Motion sickness can turn the excitement of travel into a miserable experience. Whether you’re on a winding road, choppy seas, or turbulent air, that queasy feeling can strike unexpectedly. Travel sickness, also known as motion sickness, happens when your brain receives conflicting messages from your inner ear, eyes, and body about motion. Thankfully, you don’t have to rely solely on medication. There are several natural and immediate remedies you can try to ease your symptoms and get back to enjoying your journey.
Take Charge and Drive
If you’re a passenger and feeling the onset of travel sickness, taking the wheel, if possible, might be a surprisingly effective remedy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that motion sickness arises from a mismatch between what your eyes perceive and what your inner ear senses. When you are the driver, your brain is actively engaged in anticipating movements, which can help synchronize these senses and reduce the conflict that leads to nausea. By focusing on the road and controlling the vehicle’s motion, you can lessen the sensory confusion and alleviate your symptoms quickly.
Face the Direction of Travel
When driving isn’t an option, orienting your body to face the direction of travel is another straightforward yet effective technique. Similar to driving, facing forward can help align your visual and vestibular senses. Whether you’re on a bus, train, or boat, positioning yourself to look ahead can minimize the sensory conflict. On a ferry, for instance, moving towards the bow (front) of the boat is often recommended over staying at the stern (rear). In a car, switching seats to the front can also make a significant difference for those prone to motion sickness. This simple adjustment can help your brain process motion more consistently and reduce feelings of nausea.
Focus on the Horizon
Fixing your gaze on a distant, stationary point like the horizon can also provide relief from motion sickness. This technique helps to stabilize your visual input and reduce the discord between your vision and inner ear. By focusing on the horizon, you give your eyes a stable reference point, which can counteract the sensation of movement that triggers nausea. You might need to adjust your position to get a clear view, but this simple visual trick can be quite effective in calming your senses and easing motion sickness symptoms.
Adjust Your Posture
Finding a comfortable body position can also play a role in managing travel sickness. For some, lying down can be the most effective way to lessen symptoms, as it minimizes movement. For others, standing up might surprisingly offer better relief. The best position is often travel-mode dependent, so some experimentation might be necessary. In a car, for example, leaning your head against the headrest can restrict head movements and reduce symptom severity. Exploring different postures to see what works best for you is a key natural approach to finding relief.
Breathe in Fresh Air
Fresh air can be a surprisingly potent natural remedy for travel sickness. Opening a window or stepping outside to get fresh air can often provide quick relief. If weather or travel conditions don’t allow for open windows, direct air vents towards your face or use a personal fan to create a cooling breeze. Fresh air helps in several ways: it can distract you from feeling unwell, reduce feelings of stuffiness that can worsen nausea, and provide a sensory reset. This simple act of getting fresh air can be a very effective way to alleviate motion sickness symptoms naturally.
Nibble on Bland Crackers
When nausea strikes, reaching for bland crackers can be a gentle and effective natural remedy. Light snacks like saltine crackers are easy to digest and can help settle your stomach. Heavy, greasy, or acidic foods can exacerbate nausea because they digest slowly. Packing easily digestible snacks is a smart strategy for travel sickness sufferers. Good options include:
- Cereal
- Bread
- Grains
- Apples
- Bananas
These foods are gentle on the stomach and can help absorb excess stomach acid, reducing feelings of nausea.
Sip Water or Ginger Ale
Hydration is crucial, and sipping on cold water or a carbonated beverage like ginger ale can also help to alleviate nausea. Ginger ale, in particular, combines hydration with the natural anti-nausea properties of ginger. However, it’s important to avoid caffeinated drinks such as coffee and certain sodas, as these can lead to dehydration, potentially worsening nausea. Other good beverage choices include milk and apple juice, but water and ginger-based drinks are particularly beneficial for settling an upset stomach during travel.
Distract Yourself with Music or Conversation
Engaging your mind through music or conversation is a powerful distraction technique that can help you forget about your discomfort. Turning on the radio or engaging in a lively conversation can shift your focus away from the symptoms of motion sickness. A 2022 meta-analysis indicated that music can be helpful in reducing postoperative vomiting, suggesting its potential to prevent vomiting during travel as well, even if its direct effect on nausea is still being studied. Distraction is a simple yet effective natural way to manage early symptoms.
Put Away Screens and Books
While distraction can be helpful, focusing on screens or reading materials can actually worsen motion sickness for many individuals. This is because concentrating on close-up visual tasks while in motion intensifies the sensory conflict between your inner ear and eyes. The disconnect becomes more pronounced when your eyes are fixed on a static object like a book or phone screen while your body is moving. This is especially relevant for activities like video gaming or using Virtual Reality (VR) technology. Taking breaks from screens, opting for audiobooks or music instead, or even napping can provide relief by reducing visual strain and sensory overload.
By employing these natural remedies, you can proactively manage travel sickness and make your journeys more enjoyable. These tips offer immediate relief and can help you stay comfortable without relying on medications. Remember to experiment with these methods to find what works best for you, ensuring smoother and happier travels.
