Natural Sea Sickness Treatment

Sea sickness is a form of motion sickness experienced by some people when traveling on water. It affects a person's sense of equilibrium and can be a debilitating condition. Often it causes a person to vomit and feel nauseous. Luckily, there are some natural sea sickness treatments that can help people who suffer from this condition.

Causes

The main causes of sea sickness are movement, visual disorientation and a disturbance in the inner ear. The balancing system located in the inner ear is responsible for a person's sense of equilibrium. Sea sickness occurs when the brain receives different messages from the inner ear, body and eyes. When on a moving ship, a person's eyes may perceive one kind of motion, while the body and inner ear sense another. The symptoms of sea sickness occur when the brain tries to process these contradictory signals.

Symptoms

The earliest signs of sea sickness can be lethargy, increased salivation, yawning, sweating and pale skin color. More severe symptoms are nausea, vomiting and vertigo. Most people may take over-the-counter medications, such as Dramamine, for this condition; however, there are natural sea sickness treatments that may be helpful.

Herbs

Traditional herbal remedies can be a first recourse when treating sea sickness or motion sickness. Ginger, peppermint and black horehound are herbs commonly used for nausea, vomiting and upset stomachs.
Ginger comes in various forms, including capsules, tinctures, teas and powders. A person can relieve the symptoms of nausea by taking 250 milligrams of ginger three times a day, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, and teas made from peppermint or black horehound leaves and taken three times daily may also be beneficial.

Acupressure

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, there are studies that suggest that applying pressure at certain acupressure points can help with the symptoms of motion sickness. Applying pressure to acupressure point P6, or Pericardium 6, which is located on the wrist (see Resources), may help with nausea. Acupressure wrist bracelets, designed to apply pressure to this point, may also be useful as a natural sea sickness treatment.

Homeopathy

Homeopathic remedies are usually a dilution of natural ingredients such as plants and minerals. Homeopathic practitioners consider a person's overall physical and psychological state before prescribing remedies. However, some homeopathic remedies often suggested for motion or sea sickness are cocculus and tabacum.
Another homeopathic remedy called Trip Ease may also be beneficial. All of these remedies come in pill form and are readily available online (see Resources).

Preventive Measures

If you are prone to sea sickness, there are ways to reduce or prevent its occurrence. Natural preventive measures for sea sickness include keeping your eyes focused on the horizon when aboard a boat or ship; staying as close as possible to the center of the vessel; minimizing head movements; and avoiding alcohol and big meals before a trip.