Motion Sickness

Motion sickness comes in many forms, not just seasickness. Ninety percent of the human race is susceptible to motion sickness of one kind or another. Some people become sick when they sit in the backseat of a car, others cannot read or look at a map in any kind of moving vehicle. People get motion sickness on airplanes, motorcycles, amusement park rides, and even on camels! Scientist have learned that motion sicknessoccurs when the brain is trying to make sense of a situation and there are too many conflicting messages. While the eyes are sending one message, the ears are trying to send a message about balance. The skin and bone joints, sensitive to air pressure, send another message.

Many people who have experienced violent motion sickness try to avoid travel. But that is not always possible.So travellers should employ some well-known strategies to avoid getting sick. The most useful strategy concerns food : eat a light meal before travelling and bring along a packet of plain soda crackers to snack on regularly. Avoid carbonated bevereges, high-fat food, and spices. Care in choosing the location of your seat is another important strategy. In a car, sit at the front and keep your eyes fixed on the horizon.

People who still got sick after trying these strategies can try medical help. Some rely on over-the counter medications, although some of them can make you sleepy. Others use sipmple ginger capsules to settle their stomach. A large number of travellers use pressure bands on their wrists. It is not clear how these bands work, but they do prevent motion sickness.