Sea sickness is caused by confusing information coming into the brain, from the eyes, inner ear, and muscles—the rocking and rolling of a vessel in rough water doesn’t “match” the visual information from the constantly moving ocean surface; the rougher the water, the worse the body’s confusion. Some people are capable of handling the confusing information without too much discomfort; others feel drowsy, nauseous, and weak; some become incapacitated. Perhaps going to sea when one is young or going to sea often helps train the brain to deal with the every-which-way motion of the sea. Many adjust to the the constant motion after one or two days at sea.

Some sensible precautions can help lessen the effects of or prevent the worse part of seasickness—the nausea and vomiting.

1. Get a good night’s sleep; fatigue contributes to sea sickness.

2. Eat light meals before and during a voyage; avoid greasy foods or alcohol consumption.

3. If possible, stay near the most stable part of a vessel—usually near the center; don’t go down into the holds.

4. Avoid strong smells as they can aggravate the nausea associated with seasickness.

5. If you feel ill, keep your eyes fixed on the horizon (a stable line) to reduce some of the confusing information coming into the brain.

6. While some people suggest staying active and talking, working in close quarters, with your eyes focused on something close by, can trigger seasickness.

7. Vomiting will help ease the nausea; some people feel okay after they vomit.

8. If all else fails, lie down, keep your eyes closed and try to relax or sleep. Becoming anxious about your condition will make the condition worse. Remember that sea sickness has a cure--as soon as you step back onto land, you will feel fine.

The following information about motion sickness medications is from “Motion Sickness Remedies” (Honolulu Advertiser, Travel Section, April 26, 1998), by Dr. Vernon Ansdell.

Several medications are available for the prevention and treatment of motion sickness. Antihistamines such as cyclizine (e.g., Marezine), dimenhydrinate (e.g., Dramamine), meclizine (e.g., Antivert, Bonine) and .diphenydramine (e.g., Benadryl) are available over the counter.

These are effective, but commonly produce side-effects such as a dry mouth, drowsiness and dizziness. Keep in mind that drowsiness is sometimes beneficial in motion sickness. Antihistamines should not be used if you have glaucoma. Always read the label directions carefully.

The patch behind the ear is called Transderm Scop and contains a prescription drug called scopolamine. The patch is put on several hours before travel and can be left on for up to three days. Transderm Scop is very effective and tends to cause less drowsiness and dizziness than the antihistamines. Unfortunately, particularly in the elderly, it may occasionally cause serious side-effects, such as confusion. If you want to use the patch, I always recommend that I you try it on while still at home to make sure that you will not get any serious side-effects.

Transderm Scop should not be used if you have glaucoma. Check with your own doctor about any other precautions.
In resistant cases, a combination of two prescription drugs, phenergan and ephedrine, may prove effective. This combination has been used successfully in astronauts and has relatively few side-effects.

Ginger has also been shown to be effective in preventing and treating motion sickness and there are no significant side-effects. [One book suggests that ginger soothes the stomach and thus helps prevent nausea.] It is available in a variety of forms, most conveniently as ginger tablets available at many pharmacies and health food stores.

Finally, special wrist bands (e.g. Seaband) are available for motion sickness. They put pressure on an acupressure point on the inside of the wrist, and some travelers swear by them. [Others are skeptical about the effectiveness of wrist bands.]