A dream vacation can turn into a nightmare if you suffer from motion sickness while traveling to your destination. Long car, boat or plane trips are not the only catalyst for motion sickness either; many people suffer mild bouts of motion sickness any time they ride in a car and for others the upset stomach may only happen once in a lifetime. In any event, a little planning can help prevent motion sickness.
Saltine Crackers
Saltine crackers are unofficially prescribed for pregnant women to help prevent morning sickness, and for good reason – they work. The small square, unassuming cracker will also help prevent the nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness. Eat one or two bland, fat-free, high carb saltine crackers 15 minutes before departure time to keep your stomach settled while traveling. During long trips, nibble on a couple of saltines every hour or so to keep motion sickness at bay.
Choose Seat Wisely
Whatever mode of transportation you are traveling in, choose to sit where the motion is felt the least. When traveling by car, drive or sit in the front passenger seat; when traveling by cruise ship, choose a cabin that is located in the middle of the ship; when traveling by air, choose a seat near the wing of the plane.
Skip Travel Hobbies
If you plan to pass the travel time by indulging in a hobby like reading, playing a hand held game or knitting, skip it. Attending to close-up tasks while traveling make motion sickness worse. Face forward while traveling and focus on a distant object to help prevent that queasy feeling in the pit of your stomach signaling the onset of motion sickness.
Apply Pressure to Wrist
Look at the inside of one of your forearms, about two inches up from the wrist and you will see a natural crease between two tendons. Applying pressure to this spot will help prevent motion sickness. Pressure can be applied with fingers of opposite hand for as long as you feel queasy or special bracelets can be worn to apply pressure throughout the travel time.
Supplement or Medication
Ginger has long been used as a natural means of calming an upset stomach and can be purchased in supplement form. While ginger supplements are available over-the-counter, it’s wise to talk to your doctor before taking any type of supplement. Prescription medication can also be obtained from your family physician prior to embarking on a trip to help banish motion sickness so you can enjoy the traveling as much as the destination.
Sources:
RealSimple
streetdirectory
Medscape
LiveStrong