Motion sickness and remedies
Oct 25
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Motion sickness is a catch-all phrase that refers to the uneasiness, queasiness, and nausea brought on my car, sea, train, or air travel. Extreme cases can involve sweating, dizziness, and even vomiting. According to WebMD, “Motion sickness occurs when the inner ear, the eyes, and other areas of the body that detect motion send conflicting messages to the brain.”
Travelers prone to motion sickness no longer have to suffer or stay at home; there are a wide variety of prescription and natural remedies to compact the effects. Among these are:
- Motion bands – These wrist bands are a drug-free way to fight motion sickness. Popular with cruise passengers, these bands don’t have to be worn in advance and even reduce symptoms of motion sickness if put on after the onset of nausea. Motion bands also avoid the side effects of drug or natural remedies.
- Scopolamine Patches – This plant-derivative is administered using trans-dermal patches placed behind the ear. Scopolamine is designed for multi-day use, such as a long air journey or a cruise. Scopolamine is also available in tablet form. Not recommended for children.
- Dramamine – You take this over-the-counter antihistamine several hours before travel for best effectiveness. The most commonly reported side effect is drowsiness.
- Holistic remedies – Natural remedies for motion sickness vary somewhat in effectiveness. One of the most common of these is eating ginger before traveling. This is reported to work best with light to moderate motion sickness. Acupuncture is another commonly used holistic remedy. The pressure point for motion sickness is located about two inches above the bend of the wrist.
- Practical Approaches – In addition to the above, if you commonly experience motion sickness, avoid reading while traveling. Keep your head still, and stay away from spicy foods right before your trip.
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