We were never designed to be travelling in transportation that moves independently of us and our own two feet. Our brains were designed to adapt to our body’s movement through motion sensors that tell us where we are in relation to our environment.
When motion sickness occurs, the body, the inner ear, and the eyes are sending conflicting signals to the brain and the result is a prolonged set of symptoms that may include dizziness, nausea, vertigo, poor balance, pale skin, cold sweats, vomiting, increased salivation and fatigue. Not pleasant travelling companions!
The conventional approach is to recommend Gravol or antihistamines. These remedies can work for some people but usually cause drowsiness. Some prescription remedies can help, but may result in Dystonia, characterized by abnormal, involuntary movement, or freezing in one position.
The naturopathic approach is focused on a combination of remedies. Ongoing pressure on acupressure points on the inside of the wrists, about 3 finger widths up the arm from the center of the wrist crease, can be effective for some people. Wrist bands designed to apply pressure to this point are widely available.
Ginger tincture under the tongue, as often as needed, can also be effective, and several homeopathic remedies provide relief. A product called Quease Ease, delivered through an inhaler, was developed by a nurse to help alleviate the nausea associated with chemotherapy, and fishing charters often have it available for guests who become seasick.
Some of the most popular homeopathic remedies include Tabacum, for motion sickness with severe nausea and vomiting and Cocculus, the primary treatment if nausea and vertigo or other type of dizziness are present. Borax and Nux Vomica can also be used and there are “combination” remedies that combine all these ingredients. None of these natural remedies cause drowsiness, but you may need to experiment with different products or combinations to find the one that works best for you.
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To your health,
Dr. Chris Dawkins, BM, MRCGP, LMCC
Chief Nutrition Optimizer at Natural Health News