About all

Preventing seasickness: Here’s How to Prevent Seasickness on a Boat

by alexxlab

Here’s How to Prevent Seasickness on a Boat

Here’s How to Prevent Seasickness on a Boat | Formula Boats

Contact Us

Preventing Seasickness on a Boat

Seasickness — which is more generally referred to as motion sickness — is an unpleasant feeling caused by any motion that disturbs your inner ear, including everything from boat rides to roller coasters. While the symptoms are mild for some, they are incapacitating for others and can include nausea and vomiting. If you’re a sufferer of this inner ear disturbance, read our helpful guide to learn about what causes motion sickness as well as how to prevent and cure this malady.

Causes of Seasickness

Motion sickness can be caused by any mode of travel, including cars, buses, boats or planes. Some other experiences known to induce this queasy feeling include:

  • – Amusement park rides
  • – Playground equipment
  • – Virtual reality
  • – 3D movies
  • – Seeing others’ movement

The groups most susceptible to motion sickness include:

  • – Women, especially if they’re pregnant, menstruating or receiving hormone therapy
  • – Children between the ages of 2 and 12
  • – People prone to migraines

Some of the most common risk factors include:

  • Anxiety or fear about travel or becoming motion sick
  • Insufficient ventilation, including exposure to smoke or fumes
  • Being on certain medications, which include some antidepressants, asthma medicines, antibiotics and narcotics

How Seasickness Works

It is generally believed that seasickness occurs when signals regarding movement, which come from various parts of your body, provide conflicting information. Your brain detects movement by gathering signals from your inner ears, eyes, muscles and joints. If your eyes tell your brain that your body is not moving — for instance, if you’re in a car that’s moving, it looks stationary to you — but your inner ears send signals that your body is moving, this creates a conflict. This sensory mismatch, researchers believe, is what causes the feelings of seasickness.

Symptoms of Seasickness

You are probably familiar with some of the most common symptoms of motion sickness such as nausea, dizziness and vomiting. Other symptoms may include:

  •  Sweating
  •  Pallor
  •  Shortness of breath
  • Hyperventilation
  •  Drooling
  •  Drowsiness
  •  Fatigue
  • Mild abdominal discomfort
  •  General uncomfortable feeling
  • Headache
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Focal weakness
  • Increase in production of saliva

 
Although rare, if someone with motion sickness vomits for a prolonged period, they may become dehydrated and develop depression, inanition and hypotension.

If a person is continually exposed to motion, they will typically adapt within a few days, although symptoms may return if the motion intensifies or resumes following a brief respite.

Tips for Preventing Seasickness

Luckily, there are several strategies for preventing motion sickness, which include:

1. GET LOTS OF REST

Lack of sleep and exhaustion will increase your susceptibility to seasickness. Before traveling or engaging in an activity that may cause motion sickness, take the time to get plenty of rest.

2. TAKE ANTIEMETICS

There are various medications on the market for the treatment of motion sickness. Antiemetic drugs, which are medicines that help prevent nausea, include Dramamine and Bonine, which do not require a prescription, as well as scopolamine drugs, which are prescription drugs available in patch and pill form. The majority of these treatments are designed to counteract the effects of the chemicals your brain releases when you’re seasick. Ask your doctor about the best medication for you. Be aware that antihistamines may make you drowsy and dry out your eyes and mouth. Antihistamines work by blocking messages in your brain that control vomiting and nausea, so medications like Dramamine are most effective if you take them before you feel seasick.

3. BREATHE SOME FRESH AIR

When seasickness strikes, it’s often a good idea to go to a balcony or open deck and focus, on the horizon. This will help you “see” the movement, and your eyes will now send your brain signals that better match what your inner ear detects. Fresh air, particularly if the wind is blowing, often helps. You should also concentrate on something besides the motion of the boat, so make sure to stay active while you’re on board.

4. ASK FOR A MID-SHIP CABIN CLOSE TO THE WATER

In the center of a boat, seasickness-inducing motion, namely the sawing side-to-side and seesawing up-and-down, is minimal. If you’re going on a cruise, request a cabin near the middle of the ship if you can. It’s also not a bad idea to ask for a room that has a portal or window, which will let you see the horizon more easily.

5. DON’T FORGET TO EAT

Bland, light foods, like pretzels, plain bread and saltine crackers, are the best for preventing seasickness. While having something in your belly is preferable to nothing, make sure not to overeat. As for drinks, we recommend ginger ale, a famous treatment for seasickness. You may also be able to calm your stomach with some peppermint. Eating crackers while drinking soda or water is also effective for many people.

6. USE ACUPRESSURE WRISTBANDS

This type of wristband, also known as a Sea-Band, applies pressure at a certain area of your wrist. Many find that this pressure helps them to prevent nausea. Acupressure wristbands are often available in pharmacies and from many online stores.

7. AVOID NAUSEA-TRIGGERING STIMULI

Nausea is perhaps the most characteristic symptom of seasickness, and anything that can trigger nausea could make your seasickness symptoms worse. These triggers include consuming spicy foods, greasy foods, acidic foods and large amounts of food of any kind. You should also avoid alcohol, which accelerates dehydration and may weaken your resistance to seasickness. Instead, drink plenty of water. Stay away from noxious smells and others near you who are suffering from motion sickness and throwing up.

8. PICK THE RIGHT CRUISE ITINERARY

If you’re particularly prone to seasickness, you should stick to bigger ships and choose routes that traverse calmer waters. For example, the Caribbean is generally calmer than many other places in the Atlantic. You may also want to consider newer ships, which feature cutting-edge stabilization systems that help reduce the feeling of motion.

How to Cure Seasickness

Consider the following motion sickness remedies to cure seasickness for good:

1. BE IN CONTROL

If you’re traveling in a boat or car, it’s easy to get motion sick if you’re not the one driving. The driver is less susceptible to motion sickness than the passengers because they are controlling it and know where it will go next. If you get queasy easily, take control of the wheel to minimize your chances of motion sickness. If you’re not able to drive, at least try to sit up front and look far ahead, which will make you feel more in control than you would in the backseat. If you must sit in the back, try to pick a seat where you can still look out the front. Try to get some fresh air by opening a vent or other fresh air source, and avoid looking down at your phone or reading a book.

2. AVOID CERTAIN FOODS

Refrain from drinking too much alcohol, smoking and eating liquids or foods that are particularly filling. Foods that are heavy, spicy or have strong odors may aggravate your motion sickness symptoms.

3. PICK A GOOD POSITION

Find a spot that experiences minimal motion. To prevent seasickness on a boat, try moving to a cabin on a lower level that is located near the ship’s center. If you’re on an airplane, we recommend picking a seat above the wing, which is calmer than anywhere else on the plane. If you hear others near you suffering or complaining about their motion sickness, try to stay away from them — just listening to other people talking about it or seeing them getting ill can exacerbate your own motion sickness symptoms.

4. MAKE YOUR SENSORY CUES MATCH UP

If you’re feeling seasick, try lying down so that the sensory systems in your body become congruent. On trains, you should find a seat that faces forward, which will allow your eyes to send the same movement signals to your brain that the inner ear is sending. If on a boat or in a car, it’s often helpful to fix your gaze on a certain point ahead of you. The more sensory congruence is enhanced, the lower your chances of feeling motion sick.

5. TALK YOURSELF OUT OF IT

It’s true — you can actually convince yourself you’re not seasick. According to the results of a study, just telling sailors that they won’t become seasick has helped to prevent seasickness. Before you travel, use affirmative language with yourself like, “I won’t get seasick this time.” Using breathing techniques involving biofeedback may also be helpful.

6. DESENSITIZE YOURSELF

Desensitization is effective for reducing — and sometimes even curing — seasickness. Think of some activities that cause motion sickness for you, engage in them for short amounts of time, making the periods a little longer each time. For instance, if reading in a vehicle when it’s in motion makes you nauseated, read for a five-minute interval and then put down the book. Repeat this interval for a few sessions, then increase the time to ten minutes. You’ll find that, over time, you’ll become more accustomed to it.

7. EAT GINGER

Certain studies have found that eating ginger is effective in preventing seasickness. Although not proven, this is a safe remedy that’s worth a try, especially if your symptoms are mild. Ginger root, which is most commonly sold in capsules and candies, is the type with the most evidence to support it. It’s also considered safe for pregnant women. For the best results, take a gram or two of ginger 30 minutes before you travel. If you take blood thinners, you should speak with your doctor first about taking ginger.

8. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PRESSURE POINTS

Although the jury is still out on this method, acupressure is worth trying — even if it just serves as a placebo. As we mentioned earlier, you may be able to avoid motion sickness simply by convincing yourself that you can. If you can better convince yourself that you won’t get motion sick by wearing a pressure point device like a wristband with bumps, it’s definitely worth trying out. Magnets, however, are not worth spending money on — while you may have heard of this method, there is no evidence that magnets marketed for treating motion sickness are effective at all.

9. LET IT PASS

Keep in mind that, no matter how sick you feel, your seasickness will clear up by itself after three days or so. If your kids are suffering from seasickness, let them know that this awful condition should start to go away after they turn 12. This information should make them feel better, knowing that they won’t be doomed to seasickness for their entire lives.

10. IF NOTHING ELSE WORKS, MEDICATE

If you’re prone to severe motion sickness, we encourage you to take medications like meclizine or Dramamine, which you can get over-the-counter. These work best if taken half an hour to an hour before you think the motion sickness will hit you. If you’re an adult in good health, you can also speak with your doctor about taking scopolamine, which comes in the form of a patch, to deal with prolonged episodes of motion sickness. You should be aware that these medications can cause dry mouth, drowsiness and several other undesirable side effects.

Here is a brief overview of drugs commonly used to treat motion sickness:

  • Antihistamines: Benadryl, Dramamine and other older, non-prescription antihistamines are well-known to counteract the effects of motion sickness. The FDA has also approved them for children over 2 years old to use. The main downsides are that they cause drowsiness and take up to 60 minutes to take effect. Non-sedating, newer OTC antihistamines like Zyrtec p and Claritin may help to reduce the symptoms of allergies, but don’t seem to be effective at reducing queasiness.
  •  Prescription drugs: Phenergan is also an antihistamine that relieves nausea effectively, but it might cause drowsiness. Another option is Antivert, which is also known to make you drowsy. Transderm-Scop, the scopolamine patch, is also effective but causes side effects like extreme drowsiness and blurred vision, making it a last-resort treatment. Some Transderm-Scop patients have also reported that the motion sickness symptoms returned once they removed the patch.

– Learn More About Formula Boats

An industry-leading, family-owned company based in Decatur, Indiana, Formula Boats makes boats known around the world for their gorgeous design, sophisticated engineering and astonishing performance. With a long-time commitment to exceptional quality, Formula is considered to the world’s premier powerboat.

If you’d like a powerboat with a fine-tuned design and authentic craftsmanship, Formula is the boat for you. To learn more about what we offer, feel free to browse our products on our site or reach out to us using our contact form.

Easy Ways to Keep From Getting Seasick

Your dream cruise can become a nightmare if the ship’s motion causes you to become seasick. Motion sickness brings with it nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, and cold sweats. While seasickness can be mild, for some people it can be completely incapacitating.

“Seasickness is the result of a complex physiological reaction to motion,” says John Bradberry, MD, medical director for Carnival Cruise Lines. “It is a mismatch of information sent to the brain from the eyes, inner ear, and sensory nerves, such as in the feet.”

Think of it this way: When you are inside a cabin on a ship, your eyes do not see movement, but the inner ear senses it. Your eyes are telling your brain there is no movement, while the inner ear is telling the brain there is. The result in some people is seasickness.

You can get motion sickness from traveling in a car, airplane, train, or even in an amusement park ride. “People who are prone to one form of motion sickness tend to be more susceptible to other forms of it,” Bradberry says.

Strategies to Prevent Motion Sickness

Here are some ways you can reduce the risk of becoming seasick:

  • Be well rested before setting sail. Missing sleep and feeling exhausted make you more susceptible to factors that can cause motion sickness. Wind down before your trip.

  • Take antiemetic drugs. A variety of medications are available to help prevent or treat motion sickness. Medicines for nausea are called antiemetic drugs. They include antihistamines such as Bonine and Dramamine — available over the counter — and scopolamine drugs, which come in pill or patch form and require a prescription. “Most of the medications work by counteracting the effect of chemicals released by the brain during seasickness,” Bradberry says.

    Talk to you doctor about which medications are best for you, as you may be limited by other medications you are taking. Antihistamines can cause drowsiness and dry mouth and eyes. Because antihistamines block messages to the part of the brain that controls nausea and vomiting, taking a medication such as Dramamine works best if you take it before you get motion sickness. So for best results, take the pill before you board the ship, if you’re going on a short trip.

  • Get fresh air. If you are feeling seasick, it is often helpful to go out on an open deck or balcony and look toward the horizon. Doing so helps your eyes “see” the motion, which will then send signals to the brain more in alignment with what the inner ear is “telling” the brain, Bradberry says. Fresh air, especially wind blowing in your face, tends to help. It also helps to focus on something other than the boat’s motion, so try to keep active while aboard the ship.
  • Request a cabin mid ship and near the water line. “The side-to-side sway and the up and down ‘seesaw’ pitch motion of the ship is minimized in the middle of the boat,” Bradberry says. You might also want to request a room with a window or portal so that you can easily look out on the horizon.
  • Have a bite. The best foods are light and bland, such as saltine crackers, plain bread, or pretzels. Having some food in your stomach is better than having an empty stomach, but be careful not to eat too much. Also, you might want to sip some ginger ale: Ginger is a well-known natural remedy for motion sickness. Peppermint also may have calming effects on the stomach. Many people find that eating crackers along with drinking water or soda helps.
  • Wear an acupressure wristband. These wristbands apply pressure to a point on the wrist, generally where you wear a watch. Many people find the pressure helps them avoid nausea, one of the symptoms of motion sickness. You can find acupressure wristbands in some pharmacies, or order them from online stores such as Amazon.
  • Avoid stimuli that can trigger nausea. “Nausea is a hallmark of seasickness. Any stimulus that triggers nausea can aggravate seasickness symptoms,” Bradberry says. Triggers include eating greasy foods, spicy foods, acidic foods such as citrus fruits and juices, and large meals. Avoiding alcohol helps because, as a diuretic, alcohol speeds up dehydration and can lower your body’s resistance to motion sickness, especially if you are prone to it. Steer clear of any noxious odors and other people on the boat who are vomiting from motion sickness.
  • Choose your itinerary carefully. If you know that you get motion sickness, you should probably only sail on larger ships and select itineraries that go through calmer bodies of water. The Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, for example, tend to be calmer than most portions of the Atlantic Ocean. Also, newer ships are built with the latest stabilization systems, which help reduce the motion you feel.

Related: Natural Ways to Relieve Nausea

Don’t let seasickness ruin a floating holiday. Planning ahead and being prepared with a variety of remedies should keep you feeling ship-shape.

Learn more in the Everyday Health Digestive Health Center.

9 Signs of an Unhealthy Gut — and What You Can Do About It

An unhealthy gut is tied to a range of symptoms, from acne to unintentional weight changes. Follow these steps to restore balance to your gut health.

By Erica Patino

9 Foods That Help Relieve Nausea

Eating may be the last thing on your mind when your stomach is queasy, but some foods actually ease the symptoms and help stop nausea.

By Melissa Johnson

5 Ways to Incorporate More Fermented Foods Into Your Diet

Fermented foods act as a natural probiotic supplement, helping to populate your gut with good microbes. Here are 5 easy, dietitian-approved ways to add…

By Rachel Dyckman, RDN

The Link Between Your Gut Microbiome and Your Health

Your gut microbiome, or the bacteria in your gut, can have a surprising impact on your health. Find out what steps you can take to promote your gut health…

By Erica Patino

How to deal with seasickness on a cruise (and not only) whether they will make a cruise trip enjoyable, or even put an end to your vacation.

True, the chances of this are very small: modern cruise ships are huge and are not very prone to rolling (besides, they are equipped with special stabilizers), and the chances of getting into a storm in some Mediterranean Sea are extremely small. However, many cruise travelers continue to suffer from seasickness.

You will be surprised, but seasickness is not always caused by rolling. Scientists have found that may be just one certainty that you will get sick in order to make you feel bad . Yes, yes, people who are sure that they suffer from seasickness really endure even a calm sea worse than those who can get the rolling out of their heads. Here is the first remedy for you: just ignore this and it will be easier for you to be at sea.

However, there is also a physical predisposition and some people suffer more from seasickness, especially children aged 3-12 and women. At the same time, children under 2 years of age are practically not susceptible to motion sickness , and older people are less susceptible than young people.

An interesting fact: only 1.5% of people are absolutely not prone to seasickness, and even the famous Admiral Nelson could not get rid of it. On the other hand, there is good news: 95% of people adjust to rocking after a few days of cruising .

In any case, whether you get sick even in a car or you easily endure even the steepest turns of a roller coaster, it will not be superfluous to take precautions and take anti-seasickness supplies and medicines on the cruise. Eventually, you will be able to share them with others.

  1. Prevention

  2. Medicines

  3. Traditional methods

  4. Useful tips.

Sea sickness prevention.

The best prevention of seasickness is a good and trained vestibular apparatus. Sports (especially water sports), cycling and even torsion on an ordinary office chair help a lot in this.

But if you are not a sailor, yachtsman, acrobat or astronaut, do not despair. Our advice will help you cope with motion sickness:

  1. Give up phone games or movies . Do not expose the already confused vestibular apparatus to additional stress.
  2. Try not to look at the waves and objects floating overboard; it is best to look up at the sky or into the distance.
  3. Contrary to popular belief, alcohol aggravates the violation of the vestibular apparatus , and not vice versa – it helps to get in time with the movements of the wave. Of course, after the first glass it may seem to you that you have become much better, and you will feel like an avid sailor, but soon you will see that this is not so. And especially do not use if you are taking medication.
  4. If you are a heavy smoker, be patient, do not force your body.
  5. On the eve of the trip and in the first days on board, you should not lean on fatty foods.
  6. Soda and coffee can also affect the severity of motion sickness.
  7. Sleep is the best medicine , including kinetosis. Get enough sleep before the cruise, fatigue contributes to a more pronounced manifestation of motion sickness symptoms.
  8. Limit perfume use and other deodorants. Even your favorite scent, if strong, can make you feel bad on your first day on board.

Medicines for seasickness.

If you are worried about seasickness, you can take classic anti-motion sickness tablets such as Dramina, Bonine, Siel or Benadryl. The action of modern drugs for motion sickness is reduced to the suppression of information “confusing” the brain, the acceleration of adaptation processes or the removal of symptoms – nausea and dizziness.

Many drugs have side effects: thirst and dryness in the mouth and nasopharynx, fatigue, drowsiness, restlessness, as well as a number of contraindications for use. Therefore, be sure to consult a doctor, especially if you have chronic diseases or if you are pregnant.

Folk remedies for motion sickness.

If you do not like medicines or you have contraindications, proven folk remedies can come to the rescue in the fight against seasickness.

The simplest of these is good old lemon (or something sour): just put one slice at the first sign of motion sickness. Vitamin C suppresses the production of histamine in the body and improves overall well-being. Yes, and generally useful. Salted crackers and sour green apples also help alleviate symptoms.

Another tried and true seasickness remedy used by sailors for hundreds of years, is ginger . You can take it in any form, but dried or candied ginger root is best: just 1 gram is enough before starting a trip. Gingerbread cookies or caramels will also help.

Acupuncture also helps to cope with motion sickness. You can massage a special point on the back of your wrist (where you usually take your pulse), or buy a special bracelet. These bracelets are sold for both adults and children.

Another good remedy for seasickness is any activity of . Swimming in the pool, fitness, running, water slides, dancing and even singing will help you get distracted and overcome discomfort. Plus, it’s good for health. Sometimes during pitching, proper breathing helps: the deck drops – inhale, rises – exhale.

A couple more tips.

  1. Try to quickly acclimatize on the ship: spend more time on deck, breathe the air and look at the horizon more often to adapt the vestibular apparatus.
  2. Choose an outer cabin in the middle of the ship : there is less pitching there, and the view from the window will help you get used to the sea faster (the exception is cruises in extreme waters – the sight of raging water there can negatively affect the well-being of people who are not used to it).
  3. If you are going on a cruise for the first time, then itineraries with frequent calls to port and short sea crossings (Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona, ​​Greek islands or Emirates cruise from Dubai) are not a bad idea. True, if you are particularly sensitive to sea rolling, then it is better to choose cruises in Northern Europe or Norway not in the winter.
  4. The bigger and more modern the cruise ship, the better. They are less prone to waves, and the stabilizers minimize hull vibrations.
  5. Don’t bother, try to have fun and think less about pumping. Psychological attitude and positive mood is a very important thing.

Strange and harmful advice.

There are many mysterious recommendations on the Internet that supposedly help, but this is not certain:

  1. Put something valuable under the tongue: a ring, a diamond, a gold coin. The fear of losing her in (sorry) vomiting will keep you going. In our opinion, it is more like an ankedot.
  2. Covering the navel with adhesive tape: a mysterious method of combating motion sickness, more like some kind of ritual. Can you experiment with sealing other holes, maybe it will help?
  3. “Draw” numbers from 1 to 10 in the air with your nose! back and forth, and so on several times; even if it doesn’t make you feel worse, there is a risk that the orderlies will come running and apply more traditional methods of treatment (though not for seasickness).
  4. Hold a magnet, a coin firmly in your hand and hold it for a long time (maybe an anchor right away?): the effect of a magnet in your hand on the production of histamine is unknown, but if this magnet or coin is someone else’s, then other effects on your body are quite likely.
  5. Slight swaying or shifting of the legs (from heel to toe): it seems to the body that you are walking on the ground, but watch out for real rolling.

Well, that’s it…

…for today. With you was CruiseRadar – a friendly navigator in the field of sea cruises – with another portion of useful advice. By the way, today’s wisdom will be useful to you in everyday life, and not just at sea.

Vkontakte

Twitter

Facebook

Send to

⚓ All about seasickness

Differences in resistance to seasickness depend on ship size, sea conditions and previous sailing experience. Thus, if the provocative movement is active for a long time (for example, on board a ship during a storm), then in most people the degree of manifestations of motion sickness gradually decreases as they adapt to the rocking. The dynamics of this adaptation, as well as other characteristics of motion sickness, has individual differences, however, as a rule, noticeable adaptation occurs on the second or third day of swimming, and by the fourth, all symptoms usually completely disappear. Seasickness is rare among professional sailors. This is due to strict professional selection and training of the vestibular apparatus during training and subsequent work. But sometimes a person cannot adapt to rolling on a ship, even for a long sea service. The famous English naval commander Admiral Nelson spent many years at sea and, nevertheless, every time during a storm he suffered greatly from this disease. Approximately 5% of people do not adapt to rolling at sea at all, and they are subject to motion sickness throughout their lives. Persons with innate stability adapt more quickly to provoking accelerations.
Among other factors that influence the resistance to seasickness, personality traits (extroverts are more resistant than introverts), motivation, emotionality and activity of the central nervous system, as well as fear and anxiety are of great importance.
How can the unpleasant symptoms associated with seasickness be alleviated or prevented? First of all, it is necessary to limit head movements to a minimum, which affect the development of motion sickness, this is well known. You can limit the movement of your head arbitrarily, but it is better if it rests on an appropriate support – a headrest, roller, etc. It should be remembered that on board a ship experiencing motion, seasickness will be less pronounced with acceleration acting along the longitudinal axis of the head than along its anteroposterior axis.
It may be useful during swimming to reduce visual-vestibular mismatch. For example, while on a ship, at the first signs of motion sickness, it is advisable to sit with your eyes closed or fix your gaze, as noted above, on the horizon line or visible land.
A tried and tested remedy for nausea is a lemon, a slice of which should be put into the mouth as soon as possible at the first sign of seasickness. Less effective but still helpful are menthol caramel, chewing gum, spices, or anything acidic. It is good if the cabin smells of mint or pine needles (preferably the use of flavors).
Breakfast (lunch, dinner) before going to sea should be light, because both a full stomach and an empty stomach are an additional burden on the body. From food on the road, choose low-fat and hot food. Soda water, cake or cake with a lot of cream are not for you. It is useful to wipe the neck and temples with a damp towel. Hand massage will also help: put one hand on your knee, palm up. Gently massage with the thumb of the other hand under the wrist, and then with the index and thumb, the middle of the palm.
If a person experiences seasickness precisely in the expanses of water, then during pitching, proper breathing helps: the deck lowers – inhale, rises – exhale.
In the long term, various types of vestibular training can be the most effective means of preventing seasickness: special physical and gymnastic exercises, volleyball, swimming, acrobatic trampolining, exercises on sports equipment: the Rhine wheel, triplex, etc. For passive – a swivel chair , swing, etc. With combined methods, active and passive exercises are combined. Such training not only contributes to the suppression of unpleasant vestibular reactions, but also improves orientation in space.
Active vestibular training is carried out daily in the morning before meals (eyes should be open when performing). All head movements are performed at a fast pace (approximately 120 per minute) for one minute, and after 30 seconds of movement, a pause of 5 seconds should follow. The whole set of exercises takes 8 minutes.
Starting from the first exercise, the complex is repeated and, if you feel well, perform for another eight minutes. At the end of the workout, you need to rest for two to three minutes.
The duration of the first classes is two minutes, and it is advisable to carry out the exercises while sitting. Subsequently, with each lesson, the training time should be increased by one to two minutes and, starting from the third to fifth lesson, movements should be performed in a standing position.
During training, coordination disorders are possible (up to a fall), for the prevention of which it is necessary to provide insurance to the trainee. If some people have pronounced vestibulo-vegetative reactions (severe pallor, sweating, nausea, etc.), the session must be stopped.
In recent years, for the prevention of motion sickness, methods of psychoprophylaxis and psychotherapy, autogenic training with training in self-control of some vegetative reactions, using biofeedback, which allows you to control, prevent or weaken the manifestations of motion sickness, have begun to be used.
A large role in the prevention and relief of seasickness is given to pharmacological agents, the number of which is currently significant.
It should, however, be remembered that almost all drugs used as a means of preventing and relieving motion sickness have their own indications and contraindications. Therefore, before taking this or that drug with you on a trip, you must carefully read the corresponding instructions for its use. And be sure to test it on yourself even before the start of the sea voyage for individual intolerance.

Most often, so-called antihistamines are used to combat kinetosis – diphenhydramine, suprastin, pipolfen. Many of these drugs are familiar as allergy drugs, and the fight against motion sickness is “part-time work” for them. True, for some of these drugs, it becomes the main one. Aviomarin, bonin and kinedril are only sold as motion sickness remedies.

Kinedryl stands out a little in this group: in addition to the antihistamine, it also contains caffeine. And this supplement allows you to reduce the “inhibitory” effect of the antihistamine component – to reduce lethargy and drowsiness. But even despite the invigorating caffeine, kinedril could not completely get rid of the soporific effect.

It should be remembered that antihistamines do not act immediately (after 2 hours or more), but for a relatively long time. Bonin has a particularly long-lasting effect – up to 12 hours. Therefore, this group of medicines should be taken at least one hour before the trip.

Fast-acting drugs containing belladonna alkaloids can be attributed. Among them is such a well-known drug as Aeron, and not so often used Bellataminal and Bellaspon.

Among the official fighters against motion sickness there are also homeopathic preparations – domestic air-sea and German vertigoheel. These drugs act according to the classic homeopathic principle “like cures like”: they contain those components that provoke symptoms typical of motion sickness – nausea, vomiting, dizziness. But thanks to meager doses, they have a curative, not provocative effect.

Recently a biologically active supplement “Companion” appeared. This is also an effective remedy for motion sickness, containing natural plant products – peeled ginger rhizome and chamomile flowers. You need to take it 1-2 tablets 30 minutes before the trip. By the way, ginger has long been used by sailors. Chinese sailors chewed it to reduce seasickness.

None of these drugs available? Validol or Valocordin can help: they can be used as sedatives and antiemetics. Peppermint tea or peppermint extract can help in this situation.

To help people overcome seasickness or airsickness, pharmacologists have invented many remedies. But most of them have many contraindications and side effects. Natural remedies for motion sickness are absolutely safe, but at the same time they are no less effective than drugs.

Homeopathy
The best homeopathic remedy for motion sickness is Nux Vomica. The standard dosage for adults is 10 drops or 3-5 grains to be taken before boarding a vehicle. You can buy Nux Vomica at any homeopathic pharmacy. This component is also part of the complex preparations – the Russian “Avia-Sea” or the German Nux Vomica-Homaccord.

Ginger root
In ancient times, Asian sailors had a habit of chewing ginger during long sea voyages. In the early 1990s, scientists from the US Herbal Medicine Research Laboratory in Salt Lake City decided to test the effectiveness of this ancient custom and conducted an experiment with 36 volunteers who suffered from motion sickness. It turned out that the effectiveness of ginger root powder is superior to known pharmacological drugs for motion sickness. To get rid of seasickness, take one gram of dried ginger root powder before you travel. If you feel nauseous during the trip, it is worth “upping the dose” – drink some ginger beer or eat a couple of gingerbread cookies. Ginger caramels are also suitable – after taking them, do not brush your teeth or rinse your mouth for a while.

Acupuncture
Another piece of advice borrowed from sailors. Before the trip, you need to carefully, but tightly enough, tighten your wrists with elastic bandages, which are sold in any pharmacy. This simple measure will create a pressure drop that will save you from discomfort while traveling. In addition, the bandages will constantly act on a special point in the wrist area, which will help overcome nausea. If you are still seasick, for several minutes rhythmically press with a fingernail or a match on another point under the earlobe.

Proper nutrition
Before traveling, neither starve nor indulge in gluttony. The best option is a small amount of lean protein food such as cottage cheese or a piece of fish. During the trip, especially if you are flying by plane, it is better to refresh yourself with food that you have brought from home in advance. On board, they usually offer quite fatty and sweet food, which can only worsen the condition. Therefore, the best option would be to take a bottle of drinking yogurt or kefir with you, a small portion of cold boiled chicken or turkey. Especially salty and sour foods help to cope with motion sickness. Therefore, during the trip, you can enjoy, for example, pickled herring, various pickles. Remember only that food should be taken in very small portions.

Cold compress
Scientists have shown that an ice pack applied to the head and neck during travel can significantly reduce the intensity of unpleasant symptoms, especially nausea.