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10 Motion Sickness Tips For The Healthy Traveler

By Saikat ⋅ June 25, 2008 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅ Post a comment

There will only be a few instances when we won’t be in the driver’s seat. Quite literally. Traveling is a necessary credential for us members of the jet set generation. And while we lug around the baggage through car trunks and airport turnstiles, a hidden malady stalks most of us.  Motion sickness enfeebles and puts a spanner in the works of the passionate traveler. Medicos call it ‘Kinetosis’; we just know it as the awful feeling of nausea and dizziness while traveling on an airplane, a car or even a merry-go-round at a fair. Motion sickness or travel sickness is actually a common ailment. Though plebian, the effects are far from humdrum with these common symptoms -

• Nausea

• Headache

• Fatigue

• Dizziness

• Vomiting

• Cold sweating

• Hyper-ventilation

All of us probably have had some experience of these symptoms while traveling. A slight headache perhaps or in some serious cases hyper-ventilation and vomiting. So, how does a simple act of going from Point A to Point B cause our bodily functions to lose their equilibrium?

The origins of motion sickness -

The same mechanism which helps us keep our balance causes motion sickness. The vestibular system which mostly comprises of the intricate channels of the inner ear is responsible for our equilibrium. The delicate interplay of the semi-circular canals of the aural cavity and the otoliths therein literally keep us on our feet. Motion sickness comes about because the brain gets mixed signals from these organs in the course of our movements. The eyes see our body orientation differently and the organs sense something else. The dichotomy of the ‘messages’ causes motion sickness.

The prevention and the cure -

Motion sickness is seriously debilitating only in very rare cases. A person’s nervous anxiety may aggravate the problems and he may get pathologically averse to traveling. In most cases though, the cure is simple.

Sit where the movement is least: Preferably, reserve the front seat of the car or sit in the middle of a swaying boat or a joy ride. Face the direction of vehicular motion. The trick is simply in minimizing movement.

Take the wheel: Research shows that those who drive are less likely to experience motion sickness. So if chance permits, drive yourself.

Let the good air in: Ensure that the space around you is ventilated. Open up the windows and always allow for fresh air to circulate. (Of course, one can’t do this on a plane.)

Fix the gaze: Help the balance of the inner years by moving less and fixing your gaze on a stationery object. if on a train or a car, watch the locales rolling by. The ears and the eyes understand that the body is in motion.

Be a teetotaler for awhile: Stay away from alcoholic drinks for at least 24 hours before a journey. But drink adequate amounts of water.

Don’t be a glutton: Eat sparingly and watch what you eat. Avoid heavy fat-rich food.

Listen but don’t read: Reading in a moving vehicle is a strict no-no, but music engages the senses and is a good way to prevent travel sickness.

Take a nap: Sometimes the best thing to do is to just go to sleep and sleep through the journey.

Grandma’s remedy: It maybe so, but some swear by a piece of lemon for long journeys. The sweet caustic smell wards of motion sickness.

Consult the good doctor: Consider asking a doctor for some preventive solutions. But be aware that pills might cause side effects like drowsiness. Take the doctor’s advice.

Life’s a journey. Not a destination…so goes the cliché. For some of us motion sickness might leave some ripples in the wake but thankfully these 10 common sense approaches to prevent travel sickness can take every journey forward.

Tags: motion sickness, travel