How to ease motion sickness?

Motion sickness is something that you may be familiar with, especially during summer. Traveling by train, plane, car or boat may be associated, for some people, with motion sickness. If you were confronted with motion sickness in the past, then you have probably experienced nausea and dizziness, vomiting, or sweating and feeling unwell. Motion sickness is also called sea sickness or car sickness. It is a common disturbance of the inner ear that is caused by repeated motion. Motion sickness can also develop from turbulences in an airplane. While some medications against motion sickness exist, here are some tips to help you prevent or reduce the severity of motion sickness: (1) Get ready for the travel: Choosing a seat where you will experience the least motion can help you to prevent its symptoms. If you travel by car, sit in the front seat of the car. Pick up a seat in the middle of an airplane over the wing or if you are on a ship, choose the lower level cabins near the center of a ship instead of higher or outer cabins. It is equally important not to sit facing backwards from your direction of travel. (2) Avoid reading: Try to avoid reading while traveling if you are disposed to to motion sickness. If reading a book in a moving vehicle makes you feel nauseated, try reading for five minutes and then putting the book down. Repeat the five-minute interval over several sessions, then increase to 10 minutes. Over time, you’ll find your body accommodates the activity. (3) Isolate yourself from others who may be suffering from motion sickness: Hearing others talk about motion sickness or seeing others becoming ill can sometimes make you feel ill yourself. (4) Equalize your sensory cues: When traveling by car or boat, it can sometimes help to keep your gaze fixed on the horizon or on a fixed point. (5) Get fresh air: If possible, open a vent or a source of fresh air. ...

Some studies show that ginger may be an effective preventive measure for motion sickness. Take one to two grams of ginger half an hour before traveling for best results. Those on prescription blood thinners should consult their doctor before supplementing with ginger. ...