Preventing Motion Sickness

Millions of people, both adults and children, are affected by motion sickness, and it can be quite debilitating when it hits.. Fortunately there are lots of ways, both medical and natural, to prevent motion sickness or reduce the symptoms of it. The most common drugs that are used to treat motion sickness are Dramamine and Benadryl, although patches of Phenargan or Scopolamine are increasing in popularity too. Over the counter drugs such as Marezine, Bucaldin-S, and Antivert have proven effective for many people, and are generally safe to use, although it is always best to check with your pharmacist or doctor before taking any medication.

Natural Motion Sickness Prevention

If you are among those who hate medicines and pills, you are in luck. You can prevent motion sickness with simple stuff you get in your kitchen, sometimes with the same effect or even better than the medicines. You can also help a lot by your position in the vehicle and simple eye tricks that pass the right message to the brain, thus controlling the motion sickness by auto-suggestion.

1. Sucking on slices of ginger, or sipping a drink that contains ginger can help reduce the feeling of nausea – some people find that taking two 500mg ginger capsules around half an hour before the journey starts is helpful.

2. Lemon can have a similar effect, if you prefer the taste of lemon to ginger – just lick or suck on slices of lemon (dipped in sugar if you prefer) throughout the trip.

3. The motion sickness can be averted if the brain is convinced that you have stopped moving; in order to send such a message you need to focus on the horizon or a distant point, far enough for you to feel that you are not moving any longer.

4. Try to keep a window open in the vehicle if you can, and inhale as much cool, fresh air as you can. Naturally, this would not be an option in an air plane, but any way you can keep cool is helpful, even if you just fan yourself.

5. Try to take rest breaks whenever possible – frequent, short breaks will do more to reduce the feeling of motion sickness than one long stop halfway through the journey.

6. Often sitting in the middle of a bigger vehicle reduces the feeling of motion sickness, as you notice the movement less – try to get seats in the middle of a bus or train, and a cabin in the lower center of a cruise ship.

7. Snacking on dry crackers can settle your stomach. Don't eat too much, but don't travel on an empty stomach either, as it makes you feel worse.

8. Some people find that peppermint helps prevent motion sickness. Others find sucking on an olive has a similar effect – these may depend on personal taste, but are worth a try.
Experiment with different methods to see what works for you, hopefully you will conquer motion sickness, and enjoy traveling again!