells and a severe feeling of being very off-balance. So, can cream of tartar help alleviate dizziness?

VERIFY SOURCE

We consulted Dr. Andrew Evans, a neurologist with Novant Health neurology and sleep in Winston-Salem, and referenced the Mayo Clinic.

VERIFY PROCESS

Dr. Evans explained providing an answer to the viewer's question would require knowing the cause of a patient's vertigo. Vertigo is a symptom, not a disease. Treating the underlying condition could alleviate the dizziness.

For example, a common cause of vertigo is an ear problem -- the inner ear sends your brain signals to keep your balance. In this case, treating the ear could take care of the vertigo. However, there are other causes of vertigo, each requiring a unique treatment option.

So, is cream of tartar a natural treatment option for dizziness?

The Mayo Clinic does not list it as such. Instead, it suggests staying hydrated, avoiding caffeine/alcohol/salt/tobacco, getting enough sleep and relieving stress.

If you experience severe dizziness, lie still with your eyes closed in a darkened room. As soon as possible, talk to your doctor before starting any medication or natural remedy.

VERIFY CONCLUSION

Our VERIFY inquirer should not try cream of tartar before finding out from her doctor the source of the vertigo and the best treatment option. Anyone experiencing persistent dizziness should consult a doctor before starting any natural or over-the-counter medication.