Tips to beat motion sickness
In summary :
- Where does seasickness come from?
- How to get rid of seasickness on board?
- Prevent seasickness with essential oils
- Natural remedies for seasickness
How to beat motion sickness when you are dying to go on a week-long cruise onboard a stunning luxury catamaran with Marine Vela? Nowadays, there are many ways to fix this inner ear problem using different tips that we are about to share with you.
1. Where does motion sickness come from?
On a boat, you might feel dizziness, nausea and stress.
What is going on? Kinetosis, more commonly referred to as motion sickness or seasickness, happens when there is an imbalance between what you see and what you feel. Contradictory information is sent to the brain. Your eyes think you are standing still, while your inner ear senses movement via your feet. This mechanism is linked to motion sickness. The brain may react in an unpleasant but harmless manner, with symptoms such as:
- Vertigo and dizziness ;
- Hot flashes ;
- Nausea ;
- Vomiting ;
- Headache.
No worries, it is easy to anticipate and to beat motion sickness if it happens during your first sailing experience.
2. How to beat motion sickness at sea?
If you fear having seasickness symptoms, the first thing to do is to stay calm and to behave the right way.
2.1. Appropriate behavior
Your wellbeing on a boat also depends on your behavior onboard. It is important to stay relaxed. If you are experiencing seasickness, you should:
- Remember to drink water regularly to stay hydrated ;
- Stand on the deck, at the center, where the boat is less rocky ;
- Look towards the front of the boat to indicate to your brain that you are moving ;
- Wear appropriate clothes to avoid catching a cold ;
- Not smoke or drink alcohol ;
- Eat a balanced diet ;
- Take a nap whenever you feel tired.
Your Marine Vela skipper optimizes his sailing techniques to be as smooth as possible. Your hostess will be there to help you and to give you tips during the entire cruise. An exceptional crew will be at your disposal!
2.2. Foods to feel better
It is important not to sail on an empty stomach, even though eating might be the last thing in our mind when experiencing nausea.
- The banana is a sailor’s fruit, as it quickly makes you feel full when you are not hungry and helps fight acid reflux ;
- Fresh ginger, in the form of oil, pills or herbal tea, to prevent and get rid of nausea ;
- Fruit juices, sugar will help with dizziness.
A few hours before departing, it is best to avoid heavy, greasy meals as well as coffee and alcoholic drinks.
3. Preventing motion sickness with essential oils
Amongst the many oils that can help, two of them are particularly effective for getting rid of motion sickness.
3.1 Peppermint oil
Peppermint oil is known for stimulating the liver and the nervous system. It has the ability to soothe nausea and vertigo caused by motion sickness. It refreshes and tones the body. It has to be diluted to 15 % with 85 % of neutral oil. You can consume one drop on a sugar cube 30 minutes before departure, and again once you are on board. Massaging your temples with oil is also very efficient against persistent symptoms.
Note: Peppermint oil should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and is not safe to use for people with epilepsy, elderly persons and children under 8.
3.2. Chamomile oil
Very efficient against nausea and vomiting, chamomile oil soothes the nervous system and helps fight stress in adults and children over 6. Mix 3 drops of essential oil with 3 drops of a neutral oil and use it to massage your solar plexus. This relaxing moment will help get rid of motion sickness symptoms.
4. Natural therapies to beat motion sickness
If you want to get rid of motion sickness for good, you might want to consider hypnosis or acupuncture.
4.1. How to beat motion sickness with acupuncture?
The P6 acupressure point is a fancy name to call the point located three finger-widths away from the wrist. There it is, just under the two flexor tendons. Its purpose is to harmonize your inner organization. Put some pressure on it and massage the area in circular movements for 3 minutes to get some relief. It can be painful, but it is completely normal!
You can plan to buy an acupressure wristband at a pharmacy before departing. It prevents and beats motion sickness thanks to a plastic knob sewn into the inside of the band that applies pressure on the P6 acupressure point. Anybody can use it, without exception.
4.2. Hypnosis: a permanent remedy
Hypnosis can be an efficient method to make the symptoms disappear. Indeed, dizziness and nausea come from a very powerful part of our brain, the subconscious mind. When it comes to motion sickness, the subconscious mind panics because it doesn’t know what the conscious side of our brain detects. Hypnosis can manage this imbalance in a long-lasting way, without having to use medicine. This permanent solution should be considered!
4.3. Optokinetic stimulation rehabilitation
Optokinetic rehabilitation involves developing new balancing strategies when the system is on alert. Eye sensors are tested. Subjects are requested to fixate moving points in the dark. Eventually, the patient will slowly learn to coordinate the movements of their eyes with the movements of their mind.
Little by little, the visual fixation will improve this balance thanks to the transmitted information. The nervous system will then adopt a new strategy. This can be a great help if you are suffering from brutal symptoms.
Beating motion sickness with natural and effective solutions won’t be a problem for you anymore. Your dream of leaving on a cruise can come true. Our professional team is here to accompany you and to optimize your sailing conditions. Soothing seasickness will make your trip more relaxing and will help you fully enjoy your stay on the boat. Experience a one-of-a-kind trip with Marine Vela!