Motion sickness natural remedies can save a fun vacation from going bad. Planning ahead with certain remedies on your wellness travel packing list can help prevent a misadventure. As an Acupuncturist-at-Sea on cruise ships, I have treated countless people for motion sickness with acupuncture, acupressure points and herbs. So, I can attest from experience everything I write about in this article.
Put simply, motion sickness is caused by your senses being confused. The brain can’t handle the mixed signals from unusual movements. This causes uncomfortable symptoms, such as, dizziness, pale skin, headaches, loss of appetite, increased saliva production and even vomiting. Many people also get anxiety along with the motion sickness, especially if they are not able to escape doing what is making them sick.Â
Motion Sickness Natural Remedies and Tips
Firstly, proactively doing things to prevent motion sickness will help you more than anything. If you wait until you are sick and vomiting, it’s much more difficult to reverse the situation. If you know you are prone to getting motion sickness, plan ahead. The medications have side effects that leave most people tired and lethargic. So, it’s vital to know what you can do naturally without negative side effects. Here are some tips:
Avoid alcohol and heavy meals
Avoid Reading
Breathe fresh air and avoid hot temperatures
Sit in the front seat or front of bus
Sit on the wing of an airplane
Stay on the upper decks of a ship
Drink/Eat Ginger tea or fresh ginger and green apples
Look at a stable object, like the horizon on a ship
Receive Acupuncture/Acupressure treatments
Wear motion sickness wristband
Acupuncture and Acupressure Points for Motion Sickness
The wristbands that people wear for motion sickness have magnets to activate the acupuncture point on the inner wrist, Pericardium 6 (PC-6). However, I observed many of my patients on ships wore this band incorrectly. It often moves off center from the PC-6 area or cling tight around the wrist, obstructing circulation which can bring on carpal tunnel symptoms.
A thorough acupuncture treatment within 24 hours before the motion is best. Important acupuncture points that I always include in my treatments are Pericardium 6, Stomach 36, Ren-12 and Shen Men in the ear. Plus, I apply Acupuncture seeds (mustard seeds on a sticker) on the inner wrist of Pericardium 6 and in the ear’s Shen Men for the patient to keep on before and during the motion.
Also, you can apply self-acupressure on PC-6 at any time. It’s located on the inner wrist, 2 thumbs width from wrist crease in center between 2 tendons.
My Experience with these Natural Remedies and Acupuncture
Finally, I also want to mention my personal testimony for these tips. Throughout my life I suffered with motion sickness. So, when I started working on a cruise ship after becoming an Acupuncturist, I applied these tips to my daily routine. After spending more than 3 years at sea on ships, I never lost a day to motion sickness because I always apply the mustard seed to PC-6 and the ear’s Shen Men 24/7. And I heeded all those tips mentioned above.
Overall, Motion Sickness Natural Remedies
It’s so unfortunate and unnecessary to spend a vacation with motion sickness. So, take it from me, after seeing these natural remedies and Acupuncture help countless people enjoy their vacation: Prepare and use these remedies and tips for a healthy journey.
Read Next!
Seven Health Tips for Holistic Sunscreen Care
9 Jet Lag Tips for a Healthy Journey