Natural ways to prevent motion sickness
Traveling can be full of memories that will last forever. But for some travelers, motion sickness awaits the journey whether you fly or drive.
“Motion sickness, also known as seasickness or carsickness, is caused by a disturbance of the inner ear resulting in spatial orientation and impaired sense of balance and equilibrium,” explains Katie Swanson, a family medicine nurse practitioner at Advocate Health Care. “When the eyes, inner ears, muscles, and joints deliver conflicting information, your brain does not know whether you are stationary or moving. Your brain’s confused reaction causes the feeling of motion sickness.”
Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, headache, increased saliva production, irritability, dizziness, cold sweats, rapid breathing and pale skin. According to Swanson, motion sickness usually resolves when the repetitive motion stops.
She also explains that some people are more susceptible to motion sickness, including children ages 2-12, women on their menstrual cycle, pregnant people, and those who experience migraines.
To prevent the uncomfortable sensation, Swanson recommends:
- Drinking plenty of water
- Rolling down the window when driving
- Getting fresh air
- Facing the direction you are traveling
- Putting down the phone, tablet or book while in the car
- Taking an over-the-counter antihistamine or using a scopolamine skin patch prior to travel
If you experience persistent motion sickness, there are “additional medications, which require a prescription from your primary care provider, including promethazine, meclizine, and ondansetron,” Swanson adds.
For non-medication treatment options, Swanson advises:
- Trying aromatherapy
- Facing forward with air vents turned towards your face
- Sucking on ginger or peppermint candies
- Sitting at the front of the vehicle
- Taking a nap
- Focusing on the horizon
Prevention and treatment will vary for children based on their age and tolerance. “Children are sometimes reluctant to take medication so non-pharmacologic methods of treatment or prevention may be best,” Swanson says. “Successful interventions for children include deep breathing, singing, having the child close his or her eyes, or applying a cool cloth over their head.”
When giving medication to children, be sure to follow the appropriate dosing.
“Motion sickness can be due to an underlying balance disorder, fluid in the ear, an infection or Meniere’s disease,” she adds. If you are concerned about frequent motion sickness, speak to your doctor.
Are you trying to find a doctor? Look here if you live in Illinois. Look here if you live in Wisconsin.
Sea Bands (acupressure wrist bands) work great too! I’ve used them for years prior to long car rides, train rides, boating and flying. I’ve never gotten sick while wearing my sea bands.
Totally agree with Tiffanis comment. -Sea Bands were recommended to me 29 years ago by the Midwives when pregnant and wanted to go on a boat trip. They really work for motion sickness and even baby induced nausea!
Great Job Katie!
Ginger chews work really great and are tasty too.
Also take breaks. If on a long car ride, stop and get out and walk around.
When I was a small child I would only get “carsick” on road trips, not when doing short trips around town. I figured out many years later as an adult that the nausea for me was likely due to the smell of coffee that my parents would drink on road trips which they never did on short trips. To this day the smell of coffee (whether or not I am in a moving vehicle) makes me queasy but I do not get motion sickness.