MOTION SICKNESS (Car Sickness)

MOTION SICKNESS

(Car Sickness)

MOTION SICKNESS

(Car Sickness)

       SYMPTOMS – Nausea, excessive salivation, vomiting, cold sweat, queasy feeling, stomach churning.Possible dizziness, sometimes fainting.

        CAUSE – The semicircular canals in the inner ears detect your vertical position.  When there is  too much jostling back and forth,  movement which you do not have control over (as when riding in cars, planes, or boats), your sensory system may become overloaded.  Since your eyes also sense vertical balance, what you see does not seem to agree with what your labyrinthine receptors in the inner ear sense.Then mental confusion results.  Nausea occurs when the brain does not know what to tell the body to do.  This weakens the stomach.

       The experts say that nausea at such time also indicates that your liver is not doing well.

        NATURAL REMEDIES

·       If at sea, lie down and close your eyes.  If in a car seat, rest your head back on the headrest, so it is somewhat faced upward.  This relaxes the semicircular canals.

·       Charcoal Tablets  may help settle the stomach.

·         Ginger capsules are highly recommended.

·       Raspberry leaf  tea  is also recommended for the nausea of motion sickness.  It can also be mixed with ginger.  Black horehound can reduce nausea.

                PREVENTION

·       Prevention is the best. Do not eat heavily processed meals, drink liquor, or eat junk food.  Some people do well eating a few whole-grain crackers  before and during the trip.  Avoid smoke and food odors.  Stay cool and get fresh air! Cool air is best.

·       You may wish to take 5 charcoal tablets, one hour before the trip begins.  Another method 2 ginger tablets every 3 hours, beginning one hour before the trip.  Ginger helps prevent motion sickness, by absorbing acids and thus preventing nausea.

·       Some recommend additional magnesium (500 mg, one hour before trip), and vitamin B6 (100 mg, one hour prior to the trip), to relieve anticipated nausea.

·       In order to settle the stomach before a trip, use the nervine  herbs:  hops, skullcap, chamomile, and valerian root.

·       Grab your earlobes and pull down.  This increases circulation to the inner ear and helps prevent motion sickness.  Do this often during the trip

·       Lean back and breathe deeply; try to relax and take a sip of water from a cup every few minutes.  Avoid rapid changes in body position or head motion.

·       Do not use products that impair-circulation: nicotine, caffeine, and salt.

Here are more preventive suggestions:

·       Travel at night.  When it is dark, what you see conflicts less with what you sense and the air tends to be fresher.

·       If possible, keep a window open and stay near it, all the while breathing that fresh air.

·       Sit still and do not look around very much.  Look straight ahead.  If you are in the driver’s seat, you will sense (and have) better control of the movements taking place.

  Do not read while riding.  Keep your eyes on something stationary far ahead.

·       Take a daily  B-complex supplement  and  vitamin C (2,000 mg) for two weeks before traveling.