Motion Sickness

Motion sickness is nausea and dizziness that occurs when traveling in a moving vehicle such as a car boat or airplane.

Signs and Symptoms

Motion sickness can produce the following symptoms.

• Dizziness
• Paleness
• Cold sweating
• Excess saliva production
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Headache

What Causes It?

Motion sickness happens when signals from the balance system of your body conflict with visual cues. For example your body may sense rolling motions that you cannot see from inside a ship's cabin. Conversely during a "virtual reality" simulation your eyes perceive movement that your body does not experience. In addition the structures of your inner ears can become unbalanced.

It is not known why some people develop motion sickness and others do not. Motion sickness is more likely to be seen in young people women and people of Asian ancestry. Those who are fearful and anxious during a trip or who more frequently experience nausea or vomiting may also be prone to motion sickness.

What to Expect at Your Provider's Office

Motion sickness generally clears up once you leave the car boat or airplane so you'll rarely find yourself in a health care provider's office during an episode. But your provider may be able to recommend ways to prevent and treat the condition for your next trip.

Treatment Options

Treatment Plan

There are various prescription and nonprescription drugs available for motion sickness. Some drugs prevent motion sickness and some treat it. You will need to find the one that works best for you.

Drug Therapies

Prescription

• Scopolamine patch—a patch placed behind the ear six to eight hours before travel; does not work once symptoms have begun; effect lasts up to three days; side effects include dry mouth drowsiness blurred vision and disorientation
• Norepinephrine-releasing agents (phenytoin amphetamine)—usually taken an hour before travel; various some serious side effects

Over the Counter

The following antihistamines may prevent or treat motion sickness. Do not use if you have breathing problems glaucoma or an enlarged prostate. Antihistamines often cause drowsiness and should not be used while driving.

• Cyclizene (Marezine)—take 30 to 60 minutes before travel and every four to six hours as needed; not for children under 6 years
• Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)—every four to six hours for adults; strong drowsiness effect
• Meclizine (Bonine Antivert Dramamine II)—take once daily; not for children under 12 years

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

Digestive herbs or homeopathic remedies may be helpful in preventing and relieving motion sickness. As with most therapies alternative therapies for motion sickness are best used before the onset of symptoms.

Nutrition

Avoid alcohol and caffeine. If you have respiratory problems eliminate foods that produce inflammation and mucus such as dairy products fruit and sugar. Ginger root (Zingiber officinalis) sliced and chewed may prevent the onset of motion sickness. Encapsulated ginger crystallized ginger or ginger snaps may also help. Ginger has been shown to be more effective than antihistamines if taken one hour before traveling. Sips of lemon water may help relieve nausea during an episode.

Herbs

Herbs are generally a safe way to strengthen and tone the body's systems. As with any therapy it is important to work with your health care provider on getting your problem diagnosed before you start any treatment. Herbs may be used as dried extracts (capsules powders teas) glycerites (glycerine extracts) or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated teas should be made with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaf or flowers and 10 to 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 to 4 cups per day.

• Ginger root (Zingiber officinalis) in a tea (frequent small sips) or tincture (30 drops in 1/2 cup of water as needed). May add peppermint (Mentha piperita) or chamomile (Matricaria recutita) if there is vomiting.
• Black horehound (Ballota nigra) may help relieve nausea secondary to inner ear problems. May be used as tea (1 cup three times per day) or tincture (30 drops three times per day).

Homeopathy

Some of the most common remedies used for motion sickness are listed below. For acute prescribing use 3 to 5 pellets of a 12X to 30C remedy every one to four hours until acute symptoms resolve.

• Cocculus for motion sickness from watching moving objects
• Petroleum for motion sickness with cold sensation in the abdomen
• Tabacum for unrelenting nausea with cold sweat

Acupuncture

Acupressure may reduce symptoms of sea sickness. Use "Sea Bands" as commercially available.

Massage

Massage or other relaxation techniques may help control motion sickness.

Following Up

Take steps to prevent motion sickness on your next trip.

• Avoid reading while traveling.
• Focus on the view outside.
• Be the driver; the one in control is less likely to experience motion sickness.
• Get plenty of fresh air.
• Avoid eating or drinking heavily.
• Look for a seat or cabin near the center of the vehicle where it moves the least.

If you do get sick don't despair. Motion sickness generally clears up soon after you stop traveling and has no long-term complications. Report any unusual side effects from motion-sickness medications to your health care provider.

Special Considerations

Pregnant women with nausea from morning sickness are more likely to experience motion sickness. You should not take antihistamines if you are pregnant. Talk with your health care provider before taking any medications or supplements during pregnancy.

Supporting Research

Blumenthal M ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Boston Mass: Integrative Medicine Communications; 1998:429.

Dobie TG May JG. The effectiveness of a motion sickness counselling programme. Br J Clin Psychol. 1995;34 (part 2):301–311.

Gresty MA Grunwald EA. Medical perspective of motion sickness. Proceedings of the International Workshop on Motion Sickness: Medical and Human Factors; May 1997; Marbella Spain.

Helling K Hausmann S Flottmann T Scherer H. Individual differences in susceptibility to motion sickness [in German]. HNO. 1997;45:210–215.

Hoffman D. The New Holistic Herbal. New York NY: Barnes & Noble Books; 1995:181.

Hu S Stritzel R Chandler A Stern RM. P6 acupressure reduces symptoms of vection-induced motion sickness. Aviat Space Environ Med. 1995;66:631–634.

Jozsvai EE Pigeau RA. The effect of autogenic training and biofeedback on motion sickness tolerance. Aviat Space Environ Med. 1996;67:963–968.

Morrison R. Desktop Guide to Keynotes and Confirmatory Symptoms. Albany Calif: Hahnemann Clinic Publishing; 1993:133 288 379.

Pray WS. Motion sickness: a sensory conflict. U.S. Pharmacist. March 1998.

Ramsey A. Virtual reality induced symptoms and effects: a psychophysiological prespective. Proceedings of the International Workshop on Motion Sickness: Medical and Human Factors. Marbella Spain May 1997.

Stern RM Hu S Uijtdehaage SH Muth ER Xu LH Koch KL. Asian hypersusceptibility to motion sickness. Hum Hered. 1996;46:7–14.

Copyright © 2000 Integrative Medicine Communications

The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application use or misuse of any of the information contained herein including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability negligence or otherwise. No warranty expressed or implied is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or endorsements are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or in investigative use. This material is not intended as a guide to self-medication. The reader is advised to discuss the information provided here with a doctor pharmacist nurse or other authorized healthcare practitioner and to check product information (including package inserts) regarding dosage precautions warnings interactions and contraindications before administering any drug herb or supplement discussed herein.