| Ailments and Self Help Department |
Motion Sickness
About motion sickness
Motion sickness is the unpleasant sensation of nausea and dizziness that some people experience when riding in a moving vehicle. Motion sickness can be brought on by travelling in cars, boats, submarines, aeroplanes, trains, by riding amusement rides that spin, and even when using a swing at a playground.
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What Causes motion sickness?
Inside the inner ear is a series of canals filled with fluid, called the labyrinth, which includes the semicircular canals. The three semicircular canals are at different angles. When the head is moved, the rolling of the fluid inside these canals tells the brain exactly how far, how fast and in what direction the head is moving.
Information from these canals is passed along to the brain via the vestibular nerve, which lies next to the cochlear nerve. If the brain knows the position of the head, it can work out the position of the rest of the body. The brain also relies on information from the eyes and from the muscles themselves (called 'muscle sense' or kinaesthesia). The brain uses the inner ear, the eyes and muscles to pinpoint the position of the body at all times.
What Can I Do About motion sickness?
There are different things you can try to prevent motion sickness or at least reduce its effects including: - Watch the scenery going by, so that your eyes confirm the sensation of motion picked up by your inner ear. This may mean, for example, being out on deck at sea. However, don't fix your gaze on individually moving objects, such as each rolling wave - just scan generally.
- Position yourself where you will experience the least motion: for example, over the wings in an aeroplane or in the dead centre of a ship.
- If possible, drive the vehicle. Passengers in moving cars are more likely to experience motion sickness than drivers.
- The larger the vehicle, the less susceptible it is to motion so, if possible, try to travel on a ship rather than a small boat, for instance.
- Keep your head still. Moving your head around will 'swirl' the fluid in your canals and add to the sensory confusion.
- Some people find that closing their eyes is the best way to eliminate sensory confusion.
- Lying down on your back allows the fluid in the ear canals to pool, rather than swirl around.
- Cut back on, or eliminate, alcoholic drinks and don't have any alcohol for 24 hours before travelling.
- Make sure you have plenty of fresh air. Fumes or smoke can exacerbate symptoms.
- On brief journeys, try not to eat or drink anything.
- On long journeys, eat and drink sparingly and often.
- Anxiety worsens symptoms. Use relaxation techniques such as abdominal breathing or an absorbing book or hobby to counteract the effect of worrying. If your anxiety is severe, you could consider professional counselling.
Medications are preventative, not curative
Medications either calm the nerves of the inner ear or soothe the brain's vomiting centre. However, most motion sickness pills are only effective if they are taken before you feel sick.In many cases, motion sickness pills can induce drowsiness as a side effect. You may need to experiment with the different drugs available to find which one works best for you. Ask your doctor or chemist for further information.
Additional information
Research suggests that ginger can help to ease the symptoms of motion sickness. You could chew on raw ginger or make a quick tea by adding minced ginger to boiling water.
To be most effective, nutritional supplements work better in combination. It may be more beneficial to take a variety of Herbs or Nutrients for more rapid and complete healing...
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The following Combinations are those recommended for the treatment of motion sickness.
Supplements:
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Herbs :-
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Ginger
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Notes :-
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(Many of these products are available combined in a specific formula for motion sickness. See related items.)
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Related Items:
(You can click on the product images for additional information)
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Caution: Always seek professional help for any serious disease. The products listed may be helpful in addition to Medical Treatment, however they are not intended to replace it. When in doubt seek Medical Advice.
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Lactobacillus acidophilus may assist in the relief of bloating, constipation, flatulence, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, cramping and irregular stools. It may improve allergies and atopic dermatitis. It may also be beneficial when you've taken antibiotics. As a bonus Lactobacillus acidophilus may help support your Urinary system.
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