Motion sickness remedies

Motion Sickness

Motion sickness, also known as travel sickness, is a common problem in people traveling by car, train, airplane and especially, boats. It can start suddenly with a queasy feeling and cold sweat. Then it can lead to nausea, dizziness, fatigue and vomiting.

If you are suffering from motion sickness, it is recommended to rest your head against the seat and avoid reading when traveling. Also, avoid overeating and alcohol prior to traveling since it may upset your stomach.

Natural Remedies

There are two natural remedies that can help with motion sickness.

Ginger

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a very popular herbal remedy used for motion sickness. It has many medical properties and it is often used in cuisine. It is believed that ginger can alleviate motion sickness since it is a natural remedy for nausea.

A study that involved nearly 1,500 individuals on a ship has showed that ginger is equally effective as motion sickness medications. Also, in one trial of 80 novice sailors it has been proven that one gram of ginger alleviates vomiting and cold sweats. However, in that particular case, ginger didn’t considerably help with nausea and dizziness.On the other hand, two small studies have shown that ginger is as much effective as placebo concerning simulated travel sickness.

Precautions

Ginger shouldn’t be used by those who have had surgical procedure done in previous two weeks as well as those who will undergo surgery in the next two weeks.

People who are taking “blood thinninig” drugs such as warfarin shouldn’t take ginger due to its anti-coagulative property. This interaction can potentially prolong bleeding.

People with gallstones should consult a doctor before taking ginger.

Ginger should be cautiously used in pregnancy since it may inhibit certain enzyme in the brain of the fetus.

Acupressure

Acupressure is a traditional Chinese medicine. According to acupressure practitioners, in order to alleviate nausea and travel sickness, one must press on a acupuncture point known as “pericardium 6” (P6). This point is located on the inside of the wrist, about the length of 2 fingernails up the arm from center of the wrist crease. Many travel stores sell wrist bands with built in buttons designed to apply acupressure to this point.

Medications

Medications for motion sickness may cause drowsiness and impair judgment. These medications should be taken 1 to 2 hours prior to traveling. They include: scopolamine, promethazine, cyclizine, dimenhydrinate and meclizine.

Homeopathic RemediesHomeopathic remedies used for motion sickness include: borax, cocculus, nux vornica, petroleum, sepia and tabacum.