If you’ve ever wondered whether a sauna or a cold plunge is better for dizziness, the answer is, it depends. Both are powerful tools, but when it comes to conditions like Meniere’s disease and chronic dizziness, the right choice might actually be a bit of both
If you’re wondering is sauna good for Meniere’s? this article breaks down the pros and cons of sauna, cold plunges, and offers a more effective approach.
Increases circulation and promotes detoxification, but may worsen symptoms from heat rising.
Triggers adrenaline and reduce inflammation, but can overstimulate the nervous system.
A safer approach is applying cold to the face and heat to the feet.
Learn how it is done.
Hydrotherapy with hot foot soaks and cold face compresses offers a more balanced therapy that combines the best of both worlds.
Rooted in both modern science and Traditional Chinese Medicine, this technique regulates your nervous system and relieves your worst symptoms.
Where Does the Blood Go? Before we dive into Meniere's specific recommendations, let’s understand what each practice does to the body.
When you enter a sauna, your blood rushes to the skin and extremities. This outward flow increases circulation, promotes sweating, and benefits both heart and brain health.
People who rarely sweat—often older adults or those with poor circulation—can find significant benefits from sauna therapy. It gently encourages detoxification and stimulates blood flow to areas that are typically cooler or more stagnant.
When you submerge in cold water, your body reacts dramatically. Blood rushes inward, your sympathetic nervous system spikes, and you get a jolt of adrenaline and endorphins.
This makes cold plunges a favorite for athletes dealing with soreness, or for those navigating depression and brain fog. It can provide a sharp mental reset and reduce inflammation in the body.
Instead of engaging the full body in temperature shocks, we focus on targeted hydrotherapy.
That’s where things get more nuanced. People with Ménière’s or chronic dizziness often exhibit a common pattern: heat above, cold below.
Symptoms such as migraines, tinnitus, and dizziness indicate a rising yang in Traditional Chinese Medicine, or inflammation in the head. At the same time, cold feet and hands signal stress and poor circulation.
In both Western and Chinese medicine, this “inverted circulation” can actually worsen dizziness and throw off your internal balance. That means a sauna may make head pressure worse, and a cold plunge could overstimulate your nervous system, triggering vertigo or anxiety.
Instead of engaging the full-body in temperature shocks, we focus on targeted hydrotherapy:
In a healthy state, qi and blood circulate freely, allowing excess heat to be drawn downward, where it can be dispersed through the legs and feet. At the same time, the natural coolness of the lower body rises upward, keeping the head clear and the senses sharp. This continuous dynamic—heat descending, coolness ascending—is what keeps the body’s internal climate regulated.
Applying cold to the face activates the dive reflex, slowing your heart rate, calming your breath, and reducing sympathetic overdrive. It also vasoconstricts the blood vessels in the head, reducing inflammation and pressure in the ears and eyes.
Studies show this technique can help reduce migraines, anxiety, and even improves inner ear function.
Soaking the feet in hot water pulls energy downward, increases peripheral circulation, and soothes the nervous system.
It improves sleep, reduces dizziness, and helps reverse the body’s pattern of cold extremities and hot heads.
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If you’re struggling with vertigo, dizziness, or Meniere’s Disease, you understand how frustrating it can be when your symptoms are misunderstood or dismissed by healthcare providers, leaving you without a clear path to relief.
Willard Sheppy, a licensed acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist, knows exactly how you feel because he himself lives with Meniere’s Disease and has successfully managed his condition through acupuncture, herbal medicine, and lifestyle strategies.
With firsthand experience and deep expertise, Will provides personalized care aimed at addressing the underlying causes of vertigo, reducing symptoms, and restoring balance to your life.
Willard Sheppy holds a Master’s degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine and is a Diplomate of Oriental Medicine certified by the NCCAOM.
Valley Health Clinic in Albany, Oregon specializes in providing effective, evidence-based, and affordable care to restore your health and make your best health better. For athletes and active clients, Valley Health Clinic’s comprehensive Sports Acupuncture Program focuses on quicker recovery and helping you perform at your peak.