Motion sickness, to put it mildly, is the absolute worst. According to MedlinePlus, it’s a relatively common issue, with about 1 in 3 people considered “highly susceptible to motion sickness.” Though, it added, that “almost everyone will become motion sick if exposed to motion that is intense enough.”
There is, however, one thing that could help just about anyone stop that queasy feeling in its tracks—and it doesn’t require a prescription.
“Ginger has been used to settle sickness for centuries, and studies have shown that it helps to improve digestion, calm the gastrointestinal tract, and reduce nausea by stopping the development of gastric dysrhythmias, which are abnormal patterns of electrical activity in the stomach,” Travel expert James Steele from Go2Africa recently shared with Travel + Leisure.
And he’s not the only one who backs this remedy. “Ginger has much more scientific backing,” Uma Darji, a board-certified family medicine doctor, shared. “It’s been shown to help reduce nausea by working on the gastrointestinal system and possibly the central nervous system. Whether it’s ginger tea, chews, or capsules, it’s a go-to remedy I recommend frequently, especially for patients looking to avoid medications.”
Some of the particularly compelling research behind ginger’s efficacy in reducing motion sickness includes this 2020 clinical evaluation published in the journal Current Therapeutic Research, which had 184 adult participants with a history of motion sickness take four trips, one on a bus, car, ferry, train, or subway, each lasting 15 minutes. The first trip they took without any aid, while on the next three trips, they each took one ginger tablet 15 minutes before travel. Following the trips, participants were asked to fill out a “Motion Sickness Assessment Questionnaire,” or MSAQ.
The researchers found that taking ginger, participants’ average MSAQ scores dropped significantly, from about 40 points before the ginger treatment to around 25 points after, meaning their nausea, dizziness, and fatigue noticeably improved (though some participants noticed an increase in indigestion and burping, which could be linked to the ginger).
Why does it work? The researchers noted ginger can help to settle the gastrointestinal tract and prevent stomach contractions that can trigger that icky nausea feeling. It could also interact with serotonin receptors, further reducing nausea signals sent from the stomach to the brain.
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While Hussain Ahmad, a consultant practitioner at Click2Pharmacy, noted that ginger tablets, tea, or crystallized ginger can all be effective and are safe for most people, he added that “we usually advise speaking to a general practitioner or pharmacist first if you’re pregnant or on blood thinners.”
As for how to make the most of this remedy, Steele said travelers could try drinking ginger tea about 30 to 60 minutes before they set off so “your body has time to absorb the active compounds it needs to work, before the motion starts.” Then, pack a few ginger candies for the road to maintain this relief. But, he noted, “make sure they contain real ginger extract or crystallized ginger, not just ginger flavoring.”
This wasn’t the only hot tip Steele suggested. While it doesn’t have the same amount of scientific backing, he said there are several other home remedies people swear by including chowing down on a green apple, which could help thanks to its sour taste that induces saliva production (and is a tip many cruisers and cruise workers swear by), smelling a lemon to trick your brain, and or even blowing on your thumb, which could “reduce stress and calm anxiety.” And you know what? If it works for you, that’s all that matters.
