“If you can, sit in the front seat next to the driver, or even better yet, be the driver. During motion sickness your brain is getting impulses from three different elements of your sensory system: your eyes, your inner ears, and your joints, and when one of those things is not congruent with the others, you start to feel nauseous and unwell. If you’re sitting in the back, you can’t see anything other than the chair in front of you. If you sit in the front, as the car moves up and down and left and right, you can see your horizon, which gives your eyes, and not just your inner ears, the cue that you are moving.
“Try to avoid doing things like reading, whether on paper or using a device. Take your mind off the nauseous feeling by having a conversation with somebody. Stay hydrated, avoid alcohol, and eat lighter meals before you get into the vehicle. Eating a big, greasy, spicy meal can cause more acid production and you’ll feel more full. That feeling of fullness can contribute to nausea.
“When it comes to medications, Gravol is really good for a lot of people. It makes you tired, so you fall asleep during your journey. Ginger, meanwhile, is a useful natural remedy. As for bracelets for pressure points and acupuncture? I’m unaware of any good or bad evidence in respect to them.”
—Tyler Scott Christie, an emergency room physician at Health Sciences North in Sudbury, Ont.
This article was originally published in the Winter 2020 issue of Cottage Life.
Related Story Expert advice on how to clean up vomit in the car
Related Story How far can you drive on a spare tire?
Related Story Cottage Q&A: Why is ‘pumping the brakes’ while driving no longer correct?