5 Efficient Natural Remedies to Beat Car and Motion Sickness
If you’ve always found it challenging to go on road trips with friends, on exotic cruises with the family or even to accompany someone for short errands, you’re not the only one in the boat…or car. In fact, nearly everyone got motion sick at least once in their lives, with 1 in 3 people experiencing this distressful and sometimes debilitating condition whenever they travel by car.
Luckily, there are ways to alleviate nausea and dizziness and enjoy your next ride to Grandma’s house, your next cruise, or flight to another country for a well-deserved vacation. On that note, check out these efficient natural remedies to beat car and motion sickness wherever you go and whatever means of transportation you use.
Motion sickness tips and remedies
Don’t travel on an empty stomach
Doing things on an empty stomach is never a good idea and traveling makes no exception. If you travel by car, boat or plane, try to eat something beforehand to keep the symptoms of nausea and vomiting at bay. Just make sure you don’t eat too much, otherwise, you’ll end up causing quite the opposite effect.
“Nausea and vomiting—symptoms associated with motion sickness—can be exacerbated with a full stomach,” according to the medical director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, Randy Horwitz, MD, PhD. If you don’t feel like eating, chew some gum or suck on some ice chips candy; both actions are known to reduce symptoms of nausea by lowering the air pressure in the inner ear.
Speaking of which, check out these 9 Foods and Drinks You Should Stop Eating On An Empty Stomach Right NOW.
Eat or drink ginger
Next time you’re planning to go on a trip, whatever the transportation vehicle, you might want to put some ginger candies, ginger ale, or capsules of dried ginger inside your luggage, next to your clothes and whatnot. Ginger is well-known for its numerous health benefits, one of them being its ability to treat motion sickness, car sickness, and seasickness.
One study by researchers at Penn State suggests that ginger can be used as an alternative remedy to quell motion sickness nausea due to one of its active compounds called 6-gingerol, which facilitates “gastrointestinal transport.”
Discover 6 more Incredible Health Benefits of Ginger, Backed by Science.
Sit in the front or middle seat of the car
For most people who suffer from motion sickness, the problem is caused by “a conflict between motion inputs coming from different senses,” says Dr. Horwitz. “The inner ear senses movement based upon changes in both pressure and fluid distribution in the ear. If you are looking down at a book and reading while in a moving car, the inner ear senses movement, but there is no visual input to verify this movement, since the book appears to be standing still,” he explains. Hence, the conflict and the nausea, dizziness and vomiting.
If you stare at the horizon or keep your eyes fixed on what’s in front of you (like the road), you can hack your brain by telling it you’re stationary instead of in a moving vehicle. That’s why sitting in the front or middle seat allows you to have a better view of both the front and lateral sides and align your eyes and your brain.
Consider aromatherapy
Another natural way to say goodbye to car and motion sickness is aromatherapy. Some motion sickness sufferers swear by certain essential oils to out their bodies at ease while traveling and science seems to back them up. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “stimulating your other senses can distract you from the motion.”
Therefore, if you struggle with nausea and dizziness every time you travel, you might find some solace in essential oils like ginger, peppermint, chamomile, fennel or lavender. You’ll be surprised by how efficient essential oils will turn out to be!
Wear a motion sickness bracelet
If aromatherapy is not your thing (although, trust me, it really works), you could try motion sickness bracelets, also known as acupressure bracelets, specifically designed for people constantly dealing with motion sickness. According to Dr. Horowitz, sufferers can use these bracelets or wrist bands in both cars and boats, with excellent results due to the pressure they deliver or “the small electrical charge to the same area on the wrists”.
These devices might not work for everyone, but those who do see results can also rest assured that they won’t be seeing any side effects like dry mouth or sleepiness caused by motion sickness pills. See also Best Health and Medical Products That Can Change Your Life.
If you don’t have a motion sickness bracelet, apply pressure with the index and middle of your right hand on the inside of your left wrist, between the wrist tendons. In acupuncture, this is known as the “nei-kuan” point and it can bring you quick relief.
If motion sickness continues to bother you, talk to your provider about other safe and efficient options to treat motion sickness.
