There’s nothing worse than feeling sick to your stomach on an aircraft or boat – it can ruin the best- made holiday plans. Worse yet, the discomfort of motion sickness extends long after you’ve disembarked, often leaving you feeling dizzy, disorientated and nauseous for quite some time, explains Desi Horsman, nutritionist, speaker and wellness expert.
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The good news is, there’s a lot you can do to prevent and manage motion sickness before it even strikes, without resorting to drastic measures or cancelling your trip. Try our recommended remedies here:
Try ginger – in all forms!
This is the most common remedy for motion sickness and possibly the most effective, says Desi. In fact, ginger should be your first line of treatment when you’re on the cruise. Try chewing or sucking on ginger sweets, or crystallised ginger, nibble on ginger biscuits, or sip strong ginger tea. If your symptoms are particularly bad, you could even try chewing the fresh ginger root (for those who like the potent taste), but ginger tablets are ideal, explains Desi.
To make these effective, start taking them an hour before the trip:
- Two capsules/ tablets an hour before you leave
- One capsule at beginning of trip and
- One capsule/tablet hourly during the trip
- Ginger is safe provided you’re not on any blood thinning medication.
Eat olives
Snacking on olives during your trip can help to prevent motion sickness because Olives contain tannin, which helps to eliminate the saliva that triggers nausea, says Desi. But as with most natural remedies, you must eat them as soon as symptoms appear. Enjoy a few with a glass of chilled wine if you’re feeling up to it!
Rub essential oils on your body
When it comes to treating nausea and balancing the body, essential oils work wonders! Make sure to keep a peppermint oil and ginger oil with you, and apply to your stomach, temples and wrists when you start to feel ill or dizzy. Desi also suggests adding a few drops of peppermint oil onto a handkerchief and inhaling it regularly throughout the trip to help ease light-headedness.
ALSO SEE: How To Make Your Own De-Stressing Aromatherapy Blend
Sip soothing teas
Image: iStock
Strong peppermint tea is the best to treat motion sickness, because it has an overall calming effect on the stomach, explains Desi. Plus, cinnamon is used to provide relief from many digestive disorders including nausea, so add half a teaspoon of cinnamon to the tea you’re sipping on.
Stick to simple foods
We know there’ll probably be a host of delicious foods and drinks on the cruise, but it’s best to avoid these while you’re feeling ill, or if the boat is rocking excessively. Avoid too much alcohol, fatty or spicy foods, and very sugary foods. Foods with strong aromas are also likely to trigger nausea, warns Desi.
PLUS: 8 Healthy Food Swaps To Remember
Stock up on homoeopathic remedies
Single remedies on their own aren’t always effective, which is why is best to see a homoeopath before you leave, to have a specific blend made up just for you, says Desi. Remedies formulated for the temporary relief of nausea, vertigo, dizziness, motion sickness, and sea sickness often contain specific ingredients to ease anxiety associated with high places, travel or motion.
Top tip: Don’t have time to see a homoeopath? A great over-the-counter formula to try is Moton from Nu-Medicines. For the most effective treatment, you’ll need to take 1-2 tablets every 15 minutes.
Got a hankering to take to the sea? Why not try the w&h MSC Sinfonia cruise? Find out how to book your spot:
http://www.womanandhomemagazine.co.za/travel/msc-cruise-sinfonia
DISCLAIMER: You must not rely on the information on this website/newsletter as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.
