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What are Some Home Remedies for Motion Sickness?

Diana Bocco
Diana Bocco

If you suffer from motion sickness, you know how the simplest trip can turn into a nightmare. It doesn't matter if you suffer from motion sickness while in a car, a boat, or an amusement park ride, the symptoms are all the same: nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation, headaches, and vomiting. Fortunately, home remedies for motion sickness abound, and most of them are as close as your kitchen cabinet.

The first step in controlling motion sickness is to take the idea out of your head. By keeping your mind off the feelings of sickness, you can actually improve how you feel. As cruel as it may sound, stay away from other people who are getting motion sickness, especially if you already have a queasy stomach. Seeing others get sick will only accelerate the process for you.

Amusement park rides may cause motion sickness.
Amusement park rides may cause motion sickness.

Motion sickness happens when you become aware of the movement around you. Contrary to what you may believe, closing your eyes won't help, as the inner ear, which controls balance, will more than likely be already destabilized. Instead, find a focal point as far as possible on the horizon and keep your eyes on it. This alone works on many people suffering from motion sickness. If you are in a car, choose the front seat, or, better yet, volunteer to drive. Back-seat passengers get the worst cases of motion sickness.

Sipping a cup of chamomile tea is soothing to a queasy stomach.
Sipping a cup of chamomile tea is soothing to a queasy stomach.

Taking ginger capsules about an hour before the actual trip usually works, as it does drinking chamomile or peppermint tea. An empty stomach is more likely to suffer from motion sickness, so try nibbling on something light like soda crackers. Don't overdo it, though. A full stomach is as likely as an empty one to make you sick.

In severe cases of motion sickness, you may need additional help. Try motion sickness wrist bands, which use acupressure to control nausea. They are effective for many people, and are sold over-the-counter at most pharmacies and health food stores. As a last result, talk to your doctor. He can prescribe a skin patch or recommend an OTC drug such as Dramamine®. Motion sickness medication has side effects, however, so avoid it if you can solve the problem some other way.

Discussion Comments

bythewell

My mother always gets motion sickness, boats, cars, planes, anywhere. She has to take some tablets beforehand, and I find it useful to try and just keep some in my purse, because I know she often forgets them. Sometimes even they don't help and she starts turning green. I'll think of something to talk about and chat away to keep her mind off of it

But, you know sometimes there is nothing that can be done and the person just has to suffer through it. Just be aware if you are going to take a long trip, particularly on a plane where people will not thank you for getting sick everywhere.

irontoenail

There is a particular stretch of highway that always gives me motion sickness. It's a shame because it is a beautiful road, winding through gorges and forests... but the winding makes me want to throw up. And I have a pretty strong stomach.

I've found as long as I eat a little bit before hand, nothing too greasy or with too much caffeine (soda is especially bad, as it has so many bubbles it can upset my stomach anyway) I'm usually all right. But, if I do feel sick, the only thing that makes me feel better is sitting in the front seat, driving with the window down, and sticking my head out to feel the wind on my face. I know that horizon trick, but it never seems to work for me.

Either the cold air or the pressure of the wind or something else does. So give it a try the next time you feel sick in a car.

catapult43

Candid ginger, peppermints or candy made from catnip or lavender may alleviate motion sickness. Candid ginger stores well for a lengthy period of time. It is probably good to have at home. It can also help alleviate nausea and indigestion.

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    • Amusement park rides may cause motion sickness.
      Amusement park rides may cause motion sickness.
    • Sipping a cup of chamomile tea is soothing to a queasy stomach.
      By: Printemps
      Sipping a cup of chamomile tea is soothing to a queasy stomach.
    • An acupressure band can be worn around the wrist to help control nausea.
      By: jedi-master
      An acupressure band can be worn around the wrist to help control nausea.
    • Ginger, in various forms, can be used for motion sickness.
      By: GIS
      Ginger, in various forms, can be used for motion sickness.
    • People often experience motion sickness while riding in a car.
      By: carla9
      People often experience motion sickness while riding in a car.