Home Remedies for Seasickness
The Caribbean cruise that you booked could become your worst nightmare if you become sick. Seasickness and motion sickness can strike anyone. During a lifetime, it is estimated that 90% of all people will experience some type of motion sickness. For people getting ready to take a journey across water, home remedies for seasickness can come in quite handy.
What is Seasickness?
Seasickness (also known as mal de mer) is a reaction of the body’s inner ear balance system having trouble adjusting to the unfamiliar motion of a water vessel, such as a boat, ship or yacht. The movement of the vessel causes stress on the balancing part of the brain. The movement goes against what your brain is used to, which includes objects that stand still in a setting. However, water travel causes items to move along with the ship and water. This creates stress to the inner ear.
Causes and Symptoms
Seasickness takes place when two or more of your senses deliver opposing signals to the brain. Usually, it is your eyes and inner ears that are in conflict with one another. The symptoms of seasickness often fade within a few days when the brain is given enough time to adjust to its surroundings. A victim may experience headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
Seasickness Home Remedies
From cruising on a sailboat to enjoying a waterskiing adventure, you may need to find ways to relax so you don’t get sick of the water’s motion. The main objective of treating seasickness is to establish balance and restore your equilibrium [1]. If you’d rather use home remedies for seasickness than over-the-counter medications, consider the following suggestions:
a) Light Meal:
Before traveling on the water, only eat a light meal and do not cruise on a full stomach.
b) Sesame Seeds and Sea Salt:
Consume a mixture of sesame seeds and sea salt – making sure to keep chewing as long as possible before swallowing. This remedy can help get rid of queasiness. The concoction is also available in health food stores and Asian markets under the name of gomasio.
c) Ginger:
One of the best remedies for seasickness is ginger, which helps calm the stomach among other things. Sucking on a piece of crystallized ginger is ideal, but you can also sip ginger ale or ginger tea. This remedy only works when ‘real’ ginger is used.
d) Keep Head Still:
Keeping your head from rocking with the vessel will help lessen the intensity of seasickness symptoms. Try moving your head or body in the other direction to counteract the unhelpful movement.
e) Marjoram Tea:
A cup of brewed marjoram tea can help prevent and treat seasickness when you feel symptoms start to arise. It is best to drink a cup of warm tea before participating in water travel.
f) Put Down the Binoculars:
You may want to catch sight of the dolphins and whales in the ocean, but looking through a pair of binoculars for long periods of time will only worsen your symptoms.
g) Peppermint Candy:
Sucking on hard peppermint candy can help relieve the nausea associated with seasickness. Another good flavor of candy to consider is lemon.
h) Do Not Focus Your Eyes:
For once, not staying focused can actually help. Staring at objects your brain will register as stable can worsen seasickness. Do not look at one fixed point for a stretch of time. This includes reading a book, doing needlecrafts, or reading a compass.
i) Stay Above Deck:
Going below deck when you experience seasickness will only worsen your symptoms. If you must, find a window or porthole and gaze out into the horizon.
j) Wrist Band:
Some people have reported relief from seasickness when wearing a wrist band snugly on the underside of the arm. To work, it must be positioned at a point about an inch and a half above the wrist.
k) Close Your Eyes:
If you are having trouble adjusting to the motion of a ship or boat, lie down on your back and close your eyes to relax.
l) Face Forward:
When on deck, face forward instead of to the side to avoid worsening a case of seasickness. This practice can also prevent the condition from happening in the first place.
m) Breathe Deeply:
When on deck, take in the fresh air and focus on other things besides a moving ship or boat. Taking deep breaths will help calm down your brain and body, as well as lessen the length and intensity of symptoms.
n) Acupressure:
There is a point located between the thumb and index finger (the webbed portion) that you can gently squeeze as a way to gain relief from nausea.
o) Drink Water:
To lessen your sense of sight and touch, which can intensify seasickness symptoms, drink liquids (especially water). Also, if you become dehydrated, the effects of seasickness will increase because your body’s resistance to motion sickness is affected. When drinking, do not gulp, but instead, sip at intervals.
p) Do Not Watch TV:
The movement of the images on a television will worsen your symptoms of seasickness.
q) Eat Dry Carbs:
Settle an upset stomach by eating dry crackers, bagels and other similar carbohydrates when fighting the symptoms of seasickness.
r) Deck Chair:
If your vessel is equipped with a deck chair, lie down in it to relax and take advantage of the fresh air when you’re hit with a case of seasickness.
Resources
[1] http://www.medicinenet.com/motion_sickness/page2.htm#3isthere
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