It’s human nature to fantasise about upcoming holidays on grey days in the office.
Yet if a destination requires hours of travel to reach, travel sickness sufferers face a conundrum. Endure gut-wrenching nausea or ditch the hols altogether?
If you are prepared to combat motion sickness, the answer is neither. According to the Centers for Disease and Control: “Motion sickness happens when the movement you see is different from what your inner ear senses. This can cause dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.”
Travel sickness can occur on any mode of transport: in the car on a train, plane or boat. Unless you plan to swim to your sun-soaked vacay destination, it’s best to be prepared.
To avoid experiencing car sickness before your journey, there are some precautionary steps to take.
How to minimise travel sickness
- Sit in the front of a car or bus
- Choose a window seat on flights and trains
- Lying down, shutting your eyes, sleeping, or looking at the horizon
- Staying hydrated and limiting alcoholic and caffeinated beverages
- Eating small amounts of food frequently
- Avoid smoking
- Distract yourself by listening to music but avoid screen time
- Sucking on flavoured lozenges such as ginger candy.
For those struggling with severe travel sickness, speak to a healthcare professional about prescription solutions. For milder but no less distressing sickness, we consulted two medical experts.
Dr Reval Sukkhu and nurse Helen Chetwynd from HCA Healthcare UK suggest three key treatments for travel sickness: “Firstly, travel bands. While their efficacy is unclear, the theory is based on something akin to acupuncture. Travel bands apply pressure to certain point on the wrist. Despite lack of empirical evidence, some people find them helpful. They are suitable for people over the age of 12."
"Secondly, antihistamines. There are oral tablets available over the counter in the UK such as Cinnarizine (brand name, Sturgeron) or Promethazine Teoclate. Individuals should speak to a pharmacist to see what is most suitable for them, as this type of medication can make you drowsy."
"Finally, Hyoscine Hydrobromide. It is thought to work by affecting the inner ear and neurological system to control vomiting. It is available in the form of tablets such as Kwells, Joy-Rides and Travel Calm or patches.”
Discover the best anti-sickness remedies to take before and during travel and jet off with peace of mind this summer.
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Kwells 300 Microgram Tablets - 12 tablets
Stop feelings of sickness quickly by popping a Kwells. The tablets feature sickness-subsiding Hyoscine Hydrobromide which restore a sense of stability. The melt-in-your-mouth tablets are suitable for adults and children aged 10 years and over.
Buy now £3.15, Boots
Sea-Band
Sea-Band’s wristbands feature a plastic stud in each band that exerts pressure onto the wrist. This helps alleviate sickness during long and short periods of travel. Slip yours on and let the single piece work its magic.
Buy now £9.99, Boots
Stugeron - 15 Tablets
If your kids struggle with travel sickness, Sturgeron’s tablets could be a winning choice. The pills can be given to those over the age of five, making them relatively a child-friendly option. Formed from Cinnarizine, the tablets are easy to take and affordable.
Buy now £4.50, Boots
Aesop Ginger Flight Therapy
Aesop’s Ginger Flight Therapy is a travel-sized roll-on enhanced with ginger root, lavender and geranium oils. Designed for your pulse points, the portable item can be applied to the temples, wrists, neck and stomach when stress or nausea arises.
Buy now £25.00, Aesop
Puressentiel SOS Travel Sickness Roller with 7 Essential Oils 5ml
A highly useful product that acts as a balancer and harmoniser of the nervous system, the Puressentiel SOS Travel Sickness Roller features seven stimulating essential oils to help ease and prevent travel sickness. Inhale soothing notes of the roller and relax without a hint of nausea.
Buy now £15.99, Amazon
Bach Rescue Remedy
Rescue Remedy is a classic. Pop four drops onto your tongue when the nerves start to set in and let the comforting flower essences work their magic. There’s no need for additional water or faff, so you can drift off with total ease.
Buy now £8.50, Boots
Sea-Band Nausea Relief Ginger Capsules for Travel Sickness Relief
Opt for a natural remedy and add Sea-Band’s nausea relief to your pre-holiday shopping basket. The capsules are a non-drowsy remedy for the clinically proven prevention and relief of travel and motion sickness. Each capsule contains 250mg of ginger sourced from natural ginger root that helps support digestive health and soothes the stomach.
Buy now £6.15, Amazon
MQ Motion Sickness Patch for Car and Boat Rides
Apply this 100 per cent natural patch behind your earlobe and let it do all the work for you. Attach 10 minutes before your time of travel and enjoy long-lasting effects for one to three days. Unsuitable for pregnant women.
Buy now £6.99, Amazon
Teapigs Sweet Ginger Tea Made With Whole Herbs
Sweet-toothed tea sippers will adore Teapigs' ginger remedy. A fiery blend of anti-nausea ginger, liquorice roots and cinnamon ease digestion, while offering a gentle pick-me-up during the day.
Buy now £3.75, Amazon
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) with MagSafe Charging Case 2022
The Apple AirPods Pros are a game changer. With complete noise-cancelling effects, a smooth, sleek design and adaptive transparency to tune in and out of background noise, these earbuds are a worthwhile investment.
Adjust the volume via the high-tech touch controls and dive right into your stress-free, in-flight entertainment, knowing the product’s six hour battery will have you covered through your short haul flight and beyond. To avoid sickness, keep screen time limited during use.
Buy now £249.00, John Lewis
