FYI: What Causes Motion Sickness, And How Do You Cure It?

Ah, motion sickness. The bane of holiday travelers everywhere. Here's the science of it--and tips on how to beat it.

By Brooke Workneh Posted 12.24.2012 at 9:00 am 12 Comments

I don't feel so good Ollie Bland

Motion sickness is a mismatch between what your body and your brain is experiencing, says Dr. Sujana Chandrasekhar, director of New York Otology and ENT surgeon at the New York Head and Neck Institute.

It’s experienced when the central nervous system receives conflicting information from the inner ear, eyes, and both the pressure and sensory receptors, found in our joints, muscles, and spine. Our sense of balance is controlled by the interaction of these systems.

“In motion sickness the fluids of the inner ear are moving along with you in the moving vehicle. The brain is interpreting that movement, [and] instead of saying ‘yes you are in a moving car,’ it’s interpreting it as an incorrect stimulus,” Chandrasekhar says. This will often cause some sort of nausea.

Unfortunately, motion sickness is one of those things that just can’t be “cured.” On the bright side you can use medication to reduce the sensation. “Medication will blunt the effects but there’s no way to get rid of it,” says Dr. Hamid Djalilian, director of Neurotology at the University of California Irvine.

What you should do, if you’re in a car for example, is sit up front. This way you’ll be able to anticipate motion and fix your eyes on a point.

People often think they should close their eyes when they're experiencing motion sickness. But this action won’t really reduce the sensation, says Dr. Chandrasekhar, and it’s just about the worst thing you can do. “Closing your eyes shuts off a very powerful override. If you open your eyes and focus, either on a single point in the distance, or focus as if you’re driving the car, you can actually override the incorrect interpretation of the ear input.”

Another prevention mechanism that doesn’t work is wearing those magnetic bracelets that supposedly help with balance, “[they] actually have not been found to be effective,” Djalilian says. It's a psychological relief; it doesn’t really get rid of your symptoms.

But there is a more natural approach to relieving the sensation of motion sickness: ginger. All you have to do is suck on it. It’s very effective, says Chandrasekhar, and it will calm your stomach down.

Have a burning science question you'd like to see answered in our FYI section? Email it to fyi@popsci.com.

Previous Article: FYI: Which Computer Is Smarter, Watson Or Deep Blue?

Next Article: FYI: How Long Would It Take Santa To Deliver Presents To Every Kid On Earth?

12 Comments

Link to this comment

jnmiller15

12/24/12 at 10:43 am

How do you cure motion sickness? Really?? Maybe, I don't know, try stopping. I thought you guys were smart.

Link to this comment

critical_mach

12/24/12 at 11:24 am

Okay, I'll just have the pilot pull the 747 over at 30,000 feet so I can walk around until I feel better. I thought YOU were smart lol!

I've found that motion sickness occurs when your eyes determine you are moving at a different speed than your inner ear. When you aren't accelerating, you feel no motion, yet the trees are rushing past your window; or, the road curves, yet the book or screen you are focusing on is not moving. I just take a look out the front for a while. The distance seems to help your eyes and inner ear agree.

Link to this comment

tundrasea

12/24/12 at 8:02 pm

"Another prevention mechanism that doesn’t work is wearing those magnetic bracelets that supposedly help with balance, “[they] actually have not been found to be effective,” "

There was no mention of acupressure bracelets. I hope that the author and the Doctor being quoted don't think that acupressure bracelets and magnetic bracelets are one and the same. They aren't -- the only commonality is that they're both worn on the wrist. Acupressure bracelets do what their name suggests: apply pressure at acupuncture points on the bottom of the wrist. They do work.

Link to this comment

fhersdfwe

12/24/12 at 8:22 pm

in order to thank everyone, characteristic, novel style, varieties, low price and good quality, and the low sale price. Thank everyone

http://3yu.net/cVx

│＼＿╭╭╭╭╭＿／│ 　
　│　　　　　　　　　│＼｜／　
　│　●　　　　　●　│—☆— 　
　│○　╰┬┬┬╯　○│／｜＼　
　│　　　╰—╯　　　／　
　╰—┬○————┬○╯ 　
　　╭│　　　　　│╮ 　
　　╰┴—————┴╯ sdghjkyu

Link to this comment

buffsterboy15

12/24/12 at 11:49 pm

so what does it mean if you never get motion sickness, not even the least little bit? does it mean my brain is able to better handle the input from my senses or does it mean that there is something wrong with me?

Link to this comment

ekisom

12/25/12 at 8:16 pm

right... try stopping a train, plane, ship mr. smartsy farts

Link to this comment

Far Out Man

12/26/12 at 7:27 am

@buffsterboy15
I'd be pretty surprised if there was something negative about never having experienced motion sickness. You might yet suffer from it anyhow someday as I did once a few years ago. I was having an issue with my vision and one day this triggered some type of motion sickness as a passenger in a car during a long drive. Since my eyes were bothering me, it felt natural to look away from the direction of travel (at the scenery) or close my eyes, but the condition worsened. The article agrees with what I experienced. On the return trip, I decided to attempt the drive back and felt much better. I had no choice but to focus on the scene ahead. It is certainly plausible that this 'forced' change actually helped.

Link to this comment

democedes

12/26/12 at 9:11 am

While there is no cure to motion sickness, most people can acclimate to it. You have to subject yourself to the conditions that make you sick on a more or less daily basis.

Motion sickness can be an issue for a prospective military pilot. Many don't get sick at all, some get sick only on the first few flights in a small jet. But for the few (around 2% I would guess) that don't acclimate, they can either quit or be subjected to daily sessions in the Barany Chair.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bssiSeQvMm4

During your Barany Chair session they find exactly what motions makes you sick and subject you to it repetitively every morning for an hour until you acclimate or quit.

I got sick on my first 3 flights. But after that, I became more or less immune to motion sickness until I stopped flying. Now I can get motion sick as before.

Link to this comment

democedes

12/26/12 at 9:26 am

If you are flying in a light plane, here is a tip. Don't turn your head while the aircraft is rotating on any axis. Look around with your eyes, not with your head.

A favorite trick of some of the more sadistic instructor pilots is to point out the side window and say, "look over there". And just as the student is turning their head to look, the instructor rolls the aircraft into a turn. Instant motion sickness.

Link to this comment

kyrstinreindl

12/27/12 at 6:54 pm

just before I saw the draft ov $8051, I accept ...that...my best friend was like actualey earning money part time on their computer.. there uncle haz done this 4 only six months and by now took care of the dept on their apartment and bourt a brand new Lancia. go to, www.qwe13.com

Link to this comment

BCBoy

12/28/12 at 12:49 pm

I have never experienced motion sickness. I had my private pilots license and have spent hundreds of hours on aircraft and marine craft. I tell people this. Never lie down. If on an small aircraft don't look down at the ground but to the distant horizon. Don't eat a large meal before flying. Take ginger as stated and / or Gravol tablets before flight. On larger commercial crafts take an aisle seat and look down the aisle as best you can. Watching TV may take your mind off things. Do not read.
On marine craft. Stay above decks, look to the horizon in front of the boat and remain standing. Don't fight the roll of the boat. Your body will automatically adjust to movement if you remain standing with a broad stance for balance. View the horizon ahead. Midships has the least amount of roll and pitch of course. Your body and mind will eventually acclimate and no future problems with motion sickness hopefully.