We had an amazing day snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef earlier this week. As you know, I always like to keep it real. I was not very happy on the 2.5 hour boat trip to the Great Barrier Reef. It was supposedly calm, but it felt very rough to me (look at the horizon behind the boat!)
I’ve always suffered from various degrees of motion sickness and this day was no exception. However, I was able to keep it together and not throw up by using pressure point wrist bands, ginger tea and ginger tablets, sitting where I could feel the sea air blowing on me and by looking at the horizon pretty much the entire time. As someone with pyroluria, my vitamin B6 status is good too and this always helps with nausea prevention.
Next for me is vestibular neuro-rehab with a functional neurologist to hopefully sort out this motion sickness thing once and for all!
The good news is that it was so much calmer once we got to the reef and I felt 100% when snorkeling. I’m in awe of the beauty of this place: the amazing blues, the colorful coral and fish, together with spending hours in the ocean!
I think we need a new term similar to forest bathing called “reef bathing” as I’m sure the physiological benefits are similar – a combination of calming, lowered blood pressure and heart rate, lowered cortisol and even boosting serotonin (we could not stop smiling!) and endorphins (the feeling of pure joy is still with us).
Since I’m on holiday, I’ll share more with the supporting research about vitamin B6, ginger and pressure point wrist-bands in an updated version of this blog.
Until then feel free to share what works for you if you’re prone to motion sickness.
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https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/could-these-glasses-cure-your-motion-sickness-180969722/
KN – thanks for sharing this very interesting article! Have you personally used this approach with success?
Dr Ben Lynch explained that high histamine levels can a cause of motion sickness. Trudy would love to hear your thoughts on histamine.
Susie
The histamine connection makes since since the conventional motion sickness meds (Dimenhydrinate/Dramamine) are antihistamines. I believe Dr. Lynch calls it histamine intolerance rather than high histamine – here is his blog on the topic http://mthfr.net/histamine-intolerance-mthfr-and-methylation/2015/06/11/
Per his blog: “Common signs and symptoms of histamine intolerance:
flushing
rapid heart beat
profuse sweating
headache
migraine
food allergies
seasonal allergies
urticaria
prickly heat
large swollen mosquito bites
runny nose
bloody nose
car sick
seasickness
motion sickness in general
itchy
irritable
nausea
vomiting
higher sex drive (not really a problem typically but good to know)
asthma
exercise-induced asthma
stomach ache
menstrual cramps
chest tightness
loose stools
skin issues (eczema, psoriasis)
insomnia”
My husband used this method to get over motion sickness. Works amazingly
well! The other pilots at his glidding club now use it too. They have all had success.
http://www.pumamethod.com/
Hi Trudy… Loved seeing you and Bradley out having fun at the great barrier reef. Wish Kenny and I were there to share in the experience. Miss you guys!
Linda Norris Wilmot
Linda
So lovely to hear from you here! Come and visit and we can all go there for a trip!
I would love to know what your functional neurologist has to say! I never even would have thought to look for a functional version of that specialty! But I sure could use one! I’ve been wanting to get to the bottom of my motion sickness for many years as well.
I’ve used a Relief Band for several years. My motion sickness was terrible. Couldn’t even watch a movie with too much motion without getting a little nauseous. This has been a life saver for me.
From their website…
Reliefband uses patented, clinically-proven, FDA-cleared technology to treat motion sickness. The unique neuromodulation technology was developed for use in hospitals and alters nerve activity through targeted delivery of gentle pulses to the underside of the wrist to “turn off” feelings of nausea, retching and vomiting. It works quickly without side effects.
Suzanne – Thanks for sharing – I’m posting the link for other readers https://www.reliefband.com/ I wonder how it compares to the pressure point wrist bands that I use? Have you tried those and did you find the Reliefband to be more effective?
Yes, I did try those. I found the Reliefband much more effective. The band somehow blocks the message to the brain that your feeling nauseous. (They have a short video on their site that explains how it works) I have suffered with motion sickness since I was a little girl and this has been a life changer for me. Worth every penny. I also keep Solaray Ginger Trips with me. Ha Ha! Always prepared!
Suzanne – good to know! Thanks again for sharing!
I stocked up on ginger supplements, chew-able ginger, and the pressure-point wrist bands when I left on a 15-day cruise from Florida to Barcelona, Spain via the Canary Islands. I have suffered from every type of motion sickness all of my life, so I left fully prepared for all of those days at sea. Luckily for me, the Atlantic Ocean was as smooth as glass for the entire cruise. While seasoned cruisers were less than thrilled, I was ecstatic. I am relieved that I did not need to use them, but so happy to have been prepared and thankful to have learned ahead of time about these prevention methods.
Cherylle
Wow what a long cruise – glad you were prepared but didn’t have to put them to the test!
Thanks Trudy. me too!!!
Hi! I have followed you for awhile and love your newsletters.
I have found as I get older, heights and motion bother me to the point I feel I can’t stand up without being sick. I also have anxiety and found this article while doing a google search. I know you mentioned vestibular neuro training. I always thought this might help me. I would love to hear more of what you discover!
Shelley
I am of the opinion that vestibular neuro rehab is worth investigating especially when all the dietary and nutritional approaches and toxin removal approaches have been tried without success
Oops! Forgot to include the article!!
https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/85/5/443/2805024