Motion Sickness

Tips for preventing or reducing motion sickness
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Breathing
My first line of defense against motion sickness is taking deep breaths. It helps with an upset stomach and reduces dizziness. Breathing slowly and deeply will give me bursts of relief on a short trip and help me relax overall. (It also doubles as a signal to Matt that his driving needs to be more smooth and gentle.)

Focus your eyes
My motion sickness is exacerbated when I look at things whizzing by me at high speeds. It helps to focus on the road ahead, the horizon, or a stationary object in the distance. Keeping my body still and my head facing forward is important so my brain and inner ear can sync up and aren’t so confused.

Peppermint
Although peppermint has never really worked for me, each body is different. You can put a few drops of peppermint essential oil on a handkerchief and wave it in front of your nose while inhaling. Sucking on peppermint candies or drinking a strong cup of peppermint tea is also effective for some.

Ginger
(a.k.a. Zingiber officinale), is a fairly common remedy for motion sickness and nausea. It can be taken in many forms to be helpful. Try chewing on ginger candies (make your own!) or even eating ginger cookies. Slowly sipping ginger tea or all natural ginger soda may quell nausea. Ginger tablets or capsules can help, and work best if taken about an hour before traveling. (If you are pregnant or taking blood thinners you should consult your trusted health care provider before taking ginger.)

Other simple hints
If you’re prone to motion sickness, here are some other simple suggestions to consider:

Avoid reading or writing while in motion. (Yes, it can make for a very long, boring trip but it will help.)
Listening to music, laying your head back, and cracking a window (or directing a fan on your face if on an airplane) will calm you and keep nausea at bay.
Always face forward in your seat and avoid turning your head as much as possible.
Getting behind the wheel is best to prevent motion sickness in a car, but sitting in the front seat or in the middle of the back seat (so you can look ahead at the road) is the next best.
For a smoother ride, try to get a seat toward the front when traveling by bus, or near the wing on an airplane.