Great tips to prevent
motion sickness:
The best advice for prevention is that those who are
susceptible to motion sickness must avoid having a heavy meal or drinking
alcoholic beverages before setting off. Stick with something light, like toast
or savory biscuits about a half-hour before departing. Prevention tablets can
also be bought over the counter and taken as directed to prevent traveling
discomfort. A medical practitioner can even prescribe something more effective
should a person be known to have acute motion sickness attacks. There are even
skin patches that can be worn behind the ear. Always check side effects of any
medicines.
Be aware of early warning signs of a possible motion
sickness attack: pallor, drowsiness, headache, excessive salivation, a cold
sweat, and rapid, shallow breathing.
Preventative measures at this time can usually stop a
progression downwards to light-headedness, sweating nausea, and vomiting:
- Try deep breathing and relaxation exercises. Concentrate on
something besides impending queasiness. A good home-remedy is to always have a
small ball, like a tennis ball available when traveling - while traveling
toss the ball from hand to hand. Follow the arc of the ball’s motion with the
eyes.
- Do not face backwards or look at a sick passenger.
- Keep the eyes on the horizon, preferably in the direction the
vessel or vehicle is moving.
- Try other natural remedies, such as sucking on a lemon or
taking a tablespoon of powdered ginger root. Try a technique known as
acupressure. This entails pressing a sensitive point on the inside of the
wrist. Acupressure bracelets are available in pharmacies and are reputed to be quite
effective.
When the symptoms of motion sickness start, one of these positions
may help: Sit down with the head back, keeping it as still as possible. Alternatively,
put the head between the knees. Otherwise, lie down with eyes closed.
