How To Get Rid Of Motion Sickness

 

Motion sickness is a very common disturbance of the inner ear. It is caused by repeated motion from a vehicle or any other movements that disturb the inner ear.

 

The ancient Greeks and Romans knew about motion sickness. Even NASA has made note of it. So, if you have this common ailment, you are part of a long tradition.

Motion sickness can happen to anyone and doesn’t last long. Yet, the experience itself is annoying and unnerving. And after it ends, you just wish it never happens again.

Some people experience nausea and even vomiting when riding in an airplane, automobile, or amusement park ride.

When riding on a boat or ship, it is commonly referred to as sea sickness – but it is the same disorder.

 

What Causes Motion Sickness?

 

Motion sickness occurs when the brain gets conflicting information from your eyes and ears. To keep it simple, your ears may talk of motion but your eyes are unable to process it. Taking a boat or a cruise ride can be exemplary, where your ears can sense motion but not your eyes. But there is also another type, where motion can be felt or seen but the brain fails to process it. Anything that has a centrifugal force can create this sensation.

 

What are some common Symptoms of Motion Sickness?

 

You can understand motion sickness from the following symptoms:

• Excessive perspiration
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Rise in salivary secretion/drooling
• Pale skin
• Sweating
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of appetite
• Too much yawning

 

How to prevent Motion sickness?

 

It is always better to prevent motion sickness from happening than waiting for a cure.

Here are some important tips for preventing motion sickness:

• In a car, sit in the front seat and look at the distant scenery.
• Do not read while traveling if experiencing motion sickness.
• Do not sit in a seat facing backward.
• In a plane, choose a seat over the wings where the motion is minimized.
• Always sit in a position where the eyes can see the same motion that the body and inner ear feels.
• Avoid strong odors.
• Avoid spicy or greasy foods immediately before and during travel.
• Talk yourself down.
• Stay relaxed and avoid straining your body too much.
• Stay away from alcohol, especially if you are about to go on-board.
• Avoid smoking. (Smoking has an adverse impact on nerves which can instigate an unwanted response and cause motion sickness.)
• If travelling by road, breathe in fresh air. Fresh air always has a good effect on the body. The more you breathe in, the more your body relaxes and wards off the effects of motion sickness.
• Stay relaxed. If you are too worried about what’s coming, then the chances are higher that you would trigger motion sickness.

 

Home remedies to cure motion sickness

 

• Ginger

Ginger has been found to reduce motion sickness. This is available in tablet form, or a fresh stem of ginger can be chewed to relieve symptoms. Eat it in small amounts with a gap of at least 30 minutes. Chewing on it can reduce the chances of falling sick.

 

• Lemon

Try to carry on as its acidic nature relieves you of acidity and helps in mitigating nausea. Motion sickness can also be cured by the citrusy smell of lemon. You can either suck half or keep smelling one while travelling.

 

Some other immediate controls you can take are:

 

• Keep your eyes on the horizon

One common suggestion is to simply look out of the window of the moving vehicle and to gaze toward the horizon in the direction of travel. This helps to re-orient the inner sense of balance by providing a visual reaffirmation of motion.

 

• Chew

A simple method for relieving common and mild car sickness is chewing. Chewing gum has an uncanny effectiveness for reducing car sickness in those affected. Not just gum but just chewing in general seems to reduce adverse effects of the conflict between vision and balance.

 

• Breathe in fresh air

If you are travelling by road. Fresh, cool air can also relieve motion sickness slightly.

 

• Find your pressure points

In acupressure, nei-guan is a point that is on your wrist. Putting pressure there can give you instant relief. The point is under the index finger between the wrist tendons. Apply pressure on your left wrist with your index, middle and ring finger of your right hand. Hold the pressure for 4-5 seconds.

 

Medications

 

While home remedies are effective, medications are also a good way to prevent motion sickness and are best taken before travelling. Make sure it is prescribed by your doctor.

 

Dimenhydrinate

This is a medicine that can prevent nausea, vomiting and other symptoms from taking place. Take it at least an hour before your travel starts. As a side-effect, your mouth can go dry, but it is manageable.

 

Scopolamine

It is a transdermal patch that can prevent nausea and vomiting. If used longer than 3 days, it can trigger withdrawal symptoms.

 

Promethazine

It should be taken 2 hours before travel. The effects last 6-8 hours. Side effects may include drowsiness and dry mouth.

 

Motion sickness usually goes away once the journey is over. But if you’re still dizzy, have a headache, continue to vomit, notice hearing loss or chest pain you must call your doctor.

 

DISCLAIMER: These remedies may not show results to the people having medical conditions. Results may vary from person to person.