Motion sickness can affect a person when traveling by car, boat, or plane; the symptoms of motion sickness cause a lot of misery to the affected individual. The vestibular apparatus, which is found in the inner ear, is the organ responsible for maintaining a sense of balance and equilibrium, an excessive stimulation of this part of the inner gives rise to the peculiar range of symptoms that are collectively known as motion sickness.
The delicate balancing mechanisms in the inner ear are disturbed during the many abnormal or irregular body motions or difficult postures that the body assumes while traveling in a moving object.
Added to this is the repeated acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle, such as those that occur in a moving car, or the heaving motions felt on the deck of a boat, or even the up and down motions felt inside an airplane-all of these factors added together cause motion sickness. Visual cues and signals also play some part in the generation of motion sickness; this is because the eyes transmit the visual messages to this seat of balance within the inner ear.
Symptoms of motion sickness result in a person as and when the body is being passively transported through space, the surrounding landscape rushing by, and the many contradictory stimuli lead to a confusion and disruption within the vestibular apparatus – these are the reasons that motion sickness occurs in individuals.
One child to the other may experience a range of symptoms. A general sense of discomfort and uneasiness is the usual way sensations of motion sickness begin to form in the individual. The resulting symptoms may make the child look a little green in some cases and he or she will look noticeably pale. A sick headache and feelings of dizziness are also common symptoms experienced during motion sickness.
Even when taken out of a vehicle immediately, the affected person may still need several hours for his or her body to completely recover from the symptoms caused by motion sickness.
It is harder to cure motion sickness and easier to prevent its occurrence. Whatever treatment is available must be used before entering a vehicle, especially if you have a child who has a tendency to get carsick.
Supplements and herbs
Motion sickness and nausea can be effectively treated through the use of supplemental forms of the ginger. Children can be given a ginger tea as and when needed, for this purpose carry a thermos of warm or room-temperature whenever traveling with children who are prone to motion sickness. The capsule form or the tincture form of ginger is also available and can be used. Until the symptoms have completely abated, children can be given a single dose, every one to two hours, to take away the symptoms of motion sickness.
Commonly used essential oils for motion sickness:
Depending on the severity of the symptoms associated with the motion sickness, use these remedy in the potencies of 6, 12 or 30 (x or c), while treating an affected person.
Bryonia is to be used as a homeopathic remedy in the treatment of motion sickness in individuals suffering from vomiting and nausea even from the slightest motion or movement; these symptoms also tend to be prevalent early in the mornings when the person is awaking from sleep. The remedy can be used in case of patients who suffer some nausea from riding in cars and boats, or if the symptom has been generated after looking at fast moving objects on the road or the water.
The patient typically feels faint, and is given to a lot of shivering. The person normally does not vomit out drinks but may be given to vomiting out any solid food he or she has consumed when the motion sickness strikes. Additional physical symptoms that the person may complain about include the presence of a pressure like stone pressing within the stomach.
The person may also complain of a bitter taste in the mouth, he or she may suffer from a dry mouth, and in addition suffers pangs of thirst for large amounts of fluids of all types. The person can also be complaining of the presence of a bursting headache at most times of the day and night.
The condition of such patients often worsens on the very least of motions, when out walking, when suddenly rising from a sitting position, if the person becomes cold, and when he or she is eating something. The presence of one or more of these symptoms calls for the use of Bryonia as a homeopathic remedy in the treatment of motion sickness.
Petroleum is to be used in the homeopathic treatment of individuals afflicted with motion sickness in the sea or in the air when traveling. Typical symptoms in such patients include the presence of accumulated water in the mouth along with nausea. The individual may be given to vomiting a green and bitter fluid from time to time.
Some other physical symptoms that are felt include heartburn and belching, such patients also tend to suffer from some form of stomach pain. When such individuals consume some food, the nausea may be relieved. Other physical symptoms include a sensation of sinking, feeling faint, and the presence of an emptiness or coldness in the abdominal region.
Psychologically such individuals also tend to feel very disoriented and indecisive about things in general. The person may have morbid sensations such as feeling that he or she may be dying. The person may develop a sense of duality in his or her personality. The person also suffers from vague emotional fears.
The condition of the patient can often greatly worsen when he or she is eating, on being touched, during the winter season, and on being exposed to cold weather or drafts. The condition of the person will improve on exposure to warm air, and when he or she is lying with the head held high. The presence of one or more of these symptoms calls for the use of Petroleum as a homeopathic remedy in the treatment of the motion sickness.
Sepia is to be used as a homeopathic remedy in the treatment of patients afflicted with motion sickness that comes about because of the movement of the eyes, while seeing rapid moving objects, or even passive motion, and fast cars etc. this form of motion sickness gives rise to nausea accompanying hormonal disturbance: such as those that occur during PMS, during the menstrual cycle, and during menopause, or when a women is pregnant.
The physical symptoms can include a feeling of weakness, or a persistent and empty feeling in the pit of the stomach. The person also suffers from dizziness and is often dazed. Physical exhaustion and chills is another sign. The person may be very depressed, often being indifferent to the surroundings’, and may badly desires solitude at all times.
The condition of such patients tends to worsen after midnight, and during the evening, and can be stoked by the odor of food, or exposure to cold, and or fasting. The condition of such patients can improve after they have eaten, and in some warmth, when they have taken naps, or have kept themselves busy. The presence of one or more of these symptoms calls for the immediate use of Sepia as a homeopathic remedy in the treatment of motion sickness in afflicted individuals.
Tabacum is to be used in the homeopathic treatment of patients afflicted with sea sickness or any other form of motion sickness. The patients are characterized by the presence of a constant nausea, and may be given to constant vomiting on even the slightest movements. These patients are given to produce a lot of salivation, and may be constantly spitting out excess saliva. Other symptoms can include the presence of dizziness and headache.
Such individuals also tend to be extremely pale, and may suffer from a cold sweat. These patients also feel faint, and may have a sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach at most times. The person may feel a lot better when the abdomen is uncovered. The individuals may exhibit burst of sudden anxiety, and may feel better on being allowed to weep. Another typical sign is despondency.
The condition of such individuals also tends to worsen when they are left lying on the left side of the body, and when heat is applied, the eyes tend to be open and worsen the nausea, the patients is also aggravated in the symptoms at night, and irritants like tobacco smoke. The condition of the patient may improve on being exposed to fresh cold air, and to cold water. The presence of one or more of these symptoms calls for the immediate use of Tabacum as a homeopathic remedy in the treatment of the motion sickness.
Lemon settler for motion sickness
Over-the-counter motion sickness medicine is known for side-effects such as drowsiness, but this remedy gets rid of that sick feeling and soothes the stomach, without the drowsiness.
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- 1 cup of boiling water
- 1 crushed sprig of spearmint or peppermint
Combine honey, lemon juice, and boiling water, stirring to mix all the components together. Peppermint or spearmint can also be added. Drink this tummy-soothing remedy whenever it is necessary. When you travel, keeping it warm in a thermos is also a good idea.
Other beneficial herbs