Preventing Boat Motion Sickness: Natural Remedies And Tips

Seasickness, or motion sickness, is an unpleasant feeling caused by conflicting signals to your brain from your eyes and inner ear. While some people experience mild symptoms, for others, it can be incapacitating, with nausea and vomiting common. Luckily, there are several strategies to prevent and treat seasickness, from choosing the right cabin to medication and natural remedies. So, if you're planning a boat trip, it's worth being aware of the potential for seasickness and how to manage it.

Choose a cabin in the middle of the ship

If you're prone to motion sickness, choosing the right cabin on a boat is crucial. Here are some reasons why selecting a cabin in the middle of the ship is your best bet to minimise the unpleasant effects of seasickness:

Minimal Seasickness-Inducing Motion

The middle of a boat experiences the least amount of side-to-side swaying and up-and-down movement. This is especially important if you're prone to motion sickness, as the reduced motion can help prevent or alleviate nausea and other symptoms associated with seasickness. By choosing a cabin in the middle of the ship, you'll be removing one of the major triggers of seasickness.

Central Location for Easier Access to Open Decks

Cabin location is not just about minimising motion; it's also about accessibility. The middle of the ship is usually a central location, which means you're closer to open decks and fresh air. Stepping out onto an open deck and focusing on the horizon is a well-known strategy to combat seasickness. The quick access to fresh air from a mid-ship cabin can be a huge advantage when you need to rebalance your senses and reset your equilibrium.

Less Movement During Turbulent Waters

While all parts of a ship will experience some movement, the middle tends to be more stable during turbulent waters. The front of the ship, also known as the bow, is typically where you'll find the most intense movement. If you're in a cabin near the front, you're more likely to feel the full force of the ship's motion, which can exacerbate seasickness. By contrast, the middle of the ship provides a buffer against the extreme movements of the bow and stern, giving you a smoother ride during rough seas.

Reduced Engine Noise and Vibration

Cabin location can also impact your exposure to engine noise and vibration. The middle of the ship is usually farther away from the engines, resulting in a quieter and less vibratory environment. Engine noise and vibration can be disruptive and add to the overall discomfort of seasickness. By choosing a mid-ship cabin, you reduce your exposure to these additional triggers and create a more peaceful and comfortable space for yourself.

Increased Stability and Balance

The centre of a ship is typically where the centre of buoyancy is located. This means that the middle of the ship is the most stable and balanced area. When you're in the central part of the ship, you're less likely to experience the intense rolling and pitching that can occur at the bow and stern. This increased stability can be crucial for preventing and managing seasickness, especially during choppy waters.

Avoid screens and books

To avoid boat motion sickness, it is recommended that you avoid looking at screens and books. This is because motion sickness is caused by a mismatch in sensory input. When you are reading a book or looking at a screen, your eyes are focused on the words or images in front of you, and your peripheral vision is likely to be limited. This means that your eyes are telling your brain that you are stationary, even though your inner ear can sense the motion of the boat.

The sensory conflict between your eyes and your inner ear can lead to feelings of nausea and disorientation. This is why it is a good idea to avoid books and screens if you are prone to motion sickness. Instead, try to focus on a stable object, such as the horizon, which will help to ""sync up" your senses and reduce the mismatch in sensory input.

If you do want to read, it is important to take frequent breaks and look up and out at the horizon. Looking at something stable will help to reduce the conflict between your senses and lessen the likelihood of motion sickness. It is also important to avoid alcohol, as this can make you feel more unbalanced and trigger motion sickness.

In addition to avoiding screens and books, there are several other strategies you can use to prevent motion sickness. These include getting plenty of rest before your boat trip, eating bland, light foods, and drinking ginger ale or water. You can also try acupressure wristbands, which apply pressure to a certain area of your wrist to help prevent nausea.

By following these tips and avoiding screens and books, you can help reduce the likelihood of experiencing motion sickness on a boat.

Eat light, bland foods

Eating light, bland foods is one of the most effective ways to prevent seasickness. While it is important to have something in your stomach, you should avoid overeating. Good options include pretzels, plain bread, saltine crackers, and dry crackers. Eating crackers with soda or water is also an effective remedy for seasickness.

Ginger is also a highly recommended natural remedy for seasickness. It has been used by sailors for centuries and is believed to have originated in ancient China. It can be consumed in a variety of ways, such as raw, candied, brewed as a tea, or in capsules. Researchers at Brigham Young University and Mount Union College in Ohio found that taking a gram of ginger was more effective than the recommended dosage of Dramamine for motion sickness. It is important to note that ginger can thin the blood, so consult your doctor if you are on high blood pressure medication.

In addition to ginger, peppermint and lemon drops are also effective natural remedies for seasickness. Drinking plenty of water is crucial, as dehydration can limit the body's ability to handle destabilizing motion and can worsen the symptoms of seasickness.

Take medication, such as Dramamine

If you're prone to motion sickness, taking medication such as Dramamine® can be a highly effective way to prevent and treat seasickness. Dramamine® is the #1 Pharmacist-recommended brand to prevent and treat seasickness and is the only leading brand to have developed a solution formulated specifically for children aged two and older.

It is recommended that you take Dramamine® as a precautionary measure before boarding a boat. It can be taken 30 minutes to an hour before boarding, and then as needed and as directed on the packaging. If you want to be extra prepared, you can even take Dramamine® All Day Less Drowsy a day in advance to relieve motion sickness symptoms with less drowsiness for up to 24 hours. This is especially useful if you know you are going on a trip that is likely to cause motion sickness, such as a rocky ocean-fishing adventure or a helicopter tour.

Dramamine® treats and prevents all four symptoms associated with motion sickness: nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and queasiness. It is an antiemetic drug, which means it helps to prevent nausea. It is also an antihistamine, which works by blocking messages in your brain that control vomiting and nausea. It's important to note that antihistamines may cause drowsiness and dry out your eyes and mouth. Therefore, it is best to take Dramamine® before you feel seasick to maximize its effectiveness.

If you are an adult in good health, you can also speak to your doctor about taking scopolamine, which comes in the form of a patch, to deal with prolonged episodes of motion sickness. However, these medications can cause side effects such as dry mouth and drowsiness. Always be sure to consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication.

Look at the horizon

Looking at the horizon is a well-known way to prevent seasickness or motion sickness at sea. It is based on the theory of "sensory congruence", which aims to reduce the sensory mismatch that causes motion sickness. When your eyes focus on a fixed point at the horizon, they send signals to your brain that better match the signals coming from your inner ear, thus reducing the conflict that leads to motion sickness.

To understand this, it is important to know what causes motion sickness. Motion sickness occurs when the signals about movement that your brain receives from your eyes, inner ears, muscles, and joints are conflicting. For example, when you are in a moving car, your eyes tell your brain that your body is stationary, but your inner ears sense that your body is in motion. This discrepancy between what your eyes see and what your body experiences is known as "sensory conflict".

Looking at the horizon helps to resolve this conflict by providing a stable reference point. When you gaze at a distant, steady point on the horizon, your eyes can detect the difference between your body's natural motion and the motion of the ship. This allows your brain to reconcile the conflicting signals it is receiving and reduce the sensation of dizziness and nausea associated with motion sickness.

In addition to looking at the horizon, there are other strategies you can employ to prevent motion sickness. It is recommended to get plenty of rest before travelling, as fatigue can increase your susceptibility to motion sickness. Choosing the right cabin on a ship can also help; opt for a mid-ship cabin near the water, as the centre of a boat experiences minimal side-to-side and up-and-down motion. If possible, select a room with a window or portal so that you can easily see the horizon.

Frequently asked questions