Whether you prefer to travel to hot, tropical beaches, snowy peaked mountains, or a faraway exotic country, it’s smart to plan ahead for an enjoyable and healthy vacation.  Two of the most common travelers’ health complaints are motion sickness and jet lag.  Certain natural therapies can help prevent and reduce both of these.

 

Motion Sickness: Also called carsickness, airsickness, and seasickness, motion sickness is a side effect of travel most of us have experienced at one time or another.  Motion sickness generally starts with queasiness, fatigue and loss of appetite and may progress to vomiting.  Small boats and cars tend to be the most common transportation trigger.  Children 2 – 12 years old and women seem to be the most susceptible, with up to half of children traveling by car or planes getting motion sickness.

 

We get motion sickness when sensory information from the inner ears, eyes, muscles and nerves in the arms and legs that indicate movement become mismatched in the brain.  For example, if you’re sitting in the back seat of a car, your inner ear will sense motion but your eyes may not.

 

To prevent motion sickness, choose seats that offer a smoother ride, such as the front of a car or train and the center of boats and airplanes.  Avoid reading and try to focus your vision on distant objects straight ahead or close your eyes.  Sometimes it helps to lie down, if possible while you travel.

 

Over the counter medications are designed to relieve symptoms but sometimes fail to help and can cause undesirable side effects such as sleepiness, blurred vision, slowed heart rate, nausea, vomiting, headache, confusion, and dizziness.  There are natural therapies that can safely and effectively help treat motion sickness.

 

Acupressure: The popular P6 acupressure point has been shown in studies to increase tolerance to experimental nausea-invoking motion stimulation.  Many people use wristbands that stimulate this point, but you can also massage the point with a finger.  This acupressure point is located between the flexor tendons of the inner forearm 3 fingers from the wrist crease.

 

Herbs: Ginger root appears to help reduce the tendency toward nausea, vomiting and cold sweats associated with motion sickness.  You can take ginger root in many forms such as a tea, tincture or capsules.  It is most effective when taken regularly such as every hour for 4 hours.

 

Homeopathy: Certain homeopathic remedies can also help decrease symptoms of motion sickness.  Nux Vomica helps reduce nausea especially when the individual is worse after eating and is irritable.  Tabacum is indicated for nausea with headaches and dizziness especially when aggravated by the slightest motion.  Cocculus Indicus can lesson dizziness that is worse when riding in vehicles.

 

​Jet lag: Our bodies have a 24-hour cycle (circadian rhythms) with alterations in body temperature, hormones and other biological changes throughout the day.  When we travel to different time zones, our body’s clock will be out of sync with our destination’s time and the circadian rhythms can take several days to adjust.  As a result of our body’s adjusting to the new time zone, we may experience jet lag, with symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, insomnia, headaches, irritability and disorientation.

 

To adjust more quickly, try to choose flights that have early evening arrivals and try to stay up until 10pm.  If you must nap during the day, avoid sleeping more than 2 hours.  During your flight, avoid caffeine and alcohol as well as excess exercise and heavy meals upon arrival since these can interfere with a good night’s sleep.  Drink plenty of water to stay well hydrated and get outside in natural light to allow your body to adjust to the new time zone.

 

Supplements: Melatonin is a popular supplement that helps some people adjust faster to the new time zone and reduce jet lag symptoms.  Small doses of melatonin taken at bedtime (local time) for 2 – 3 days can often help reset your body’s clock.  For best results, make sure you sleep in a dark room since your body’s melatonin levels are influenced by daylight.  Since melatonin is a hormone, long-term or higher doses should be prescribed and monitored by a qualified healthcare provider.

 

Homeopathy: Passiflora has a calming effect on the nervous system and promotes healthy sleep.  Avena Sativa helps decreases nervous exhaustion and sleeplessness.  Chamomilla helps calms nervous excitement especially in people who feel irritable and oversensitive.

 

An enjoyable trip starts with healthy preparations.  Consider some of these natural remedies for your next vacation to help prevent or reduce symptoms of motion sickness and jet lag.  Safe and healthy travels!