Motion Sickness

Definition

Motion sickness is nausea typically caused by riding in a vehicle, train, carnival ride, ship or airplane. Any nausea associated with movement, is labeled as motion sickness.

Symptoms

Symptoms of motion sickness range from moderate to severe. Mild signs and symptoms include uneasiness, headache, and nausea. Severe symptoms include vomiting, lightheadedness, fatigue, weakness, inability to concentrate, excessive sweating, stress and watery mouth. Prolonged motion sickness can produce depression, low blood pressure, dehydration, and overall poor health.

Trigger

Motion sickness has many causes but it is typically attributed to problems within the inner ear, which helps control balance and equilibrium. Other contributing factors include anxiety, overeating, exercise after eating, and poor ventilation.

Note: For people who are prone to motion sickness, producing a bowl movement prior to traveling can minimize the likelihood of an attack.
Natural Cures

Aromatherapy: A drop of peppermint oil on the tongue can often rapidly reduce and prevent motion sickness.

Diet: For short trips, avoid eating and drinking. For longer trips, sip small amounts of fresh lemon or limejuice, green tea extract, or natural ginger tea.

Flower Essences: Rescue Remedy® and Scleranthus are useful treatments. Add a couple of drops of each to filtered water and drink small amounts on a trip.

Herbs: Ginger, in several clinical trials, has proven to be helpful in preventing the symptoms of motion sickness. Ginger can be taken as an infusion, eaten raw, or as a capsule.

Homeopathy: Ipecac., Colchicum, Nux vomica, Ignatia, and Belladonna are useful treatments, which can be used separately or together. Cocculus can also be effective, however, it must be used alone.

Liquid Therapy: Combine the liquid of ginger root to water or carrot juice, and sip small amounts throughout your trip.

Nutritional Supplementation: Take four ginger root capsules 2 hours before travel begins, then one every hour during the trip. Other helpful nutrients for preventing and minimizing motion sickness are vitamin B complex, vitamin B6, magnesium, and charcoal pills.

Travel Ideas: Treating motion sickness is more difficult than preventing it. Those who are prone to motion sickness should avoid excessive movement, and poorly ventilated areas. Remember that nausea is partially mental; concentrate on something such as a point on the horizon to take your mind off the way you are feeling. If your journey is brief, avoid eating or drinking 2 hours prior to travel.
Alternative Expert Care

If your symptoms continue despite following the steps listed above, seek the help of a qualified health professional. The following professional treatments have proven to be useful for treating motion illness: Acupressure, Chinese medicine, Biofeedback Instruction, Environmental Medicine, Hypnotherapy, Naturopathic Medicine, Osteopathy, and Reflexology. (See Glossary for descriptions of these alternative therapies.)