Going to new places can be thrilling, but for a lot of folks, the trip can bring on nausea or motion sickness. No matter the mode transportation – car, plane, boat, or train, travel-related nausea can sap the joy from the whole experience and even make some people consider staying put instead of venturing out.
There are multiple straightforward and workable ways to keep nausea at bay while traveling. These range from basic behavioral changes to natural cures and readily available anti-nausea medications.
Having the right knowledge and using it effectively can really make a difference for many people. This guide presents you with a lot of good nausea-fighting tips – most of which are simple to do and can be quite effective:
Choose the Right Seat
Your position while traveling can drastically impact how sensitive you are to motion. In cars, the front seat is far more stable. On planes, a space over the wings is where you’d find the least amount of turbulence. If boats are your chosen mode of travel, hanging out on the lower deck near the center will keep you far more stable than in any other spot.
Always stay as still as you can, face forward, and keep your head as steady as possible to reduce the conflicting signals your brain gets.
Keep Your Eyes on the Horizon
Another effective anti-nausea technique is to concentrate on a fixed point in the distance – such as the horizon. This helps harmonize your visual perception with the balance-sensing structures in your inner ear and may reduce the sensory mismatch that often leads to the nausea associated with motion sickness.
Eat Light and Stay Hydrated
Heavy, greasy, or spicy meals can make nausea worse, especially when you eat them just before or during travel. Switch to light, bland snacks. Crackers, toast, and bananas are good travel companions as they’re gentle on the stomach, and they help keep your blood sugar stable.
Keeping hydrated is equally critical. Drink water often, but don’t indulge in caffeine or alcohol, two substances that can dehydrate you and have your stomach in an uproar.
Use Natural Remedies
Numerous travelers turn to natural anti-nausea cures for relief when they are feeling under the weather. One of the most famous and well-researched is ginger, which has been used for centuries as a stomach soother. Chewing raw ginger, taking ginger capsules, or using ginger in candy form can all be helpful for hangover and motion-induced nausea when peppermint isn’t available.
Acupressure wristbands apply pressure on a particular point of the inner wrist, reducing the intensity of motion sickness.
Consider Over-the-Counter or Prescription Medications
Should natural methods fall short, many effective medications are available that can prevent or at least relieve the kind of nausea that travelers sometimes experience. Among the most frequently recommended OTC options are dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), meclizine (Bonine), and scopolamine patches. Common prescription options include scopolamine (Transderm Scop), promethazine, ondansetron (Zofran).
Anti-Nausea Techniques Coupled with OTC or Prescription Medicines Might do the Trick
Having to deal with nausea doesn’t have to spoil your whole trip. You can sit in the right spot, gaze at the horizon, eat small meals, use natural cures, and turn to meds when necessary to get through the travelling aspects. When you do, the journey can be just as enjoyable as any destination.