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You don’t have to go deep sea diving to experience motion sickness. You could get queasy during a flight, when exploring a city on a bus, or while hanging on for dear life in the back of a tuk-tuk. Motion sickness can hit all of us, usually at the most inopportune times. But there are ways to deal with it. Or even prevent it from striking in the first place.
Pressure Point
Pushing on an acupressure point (meridian nerve) along your wrist might give you quick relief. Place the index, middle, and ring fingers of your right hand on the inside of your left wrist, starting under the crease. Your pressure point is underneath your index finger, between the wrist tendons. Apply firm pressure on one or both wrists for four to five seconds.
Acupressure Wrist Bands
Acupressure bands, stretchy bracelets with a plastic “bump” on the inside, stimulate your anti-motion-sickness acupressure point continuously. You could also opt for a battery-powered option, such as Reliefband, that uses electrical pulses to stimulate the median nerve. You can adjust pulse strength depending on how sick you feel.
Herbs
Some people find it helpful to breathe in mint, ginger or lavender scents. You can also suck on hard candies that are made with peppermint or ginger.
Diet and Drink
Eating a light snack, like saltine crackers, may ease nausea. Drink plenty of water, and stick to low-fat, bland, starchy foods before traveling. Avoid heavy meals and greasy, acidic or spicy foods that can upset your stomach. Also stay away from alcohol and smoking.
Fresh Air
Direct air vents to blow toward you, and roll down windows in cars.
Eyes on the Horizon
Put down that phone, tablet or book, and instead focus on an object in the distance or on the horizon.
Medication
Over-the-counter antihistamines, often used to treat allergies, can prevent motion sickness and ease symptoms. Only antihistamines that cause drowsiness are effective. Promethazine is a prescription antihistamine drug used to treat motion sickness.
For severe cases, some people rely on Scopolamine skin patches (Transderm Scop®). You stick the patch behind your ear at least four hours before traveling, and can wear it for three days. These patches can have side effects and are only approved for adults.
Seating
Where and how you sit can also make a big difference in how you feel. You should always face forward when traveling. On a boat, sit in the middle of the vessel on the upper deck. On a bus, choose a window seat. In a car, sit in the front passenger seat. When it comes to cruise ships, book a cabin toward the front or middle of the ship. If you can, go for one on a lower level, closer to the water. On planes, sit in the wing section. On the train, always choose a forward-facing window seat.
There are lots of ways to prevent and treat motion sickness. So don’t let the fear of it keep you from venturing out.
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