What is motion sickness? Treatments and Prevention Ginger and Sailor's Secret Research and Testimonials

What is motion sickness?   BACK to top While some people seem to be unaffected by motion sickness except in the most extreme conditions, many people suffer a reaction to motion while flying, sailing, riding in automobiles and trains, or playing video games. Among the range of symptoms are upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, paleness and fatigue. Your inner ear and eyes normally work together to communicate motion to the brain. When the balance center of the inner ear and visual clues from your eyes conflict you can feel ill. For instance, reading while riding in a vehicle, or standing still in the cabin of a boat or plane. Your eyes see or sense little motion, but the fluid in your inner ear sense that you are actually moving. Treatments and Prevention  BACK to top "Find the horizon" is advice often heard on sailing vessels to seasick sailors. By watching the horizon you may be able to get your inner ear and your eyes back on track, giving your brain non-conflicting (or at least less-conflicting) information, thus reducing your symptoms. Other means of preventing or reducing the uncomfortable feelings of motion sickness include finding an area of lesser movement (for instance in the center of a large ship), facing forward, looking outside (a plane or automobile). There are many treatments available that may prevent or limit the symptoms of motion sickness (mostly antihistamines, parasympatholytics and sympathomimetics). This would include many over the counter medications like Dramimine and Bonine as well as the prescription drug Scopolamine (available in the widely recognized 'Transderm-Scop' patch and the fixed dose tablets Scopace). Common side effects are drowsiness, visual disturbances and dry mouth. Other more natural and less intrusive ways to treat motion sickness also exist. On the market today are homeopathic remedies as well as acupressure devices (like wristbands). All of these products have proponents as well as detractors and many are not supported by the FDA as motion sickness remedies. Recent studies have shown that the root of Ginger, a food-safe spice, may be as effective in treating symptoms of motion sickness as other drug treatments with little or no side effect. Ginger and Sailor's Secret  BACK to top Sailor's Secret is powdered Ginger root in an encapsulated form. Sailor's Secret is specially packaged for traveling in a convenient pocket sized box, the contents wrapped for convenient dosage and water resistance. It is currently used by sailors, divers, fishermen, pilots and passengers of cruise ships, tour boats, airlines, trains, buses and automobiles - everywhere motion comfort is of concern. Research and Testimonials  BACK to top According to the American Journal of Natural Medicine, Ginger possesses numerous pharmacological properties. Among the most relevant of these are its antioxidant effects, cholesterol-lowering actions and gastrointestinal actions. In a 1982 study Mowrey and Clayson first showed powdered Ginger root to be effective in treating motion sickness. In their study 940mg of ginger was shown to be far superior to 100mg of Dramamine and a placebo in relieving the symptoms of nausea and vomiting. This prompted research by NASA in 1988. In another 1988 study and perhaps the most relevant and widely quoted study, ginger given to Danish naval cadets unaccustomed to sailing in high seas. Ginger was shown to reduce the tendency to vomiting and cold sweating compared to a placebo in the double blind test and no side effects were reported. A 1989 study by S. Holtman reported that neither the inner ear nor the visual system, both of which are critical in the occurrence of motion sickness, were influenced by ginger, thus creating many fewer uncomfortable side effects. The United States Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated this product. Sailor's Secret is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.