Feeling ill is never fun, but being uncontrollably nauseous while in a car, boat or plane can ruin your holiday. People with extrasensitive balance systems easily become queasy and dizzy. Here's what you need to know about motion sickness and how to treat it.
Prescription and over-the-counter drugs can give you quick relief.
Antinausea medications such as Gravol (also called Dramamine) are convenient treatments for symptoms of motion sickness. These drugs work by slowing the signals in your brain that trigger vomiting, says Dr. Ernest Linzon, a family doctor at the Malvern Medical Centre in Toronto, who has treated numerous patients with motion sickness. Linzon cautions, however, that these medications can cause temporary sedation and fatigue, and make it difficult for you to concentrate.
Take Gravol immediately before you travel, and follow the instructions carefully.
"Incorrect use can be toxic and possibly lethal, especially when combined with alcohol or certain drugs," says Linzon.
TIP: Gravol now comes in nondrowsy lozenges with added ginger, a natural reliever of nausea and vomiting.
If you experience persistent motion sickness, talk to your doctor about Transderm-V, a prescription waterproof patch that you apply behind your ear three hours before you get on a boat, car, plane or train. The patch may cause drowsiness and constipation, so drink plenty of water before you apply it and while wearing it. Don't use Transderm-V if you have glaucoma or epilepsy.
Acupuncture and other holistic treatments can ease a queasy stomach.
Targeting the pressure point located two thumb-widths up from your inner wrist with acupuncture needles can calm your digestive system, says Glenna Morris, a naturopathic doctor and founder of Balance Naturopathic Health Centre in Halifax.
Morris adds that certain bracelets, available in major drugstores, aim to put pressure on this same point. You can also apply firm, massaging pressure yourself to the spot for three to five minutes. "This is a pressure point that has been directly linked to nausea for hundreds of years," adds Morris. "Applying pressure here has been found to give a lot of relief when it comes to motion sickness."
Page 1 of 2 - find out what you can eat to prevent motion sickness on page 2
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