Motion sickness is, to be polite, the worst. According to MedlinePlusIt is a common problem, with approximately 1 in 3 people being considered “highly prone to motion sickness.” The article added that “almost all people will become motion-sick if exposed enough to motion.”
There is, however, one thing that could help just about anyone stop that queasy feeling in its tracks—and it doesn’t require a prescription.
James Steele, a travel expert from the UK, says that ginger has been used for centuries to treat sickness. It helps improve digestion, calms the gastrointestinal system, and reduces nausea by stopping gastric dysrhythmias. These are abnormal patterns in electrical activity within the stomach. Go2Africa Recently shared with Travel + Leisure.
This remedy is not only backed by him. “Ginger has a much stronger scientific basis,” Uma DarjiA board-certified doctor of family medicine, shared. It has been proven to reduce nausea through the gastrointestinal and central nervous systems. It’s my go-to remedy, whether it’s ginger chews, tea, or capsules. This is especially true for patients who are looking to avoid taking medications.
This 2020 clinical study published in the Journal of Clinical Evaluation is one example of some particularly compelling research on ginger’s effectiveness in reducing motion sick. Current Therapeutic Research, In a study, 184 adults who had experienced motion sickness took four trips. Each trip lasted 15 minutes and was taken in a bus or car, on a ferry, train or subway. They took the first trip without any help, and on the following three trips took one ginger pill 15 minutes prior to travel. Participants were asked to complete a “Motion Sickness Assessment Quiz,” or MSAQ, after the trip.
Researchers found that after taking ginger, the average MSAQ score of participants dropped from around 40 points to 25 points. This meant their fatigue, nausea, and dizziness improved noticeably (though some participants reported an increase in indigestion or burping which may be related to the ginger).
Why does it work? Researchers found that ginger helps to calm the stomach and reduce contractions, which can cause nausea. It could also act on serotonin receptors and reduce the nausea signals that are sent from the gut to the brain.
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The following are some of the ways to get in touch with us Hussain AhmadClick2Pharmacy consultant practitioner, noted that all ginger products, whether it’s crystallized, tablets, or tea, are effective and safe for the majority of people.
Steele suggests that travelers can make the most out of this remedy by drinking ginger tea between 30 and 60 minutes prior to their departure. This will give your body the time it needs to absorb the active ingredients before you start moving. To maintain the relief, take some ginger candies with you on your trip. But, he said, “make certain they contain real extract or crystallized Ginger, not just flavoring.”
Steele did not stop at this tip. He said that while it may not have the same level of scientific support, there are other home remedies that people swear by. These include eating a green fruit, which can help because its sour flavor induces salivation (and this is a tip cruisers and workers swear by), sniffing a lemon, to trick your mind, or blowing on your finger, to “reduce anxiety and calm stress.” What do you think? What matters is that it works.
