Are there herbal treatments for motion sickness?

Motion sickness is a common problem in people traveling by car, train, airplanes and especially boats. It can start suddenly, with a queasy feeling and cold sweats, and then lead to nausea, dizziness, fatigue,  and vomiting. Depending on the cause it can also be referred to as seasickness, car sickness, airsickness, or space sickness.

Motion sickness is caused by repeated motion such as from the swell of the sea, the movement of a car, the motion of a plane in turbulent air, etc. In the inner ear (which is also called the labyrinth), motion sickness affects the sense of balance and equilibrium and, hence, the sense of spatial orientation. The brain senses movement by getting signals from the inner ears, eyes, muscles and joints. When it gets signals that do not match, the result might be motion sickness. For example, down below on a boat, your inner ear senses motion, but your eyes cannot tell you are moving.

The well known spice Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been used around the world not only as an aromatic herb and pungent appetite stimulant, but also as a traditional remedy for nausea, and studies show it may help with motion sickness. A number of clinical studies have shown that ginger was as effective as over-the-counter drugs in dealing with motion sickness. It is indeed a safer option that OTC drugs which cause drowsiness.

To achieve the best results, the ginger should be taken approximately 30 minutes before beginning the travel. Ginger may be taken in a number of ways, the choice is up to personal preference. As a tea, drink one cup made from 1500mg of the herb before travel, and then one cup up to three times a day. Standardized extracts in the form of liquids or tablets are taken at a dose of 500mg before travel and then every 4 hours.

There are several ways you can try to prevent motion sickness:

      • Sit in the front seat in a car.
      • Keep your eyes on the horizon. Don't read.
      • Rest your head against the seat back, to keep it still.
      • Turn the air vents toward your face.

People who are prone to motion sickness may want to eat small, frequent meals.