Rough Seas, Calm Stomachs

There is nothing quite like the excitement of heading out on the water, until the ship leaves the dock and your stomach starts doing flips. Seasickness—or motion sickness—can turn a dream trip into a miserable ordeal.

If you are prone to getting motion sickness, you aren’t alone. The good news is that you don't have to stay on dry land. Using a few proven strategies, you can prevent and manage seasickness effectively. The most effective way to handle seasickness is to stop it before it starts. Once full-blown nausea sets in, it is much harder to reverse.

1. Choose Your Spot Wisely

When booking a cabin or choosing a spot on a ship, aim for the middle of the vessel, closest to the waterline. The center of the boat acts as a pivot point and experiences the least amount of movement. Avoid the bow (front) and stern (back), which experience the highest vertical motion.

2. Watch Your Diet

Eat a small, bland meal before boarding. An empty stomach is just as susceptible to irritation as an overly full one.

• Avoid: Heavy, greasy, acidic, or highly spicy foods.

• Limit: Alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate you.

• Choose: Crackers, toast, pretzels, or oatmeal.

3. Consider Medication Early

If you opt for over-the-counter or prescription remedies, timing is everything.

• Oral Medications: Antihistamines like dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) or meclizine (Bonine) block the signals to the brain's vomiting center. Take them 1 to 2 hours before boarding, not when you already feel sick.

• Prescription Patches: Scopolamine patches are placed behind the ear and release medication slowly. These typically need to be applied 4 to 8 hours before travel.

Real-Time Remedies

If you start feeling dizziness or cold sweat while out at sea, take these immediate actions:

1. Fixate on the Horizon

Go out on deck and look out at the horizon line. Because the horizon is a fixed point, looking at it provides your eyes with visual proof of the motion your inner ear is feeling. This helps your brain synchronize the conflicting sensory inputs.

2. Get Fresh Air

Stay out of enclosed cabins. The smell of diesel fuel, food, or stagnant air inside a ship can rapidly accelerate nausea. Position yourself on deck where cool, fresh air can blow directly onto your face.

3. Lean on Ginger and Mint

Natural remedies can be highly effective at calming gastric distress.

• Ginger: Studies show that ginger contains compounds (gingerols and shogaols) that relax the gastrointestinal tract. Keep ginger candies, capsules, or ginger ale on hand.

• Peppermint: Sucking on a peppermint lozenge or inhaling peppermint essential oil can help soothe an upset stomach.

4. Try Acupressure

Sea-bands or acupressure wristbands apply continuous pressure to the P6 (Neiguan) point, located about three finger-widths up from your wrist crease on the inner forearm. Stimulating this point has been shown to reduce the severity of nausea for many travelers.

Seasickness is incredibly common and experiencing it doesn't mean you aren't cut out for life on the water. Keep your eyes on the horizon, prep your body a few hours before you step onto the dock, and don't let the fear of a rocky ride keep you from exploring the open sea.