If you've ever experienced car or motion sickness, you'll know it'll ruin any travel experience.
Whether it be in a car, boat, airplane or roller coaster, having this ailment can cause an individual to experience serious symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, pallor, sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness and drowsiness.
The cause
Although some people believe having car or motion sickness is just the luck of the draw, there's actually a scientific reason some individuals get it while others don't.
According to Medical News Today, motion sickness is "sensed by the brain through different pathways of the nervous system including the inner ear, the eyes, and the tissues of the body surface."
While our brain receives clear instructions when we intentionally move our body (walking, running, etc.), the central nervous system can become confused over conflicting messages from all of your different senses.
For example, if you're in a moving vehicle, your inner ears will sense the movement around you, while your eyes remain stagnant. This clash is believed to be one of the main causes of car and motion sickness, but luckily there are remedies to help those struggling with this inner ear disturbance.
The remedies
1. Eat or drink ginger
During your next trip, try packing any kind of ginger product such as ginger candies, ginger juice, or dried ginger in capsules.
Since ginger consists of antioxidant substances, it's believed that the plant is just as effective as the prescription medication scopolamine, which is used to stop nausea and vomiting.
It's also said that by chewing anything while in motion because it's believed to reduce the conflict between your eyes and balance.
2. Take vitamin B6
While you should take your vitamins to keep yourself strong and healthy, taking vitamin B6 can keep your nausea at bay when you're out and about.
In a study published in Obstetrics and Gynecology, researchers concluded that pregnant women were more likely to curb their morning sickness if they took vitamin B6. After three days of the study, only 26% of the expecting mothers still vomited after taking the pills.
In comparison, more than half of the women who received the placebo pill had continued to have the symptoms of morning sickness.
3. Sit in the front or middle seat of the car
Before the feeling of car sickness emerges, grab either the front or middle seat in the vehicle.
During the car ride, make sure to focus directly on the horizon straight ahead. When you do so, you're able to trick your brain into believing you aren't moving at all by re-orientating your "inner sense of balance."
4. Distract Yourself
Another surefire way to reduce the chances of having motion sickness is to distract yourself while you're on the move.
Since too much movement can trigger the ailment, focusing on other things instead of the moving road will significantly help keep your symptoms at bay.
Try listening to music, or even keeping your eyes closed and having a nap. It'll resolve the crossed signals between your vision and inner ear.
5. Don't travel on an empty stomach
Although you should stay away from alcohol and heavy, fatty or spicy foods before a trip, keeping some food in your stomach will reduce your symptoms of nausea.
Just make sure you don't overeat or surround yourself with odorous foods.
For more natural ways to improve your health, check out these helpful articles:
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- 12 Natural Ways To Relieve Constipation Without Laxatives
[H/T: Reader's Digest, Medical News Today]