This article was co-authored by Laura Marusinec, MD. Dr. Marusinec is a board certified Pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, where she is on the Clinical Practice Council. She received her M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine in 1995 and completed her residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Pediatrics in 1998. She is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and the Society for Pediatric Urgent Care.
There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Motion sickness is caused by motion difference, like in a plane or boat, that you are not used to. It often causes nausea and sometimes leads to vomiting along with headaches and dizziness.[1] There are a variety of strategies to both prevent or diminish motion sickness, as well as to treat it if and when it happens.
Steps
Trying Over-the-Counter or Medical Strategies
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1Talk to your doctor before taking medications. You should discuss your options, even over-the-counter and home remedies, with your doctor before treatment. This is especially true if you have medical problems, allergies, are pregnant, or are treating a child. Remember that most of the available options will make you drowsy, and they should be taken about 30 minutes prior to your trip.[2]
- Gravol or Dramamine (Dimenhydrinate), from the anti-histamine family, is an excellent option.[3] It is available over-the-counter and helps to reduce motion sickness. Other antihistamines including diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can also be helpful, especially for children.
- Zofran (Ondansetron) is a prescription anti-nausea medication that your physician may offer you if Gravol or Dramamine alone is insufficient.[4] Other anti-nausea medications may also be recommended.
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2Try ginger. Ginger is a natural remedy for nausea. Drinking ginger tea, taking ginger pills (available over-the-counter), and even chewing raw ginger sometimes helps cure a person's nausea.
- Sipping ginger-ale, or eating foods with ginger (such as ginger cookies, as long as they contain natural ginger and not just artificial flavoring) can also be of help.
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3Use an anti-nausea patch. These are available over-the-counter and are called the Scopolamine Transdermal Patch.[5] They are small patches that are placed behind the ear and release the anti-nausea medication slowly. They can last up to 3 days.
- Place the patch behind your ear approximately 4 hours before you need it to kick in. Because it is more slow-release than medications in pill form, it is important to apply it well in advance.[6]
Trying Preventative Strategies
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1Eat bland foods during the trip. Crackers, bread/toast, bananas, rice, and applesauce are all good options.[7]
- It is also best to avoid alcohol and caffeine, as they can exacerbate motion sickness. Stick to water, non-caffeinated tea, or juice instead, and make sure you stay hydrated during the trip.
- Don't eat heavy, greasy, or fried food.
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2Choose where you sit wisely to minimize motion sickness.[8] It is best to position yourself in areas where you can see out the window, and with the least motion or rocking as possible.
- In the car, sit in the front seat or drive. Mentally visualize the route before and during the trip to prepare yourself for the movement.
- On a boat, try to stay towards the middle as this is where it rocks the least. Keep your eyes on the horizon. Staying outside in the fresh air will also help.
- On an airplane, make sure you get a window seat. Stay away from the very back of the plane (this will be bumpier) and from the bulkhead (you'll have no visual cues when the plane is tilting). It's probably best to get a seat towards the front middle of the plane, above the wing.
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3Distract yourself with calming music. A distraction, such as calming music, can bring your focus away from the movement of the plane or vehicle. Other things that might help include sucking on a flavored lozenge (ginger in particular may be helpful) or using aromatherapy scents like mint or lavender.[9]
- Do not read in an attempt to distract yourself. Reading can lead to or worsen motion sickness.
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4Close your eyes. Motion sickness occurs when your balance-sensing system (which includes your eyes, inner ear, and sensory nerves) experiences a conflict. You may sense movement with your inner ear, but you may not see any sign of movement (such as when you are on a plane or in a cabin on a boat).[10] Reducing sensory input — closing your eyes, or lying on the ground if you have the space — can help lessen this conflict and may reduce motion sickness.[11]
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5Invest in a Sea Band or Relief Band.[12] These and other similar products are advertised as reducing motion sickness by placing stimulation on other parts of the body, usually the wrists. It is unclear whether they are more than simply a placebo, but studies have shown that some people have success when wearing them.
- It is hypothesized that, when placed on the wrist, they stimulate the median nerve with pulse-like activity that counteracts the neurological signals for nausea from the stomach.[13]
- If you are someone who prefers to combat your nausea without using medication, this may be a good option to try!
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References
- ↑ https://familydoctor.org/condition/motion-sickness/
- ↑ https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/condition/motion-sickness
- ↑ https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/motion-sickness
- ↑ http://www.drugs.com/ondansetron.html
- ↑ https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682509.html
- ↑ https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682509.html
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/8106-nausea--vomiting/care-and-treatment
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/motion-sickness/
- ↑ http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2016/the-pre-travel-consultation/motion-sickness
About This Article
To get rid of motion sickness, try drinking ginger tea, chewing raw ginger, or taking ginger pills since ginger is a natural remedy for nausea. Additionally, stick to eating bland foods during the trip, like crackers, bread, bananas, and applesauce, since heavy or greasy foods can exacerbate motion sickness. You should also try to sit near the windows, or in a spot without a lot of rocking, like the front seat of a car. Once you’re moving, try distracting yourself with calming music to take your mind away from the motion. For more tips from our Medical co-author, including how to relieve motion sickness with medication, keep reading!
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
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