22 Home Remedies for Motion Sickness
Motion sickness is pretty self-explanatory. It is when you feel ill from traveling too quickly, in a new way, or even moving with your eyes on something other than where you are going.
Why do people get motion sickness? This, for the most part, is unknown. Some people get it while others do not. Some studies are showing doctors that it can all be a misunderstanding between the senses. If what you are on is moving slowly, then your body may not feel that you are moving while your eyes and ears can see and hear that you are.
Different things can increase your chances of being affected by motion sickness. If you are pregnant or menstruating, have an ear infection, are prone to migraines, or have Meniere’s Disease.
Symptoms
There a couple of symptoms that come with motion sickness that can be quite useful to know. These include dizziness, salivation, burping, hyperventilation, vomiting, sweating, nausea, and headaches.
Home Remedies for Motion Sickness
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Careful of What You Eat
When going on a road trip or a plane ride, only eat food that you ‘agrees with you’. Having an upset stomach while knowing you can suffer from motion sickness is not a fun thing. If there are foods or drinks that can calm you down (avoid alcohol as it can make some symptoms worse) before a trip might be the time indulge a little bit.
Avoid eating greasy fast foods, as they may trigger motion sickness
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Position Smartly
If there is a place to sit that best suits you, that affects you the least, sit there. Also, try to avoid people who also suffer from motion sickness. Like how talking about lice making your scalp crawl, people talking about motion sickness can make you feel ill.
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Equal Senses
Some people find that keeping their eyes fixed on point of the horizon can help to calm them. Perhaps they are optimistic, seeing that they are in fact getting closer calms their stomachs.
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Do Not Lose Control
If you are going somewhere, ask to drive. Driving can help to distract you from the lack of feeling like you are moving because of the road laws, signs, and other drivers. If you are unable to drive, strike up a conversation, get a game of Eye-Spy going. Just distract yourself from the feeling. Getting fresh air can help, so if you are able to, open a window or vent.
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Verbal Placebos
If you know that you suffer from motion sickness and know that a trip is coming, talk yourself into not feeling ill for the trip. Over the last few days before the trip, keep promising yourself that you are not going to feel ill, that you will not sick, that you will be okay. If you are traveling with a friend, ask them to help you with it.
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Pressure Points
Some people report that they have an easier time with traveling if they buy (or even make) bracelets and things with little nubs on them to press gently on pressure points. There are different pressure points that can release different chemicals from your brain to soothe different things. ‘
Pressure points and acupuncture points are in similar areas
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Wait it Out
If different remedies do not work, the only real thing left to do is wait it out. As terrible as that sounds, it might be the only option. Just keep trying to distract yourself (not with reading) and hang tough.
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Ginger
Ginger has been found to help to treat motion sickness. Half an hour to an hour before traveling, eat two grams of ginger or make tea with it.
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Beverages
There are certain drinks that can help to soothe motion sickness and drinks that can make it worse. Avoid anything with caffeine or alcohol because both of those substances can set nerves on high alert and increase dehydration. Some drinks that might be able to help are things with carbonation, water, light juices (like apple), and milk.
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Music
If talking does not work to calm down, try turning on some music. Not only can it distract you, but it can even better mood. Everyone has a music that they listen to when they are happy or want to be. So listen to calming music for a bit and see if it helps you.
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Screen Down
It seems like playing on your phone might be the best distraction, right? Not quite. Playing on your phone, reading, doing almost anything up close can confuse your brain like mentioned above, so that is something to look out for. If you like reading on car trips, look into getting an audiobook for someone to read to you.
Audio books can be bought on tape or in digital formats
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Chamomile
Chamomile is used to calm acidic, stomach muscles, and upset stomachs. So whether you get this in a tea or perhaps in an essential oil of some sort, it might not hurt to try.
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Aromatherapy
Essential oils are used for lots of different things and they can be used for calming nerves and upset stomachs. Peppermint, ginger, and lavender are suggested for this. You can get diffusers, you can just smell them from the bottle, or you can get diluted oils to rubs on your wrists and neck.
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Vitamin B6
Vitamin is used to treat anxiety and morning sickness, both of which can cause vomiting. So if you increase your levels of B6, then you might not suffer from motion sickness nearly as much. To take in more vitamin B6, you can take supplement pills or eat foods that naturally contain the vitamin. Some of these foods include meat, fish, eggs, and soybeans.
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Medication
For a lot of people, this the last possible resort that they can go to. If waiting for it to pass does not seem like something you can put yourself through, that is alright. There are medications you can get both over the counter and through your doctor. These medications might be a prescribed pill or even a little band-aid like pad you stick to your neck or the inside of your wrist.
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Eat Up
It is highly ill-advised to travel on an empty stomach. An empty stomach can make nausea worse, so keep that mind. Nibble or snack on light things periodically on the trip, but make sure you are not overeating.
Eat bland foods like toast, applesauce, and crackers to cut down on motion sickness symptoms
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Black Horehound
This herb is in the same family as peppermint, so it can help to ease anxiety. You can get this in teas, in little candies, or even as an essential oil.
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Try to Prevent it
Preventing motion has been found easier to do than stopping it. So if you take some the precautionary steps aforementioned, then it will be easier to deal with. Try these home remedies or take medication before you have motion sickness, not just after it has already started.
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Nap
Napping is a great way to pass the time when traveling. When sleeping, your body does not register if it supposed to be moving or not. So if you are not driving, are on a plane, or a boat, sleep for a while so you do not have to deal with the motion sickness for nearly as long.
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Lemon
Lemon can calm motion sickness and its symptoms. Before you travel, wrap a slice of lemon in a napkin or paper towel and sniff every now and again. Also, if you drink a lemon soda, if can help as well.
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Ice Chips
Ice neutralizes the acid activity that causes nausea while giving you something to do with your mouth. So when going somewhere, suck on some ice chips. If sucking on ice does not sound appealing to you, ice cream can help too.
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Deep Breathing
Before you go on the trip, do some yoga to calm your breathing and your nerves. If you get nervous while traveling, try mindful breathing. There is not much to it. You breathe in for four seconds, hold it for the count of seven, and release over eight.
Try guided meditation recordings if you are a beginner
Which of these home remedies are you most likely to try before your next big trip? Comment below!
Sources
https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/effective-home-remedies-for-motion-sickness/
https://www.rd.com/health/conditions/natural-remedies-motion-sickness/
https://www.healthline.com/health/motion-sickness-remedies#see-a-doctor
https://www.onemedical.com/blog/live-well/motion-sickness-cures/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-b/
Acupuncture picture credit to Valerie Everett.
