'Sea Sick Cures?'

Sea Sick Cures?

endora (24.45.126.104) -

Does anyone have a proven method of avoiding sea sickness on cruises? I find the first few days im sick as a dog. I would like to avoid the meds on the next cruise. What do you recommend besides sea sickness pills that will knock me out?

Comment #1 Stephanie2377 (128.23.146.201) -

You can prevent motion sickness with scopolamine, the main ingredient in Transderm Scop, a dime-sized patch discreetly worn behind the ear.

Transderm Scop, or Transndermal scopolamine, is also known as 'the patch'. One Transderm Scop patch lasts up to 3 days (72 hours) to prevent motion sickness.

I wore this patch with much success! My doctor helped me to get one.

Comment #2 sams from Travel -

You should try and avoid indigestion. I think it is the root cause of the problem and also avoid greasy foods. Take some Soft Drinks to avoid any problem.

Comment #3 stef from Victoria, a wee island on Earth -

Here's some tips!! I used to have a lot of problem with sea sickness, and car sickness... but once i started listening to all the tips, i barely ever have problems!

1. Get plenty of rest before you go out on the water. Do your gear preparation early the day before and take care of other business well before a proper bed time.

2. Do not eat greasy or acidic foods for several hours before your sailing adventure. Also caffeinated or acidic beverages should be avoided.

3. Do not skip eating before sailing. An empty stomach can be almost as bad as one with the wrong types of food in it.

4. Drink plenty of water. Take lots of water with you and drink often.

5. Do not drink alcoholic beverages for several hours. Alcohol tends to dehydrate the body. Its other symptoms are not desirable either. If you do plan on drinking, make every third drink a glass of water.

6. Stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Avoid becoming overheated and dehydrated.

7. Avoid the cabin and other enclosed spaces. Sometimes, a breezy spot in the sun may be preferable to a shady spot in a stuffy cabin. Avoid the upper decks as the higher you go, the more you will experience swaying back and forth. Horizontally, you want to be amidships, towards the center, rather that at the bow or stern.

8. If you are beginning to feel a bit queasy, stand up and look out over the horizon. Despite what you might think, sitting or laying down is the worst thing you can do at this point.

9. If someone in your party is overcome by sea sickness, get away from them at once!

10. Ginger is a natural preventative. It soothes a queasy stomach and has no side effects. You can get it in pill form, tablets or powder, as ginger root in many herb and health food stores, or as pickled ginger slices at Japanese food marts and even at many Japanese restaurants. Some doctors recommend that you can take it 12-24 hours before, as preventing sea sickness is easier than curing it. Somewhere from 1 gram up to 4 grams per day of powdered ginger is recommended. You can try gingersnap cookies and ginger ale, although their lower ginger content may not be as effective. They do work for many sailors though.

11. Eating peppermint in conjunction with ginger is reported by as being even more effective. Since mint does have some of the same calming qualities as ginger, this may be true.

12. Here's an interesting treatment that was found. It is a treatment that works on some after they are feeling queasy, rather than as a preventative. Immerse your feet in ice water. Anecdotal reports indicate it helps some people.

13. There are other preventatives, such as over the counter and prescription medications.

Comment #4 Grace from Vacation World -

I always have this problem too, but only the first day when we're out to sea. I think some of it is psychological on my part too. LOL. My father is a doctor and he was able to get me one of those patches that you wear behind the ear and it has helped a lot!!

Comment #5 Surfer Chick from Riding the waves -

I only get queasy on small boats for short trips, like going from Los Angeles to Catalina. I find that I'm just fine on a large cruise ship. But I take ginger with me anyway.

Comment #6 Spudgee from Digital Arena -

I have never been on a large cruise ship. But I have ridden some small ships and I get really sick...as in I want to puke my guts out.

I don't think I'll ever survive several days on a ship. And that's a real shame.

Comment #7 Misty from my empty head -

When you book your cruise, make sure that you are mid ship, and as low as possible, unless your looking for a cabin with a balcony. It is less rocky. After you get your sea legs you should be fine.

Comment #8 Spudgee from Digital Arena -

I never knew that Misty. Thanks for the information.

I always an anti-nauseant pill everytime I travel. I think I can take this too so I can prevent sea sickness.

Comment #9 Misty from my empty head -

No problem! We took a cruise awhile back and was mid ship and we were fine until we went to bingo that was at the aft part of the ship. We hit rought seas and that is when I started to get sea sick.

Now you know why certain parts of the cabins are cheaper than others.

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