What is your cure for seasickness? In severe cases it may be to aim your head downwind but short of that, here are some remedies that may help. Yachting is particular in that it is important you are not drowsy when it is time for your watch, for this reason I tend to stay away from traditional western medicines. It usually takes three days for your body to adjust to the motion and stop being seasick. So if you are on a long passage, don't worry, it will probably pass. Many sailors say the first day it is hard to move and so you eat cold snack food. Salty snacks like prezels, olives, bagels and tuna fish seem to taste best. Just remember to drink enough water. The second day you should be able to actually walk around and prepare something simple but warm. The third day you start feeling a little better.
Don't drink caffeine the day before or day of. If you are addicted to caffeine the first day you stop drinking your coffee you will have a caffeine headache. This is the last thing you want if you get seasick so you may want to stop your caffeine intake a couple days before.
Stay away from greasy, heavy and acidic foods. Also stay away from food with a lot of Sodium or rich in Protein such as preserved meats, dairy products several hours before weighing anchor as it is know to increase motion sickness.
Eat something light an hour before you leave so your stomach has something to process.
Stay in a spot with plenty of fresh air and shade.
Avoid drinking alcohol the night before.
Do extra preparation before lifting anchor. This includes the extra batteries for the handheld gps, water for the trip etc. all should be within reach so you don't need to go below to get them.
On a short trip, if you know you get seasick, if you need to go below (to the head), do only that. Do not get sidetracked into doing anything else like looking for something. You will end up spending the next couple hours recuperating. Don't be afraid to ask someone else to do or find what you need even if you have just been below.
Turn the boat to a broad reach instead of running. You may have to tack a couple times but this may change the movement of the boat so it is much more comfortable.
Lying down horizontally while looking at the horizon or your eyes closed may help fend off the ill feeling. Lying on your left side may improve this remedy.
Steering the boat (like driving a car) helps keep your mind off motion sickness and temporarily stops symptoms.
Drink a weak solution of hot tea mixed with ginger, or better brew up some ginger only tea. Ginger has been dismissed by the Us Navy for seasickness but I find that it does help alleviate some nausea.
Made by Boiron are homeopathic pills. This is our favorite seasick pill. They work sublingually (under the tongue) so you don't need to swallow anything when you are feeling bad. There are four ingredients of cocculine; Cocculus, Nux Vomica, Petroleum and __?__. Each of these separate ingredients are homeopathic remedies for nausea and are so safe they can be taken by pregnant women for morning sickness.
Is a natural anti-emetic that helps prevent nausea if taken the day before and the day of leaving. It comes in many forms, soda, tea, pickled ginger slices, cookies, Three Lollies Queasy Pops, ginger pills. Especially strong ginger cookies have done very well in preventing motion sickness
Natural relief for nausea and dizziness due to motion, car sickness or sea sickness. Hyland's Motion Sickness is a traditional homeopathic formula for the relief of symptoms of nausea and dizziness associated with or aggravated by motion. Working without contraindications or side effects. Hyland's Motion Sickness is safe for adults and children and can be used in conjunction with other medications.
Herbal Oils that smell nice and are supposed to help get rid of your seasickness. We have found it helps a little if you use it at the early stage of seasickness and the movement isn't too bad.
You can also use this to put behind the ears of animals to help their seasickness. Even though after using this on our cat a few time she associated the smell with being seasick and would actually GET sick from the smell. Would this happen to people too? --Ben 13:11, 29 March 2006 (GMT)
The ComboPack of CanTravel and Nerve Tonic consists of multiple remedies that work well together to provide increased support for your condition. This ComboPack helps to reduce travel anxiety and calm nerves. The CanTravel relieves all the major symptoms of travel and motion sickness naturally while the Nerve Tonic helps to support a naturally balanced mood and a care-free and calm attitude especially during times of travel.
3000mg to 5000mg (3-5 grams) taken when you begin to feel sick, recovery comes immediately. Supposedly the brain makes histamine which makes you feel seasick. Vitamin C cuts its production. The link between seasickness, vomiting, and histamine was discovered by Austrian Professor Dr Jarisch.
The first oral homeopathic spray for seasickness and other motion sickness. This spray is ideal for animals, just spray under the tongue of your dog or cat for relief.
This safe, all-natural complex is made from six homeopathic ingredients that effectively treat the effects of motion sickness. Just take one tablet at the beginning of your trip, and one every hour thereafter until motion sickness subsides. Trip Ease is compatible with medications, safe for all ages, will not cause drowsiness, and has no side effects. 32 pleasant-tasting, chewable tablets per package. Made in New Zealand (1 oz).
May help with seasickness along with digestion and muscle spasms. One of the reasons may have to do with it's ability to help maintain salt and water balances.
Is a watch type device that sends electricity through a point in your wrist to stop seasickness. It works almost instantly, within 10 or 15 minutes. It works best for mild cases, but when the going gets rough you will turn it up to the point of possible nerve damage, and be so seasick that you won't know the difference. Also, when you are running around on deck it is easy to nock the device off of the pressure point.
An elastic wristband with a plastic point is used to stimulate the same median nerve the Relief Band does but by acupressure. They are clinically proven to provide relief of nausea associated with sea-sickness but the problem is, like with the Relief Band, you need to keep it on the correct point. Some brands are Bioband, Seaband, or the Oprah Magazine's favorite Psi Bands. SCAT has wrist straps which add a magnet to the acupressure point.
These "artificial horizon sunglasses" are based on seasickness being a "sensorial conflict". One sees the bridge of the boat inclining, and the horizon moving from side to side. This happens perceptually, while the inner ear remains horizontal whatever the movement of the head. These two pieces of information - visual perception and labyrinth perception - enter into conflict without being able to find a resolution. This sensorial conflict is at the origin of seasickness. The sunglasses are supposed to "trick" the visual perception to make the inner ear always "see" a level, stable horizon, thus relieving the conflict and keeping nausea from coming on.
Of the traditional medicines, Bonamine/Antivert (meclizine) and Transderm Scop/Transderm-V (scopolamine patch) have likely been the most successful of the rigorously studied aids to motion-sickness. They can be used together in severe cases, but drowsiness, blurred vision and dry mouth can be common side effects. Dr. Doug Clark
Available by prescription in the USA. Available over the counter most everywhere else in the world. Also, is known by Cinazarina (not sure if spelling is correct) as a generic form. Developed for cancer patients, it is VERY VERY effective at curbing severe nausea, and will work many times even if you did not take it before sailing.
Is a sweet syrup anti-nausea drug of made of phosphorated carbohydrates and based on the Coke syrup recipe. It is over the counter, has no side effects and dosage is one teaspoon per hour.
Commonly known in brand forms as Dramamine, Antivert and Bonine. Take one hour before your weighing anchor. Some sailors do not like it because it causes drowsiness, especially when shorthanded. I think they don't like it because drinking alcohol is not recommended while taking it.
SUGGESTED USE for Dimenhydrinate 50 mg: To prevent motion sickness, the first dose should be taken 1/2 hour to one hour before starting activity. To prevent or treat motion sickness: Adults and children 12 years and over: 1 to 2 tablets every 4-6 hours; not more than 8 tablets in 24 hours, or as directed by a doctor. Children 6 to under 12 years: 1/2 to 1 tablet every 6-8 hours; not more than 3 tablets in 24 hours, or as directed by a doctor. Children 2 to under 6 years: 1/4 to 1/2 tablet every 6-8 hours; not more than 1-1/2 tablets in 24 hours, or as directed by a doctor.
A small prescription "scopolamine" patch you stick on behind your ear for a constant feed of anti-sick goodness. Many people swear by it because it is effective for up to 3 days. At much larger doses the active ingredient scopolamine is used as a truth serum.
I have had the patch fall off - and it has some strong side effect - some of which may be reduced by taking the oral "Scopace" (US) of which you can adjust your dosage by taking one or two tablets for 8 hour periods.
The rolling or corkscrewing motion of a boat is the whole cause of this sickness. Faster speeds usually help with the boat motion while slower speeds let the waves have their way with the vessel. Going downwind "running" seems to be the worst point of sail because of the side to side motion.
Any strong smells (like diesel exhaust blowing in your face while you are running downwind)
Going below.
Loud noises and swinging things below don't seem to help at all, but are a good indication you are starting to get sick... time to take more medicine!
Extremely choppy water and sitting indoors
Concentration on a single object. Like staring in binoculars or reading a book is not a good idea.
On a research cruise in the Gulf Stream depths and in the shallow waters of the Bahamas, we had 99% of the crew and scientists down with Mal de Mare. One of the Project Directors had once been skipper of Banana Boats. His remedy was to have the affected parties eat “boiled chicken”. Amazingly, it worked for most of the people that tried it.
50 mg Dimenhidrinato every 8 hr.
We just made a trip from Margarita to Cartagena. All downwind. The boat had sometimes a horrible movement. Normally I get seasick very fast. Big help was 50 mg Dimenhidrinato every 8 hr. Look for pills with this content.
EAR PLUG!
I am a severe case.I've tried everything. Now finally I have found something that works! An earplug well inserted into your left ear[If you are right handed]. It's that simple! I still need to observe other recommendations like no heavy foods etc, but no medicines!
, ginger pills. Especially strong ginger cookies have done very well in preventing motion sickness
, Seaband
, or the Oprah Magazine's favorite Psi Bands
. SCAT
has wrist straps which add a magnet to the acupressure point.
, Antivert and Bonine. Take one hour before your weighing anchor. Some sailors do not like it because it causes drowsiness, especially when shorthanded. I think they don't like it because drinking alcohol is not recommended while taking it.
