Motion sickness is caused by excessive stimulation of the 'vestibular apparatus' caused by movement. I can hear you asking: What on earth is the vestibular apparatus? It is, put simply, the parts of the ear responsible for maintaining equilibrium and balance. Yes, it seems we get motion sickness because of our ears.
Motion sickness can occur with a whole range of different forms of transportation, such as car, bus, train, plane, spacecraft, amusement park or playground rides, or forms of perceived movement, such as virtual reality games and 3D movies.
It seems it may occur due to conflicting signals between our senses, in particular our eyes and vestibular senses. Common situations where this occurs include:
Symptoms appear to be caused by a signal that is sent from the vestibular apparatus in the ear to the vomiting centre in the brain. Symptoms can be mild or severe, with nausea and abdominal discomfort being the most common. Sometimes vomiting occurs, and symptoms may be accompanied by a strong desire for fresh air, dizziness, fatigue, lack of concentration and a headache. Interestingly, susceptibility to motion sickness between individuals varies greatly. Some people never suffer it, and others are extremely sensitive to it.
Poor ventilation is a big one. Make sure (if you can) that you have plenty of fresh air while travelling. Fumes, stale or stuffy air and strong smells could have you feeling off colour in no time. Emotional factors such as fear and anxiety can also make you feel worse, so try to be as stress-free as possible when about to travel. Hormonal factors such as pregnancy or taking the oral contraceptive pill can make you more likely to get motion sickness, or have a higher severity of symptoms.
There are some simple ways to minimise your chances of spending your next holiday wishing you had stayed at home.
Try to position yourself where motion is the least in the vehicle you are travelling in (eg. near the wings on a plane, near the centre of a ship near the water level)
Ride in the front seat in a car, rather than the rear. The passenger seat allows your eyes to more clearly see the movement of the vehicle. Similarly, in a ship, it is usually better to look at the horizon or land, than a wall inside the boat. Reading, looking down at games or mobile phones, or sitting facing backwards are definite no-nos if you want to stay nausea free.
If you are starting to feel ill and are not restricted by a seat belt, it often helps to get more horizontal. Combining this technique with fresh air can do wonders.
Choose small amounts of bland foods often, as alcohol and overeating both before and during travel can increase the likelihood of getting motion sickness. Good snacks to keep nausea at bay are small, regular portions of dry crackers and carbonated mineral water or ginger beer. If you’re only travelling for a short time, avoid eating or drinking anything.
Ginger tablets are one of the most popular remedies for motion sickness due to their anti-nausea effects. Unlike some pharmaceutical medications for motion sickness, ginger is unlikely to have any side effects, therefore offering an excellent alternative.
There are also wristbands available that work on acupressure points to prevent nausea. These also offer a simple, side effect free alternative, and are worth looking into to see if they are right for you.
Both ginger tablets and acupressure wristbands are available in most pharmacies and health food stores.
References available on request