Motion sickness is a very common problem and can be troublesome for people who travel a lot and disruptive for those trying to enjoy a well-deserved vacation. Common symptoms of motion sickness are nausea, sweating, vomiting, dizziness, headache, increased salivation and fatigue. The symptoms usually disappear after the motion stops. You certainly can take medications to help relieve these symptoms. But if you’d like to try overcoming motion sickness for good, here are some techniques.
PEPPERMINT
Peppermint can help a lot when battling a bout of motion sickness. The menthol present in peppermint calms the stomach muscles to ease nausea and lessen motion sickness.
Remedy 1: Keep a peppermint candy in your mouth and suck on it slowly. This simple tip will work very well even if queasy feelings have begun.
Remedy 2: Drinking a strong cup of peppermint tea before traveling is very effective against motion sickness. Just add one tablespoon of dried peppermint leaves to a cup of boiling water. Steep it for half an hour, strain it, add one teaspoon of honey and your tea is ready.
CRACKERS
Crackers are easily digestible snacks that are excellent for settling the stomach. Salty or savoury, not sweet crackers, can be used to prevent motion sickness.
How to use: Saltine crackers are considered the best because they help absorb excess acid very well. To prevent nausea and vomiting, nibble on dry crackers and wash them down with a clear, carbonated soda like ginger ale. Doing this every couple of hours on an empty stomach will reduce the chance that you will get sick.
ACUPRESSURE
Acupressure helps balance the energy flow in body and make you feel comfortable preventing motion sickness.
How to do: Use your thumb to press your inner arm three finger widths (about two inches) down from your wrist crease. Hold for a few minutes, until symptoms subside.
LEMON
Fresh lemons and fresh lemon juice contain citric acid that can settle a queasy stomach, easing nausea and vomiting while traveling.
Remedy 1: Squeeze the juice of one lemon into warm rice water. Add some salt and drink it before starting a journey.
Remedy 2: Mix the juice from one lemon in a glass of lukewarm water. Add one tablespoon of honey and mix it well. Sip it slowly before and during your journey.
Remedy 3: You can also suck on a slice of lemon or a lemon wedge at regular intervals while traveling.
OLIVES
Olives help reduce the production of excess saliva in the mouth, making you less likely to become nauseated or throw up. Olives contain tannins, which naturally reduce saliva.
How to use: If you begin to feel sick while traveling, eat an olive every few minutes until your symptoms disappear.
LIQUORICE
The anti-inflammatory properties of liquorice soothe the stomach’s mucus membranes as well as reduce fatigue and the urge to vomit while traveling.
How to use: Boil half a glass of water in a saucepan and add one teaspoon of dried liquorice root to it. Remove from the heat and allow it to steep for five minutes. Strain and then drink this herbal tea half an hour before traveling.
ADDITIONAL TIPS:
- Some studies support using ginger as an effective preventive measure for motion sickness. At the very least, it can’t hurt. Take one to two grams of ginger half an hour before traveling for best results. Those on prescription blood thinners should consult their doctor before supplementing with ginger.
- Desensitization therapy works for minimizing or even curing motion sickness. Expose yourself to short bursts of activities that cause symptoms, and then work up to longer periods. If reading a book in a moving vehicle makes you feel nauseated, try reading for five minutes and then putting the book down.
- Try to choose a seat where you will experience the least motion. The middle of an airplane over the wing is the calmest area of an airplane. On a ship, those in lower level cabins near the center of a ship generally experience less motion than passengers in higher or outer cabins.
- Watch your consumption of foods, drinks, and alcohol before and during travel. Avoid excessive alcohol, smoking, and foods or liquids that “do not agree with you” or make you feel unusually full.
- Isolate yourself from others who may be suffering from motion sickness. Hearing others talk about motion sickness or seeing others becoming ill can sometimes make you feel ill yourself.