Kinetosis, Travel sickness, Space motion sickness.
Root Cause of Disease
Your brain receives signals from motion-sensing parts of your body: your eyes, inner ears, muscles and joints. When these parts send conflicting information, your brain doesn’t know whether you’re stationary or moving. Your brain’s confused reaction makes you feel sick.
Symptoms
Motion sickness can take you by surprise. You may feel fine one moment and then suddenly experience some of these symptoms:
- Cold sweats.
- Dizziness.
- Fatigue.
- Headache.
- Irritability.
- Inability to concentrate.
- Increased saliva, nausea and vomiting.
- Pale skin.
- Rapid breathing or gulping for air.
Causes
Your brain receives signals from motion-sensing parts of your body: your eyes, inner ears, muscles and joints. When these parts send conflicting information, your brain doesn’t know whether you’re stationary or moving. Your brain’s confused reaction makes you feel sick.
For example, when riding in a car, your:
- Eyes see trees passing by and register movement.
- Inner ears sense movement.
- Muscles and joints sense that your body is sitting still.
- Brain senses a disconnect among these messages.
Many actions can trigger motion sickness, such as:
- Amusement park rides and virtual reality experiences.
- Reading while in motion.
- Riding in a boat, car, bus, train or plane.
- Video games and movies.
Home Remedies to treat Motion Sickness
Remedy- 1: Chamomile/ చామంతి
Materials: Chamomile leaves, Honey, Water
Chamomile is a plant that has been in use for long for its health benefits. In studies chamomile has been found to help reduce blood sugar levels and diabetic complications by lowering blood sugar levels and increasing storage of the liver.
Procedure:
- Mix chamomile flowers in hot water and let it infuse for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Strain and serve
- Optional: Sugar or honey can also be added to flavor it.
Product link: Chamomile Tea
Remedy- 2: Mint/ పుదీనా
Materials: Mint, Water, Honey
Mint provides a refreshing taste that can make the mouth feel clean. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. In mint we have vitamins A and C, as well as the minerals iron and calcium.
Procedure:
To prepare this juice recipe, wash the mint leaves under running water and chop them roughly. Now, add these leaves in a blender jar and blend on high speed. Once done, add the jaggery powder and water in it. Blend it again at high speed. Once done, pass it through a sieve into glasses containing ice cubes. Garnish with a lemon slice to enjoy!
Product link: Mint
Remedy- 3: Ginger/ అల్లం
Materials: Ginger, Honey, Water
Ginger, a natural component of ginger root, benefits gastrointestinal motility, the rate at which food exits the stomach and continues along the digestive process. Eating ginger encourages efficient digestion, so food doesn’t linger as long in the gut.”Ginger contains antioxidants. These molecules help manage free radicals, which are compounds that can damage cells when their numbers grow too high.
Procedure:
- Put the ginger root piece directly in a mug.
- Add the boiling water and steep for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Add honey and lemon juice to taste.
Product link: Ginger
Other Remedies
Peppermint
This home remedy can help with the symptoms of nausea in people who have motion sickness. It is noticed that this home remedy can interact with medications, so you need to talk with your doctor before you use it as your home remedy for motion sickness.
Drink some water or a carbonated beverage
It is noticed that sips of cold water or a carbonated drink, like ginger ale or seltzer, can curb the nausea. You should not drink caffeinated beverages, like coffee and certain sodas, because they contribute to dehydration and they can make the nausea worse. Other good choices include apple juice and milk.
Breathing
You should take deep breaths if you suffer from motion sickness. Also, it helps with the upset stomach and it can reduce the dizziness. You should breathe slowly and deeply because it will give you bursts of relief on a short trip and it can help you to relax overall.
Change positions
Some people have noticed that lying down can make their motion sickness better. For other people, standing up can be a better position. Your options will depend on the type of travel, so you should experiment to see what works best for you. If you are in a car, then you lean your head against your headrest because this can help you to lessen your movements.
Preventions
These actions can lower your chances of getting sick or ease symptoms if they occur:
- Herbs: Breathe in soothing mint, ginger or lavender scents. Suck on hard candies made with peppermint or ginger.
- Diet and drink: Drink plenty of water. Choose low-fat, bland, starchy foods before traveling. Avoid heavy meals and greasy, spicy or acidic foods that can upset your stomach. Don’t drink alcohol or smoke.
- Fresh air: Direct air vents to blow toward you. And roll down windows in cars.
- Distant gaze: Put down the phone, tablet or book. Instead, look at an object in the distance or at the horizon.
- Lie back: Recline, if possible, and close your eyes.
- Pressure points: Wear acupressure wristbands.
You should always face forward when traveling. Where you sit can also make a difference to minimize disruptive motion:
- Boat: Sit in the middle of the boat on the upper deck.
- Bus: Choose a window seat.
- Car: Sit in the front passenger seat.
- Cruise ship: Book a cabin toward the front or middle of the ship. If you can, choose one on a lower level, closer to the water.
- Plane: Sit in the wing section.
- Train: Choose a forward-facing window seat.
