Motion Sickness - Help is Here With a Natural Essential Oil Remedy, and Other Natural Suggestions

Oh that queasy feeling. The world won't stop bobbing up and down. It keeps swaying and moving. There are many causes of nausea. Motion sickness is one of the most common causes.

Actually, the word 'nausea' is derived from the Latin work meaning "seasickness", and from the Greek translation of "sailor". So if you have problems with motion- whether in boat, sky or land, you are in company with centuries of people with the same problem, including pilots and astronauts. Motion sickness is believed to occur when the balancing system of the body gets overloaded by all the messages it receives from the senses, especially the eyes and ears.

The first signs are sweating, hyperventilation, lightheadedness and nausea. I have had people tell me it happens when they watch telephone poles going by outside a car window, or even walking down the aisle of a grocery store. It is much easier to prevent it from happening than to stop it once it starts.

For most cases of motion sickness, and for that matter, most causes of nausea, the best solution is very simple. Just inhale Peppermint (Mentha piperita) directly from the bottle. Or put a few drops on a tissue and hold in front of your nose. (Caution: Do not use peppermint via inhalation for children under the age of two! You can use Spearmint (Mentha spicata), or put a drop of peppermint on their feet.).

A helpful hint for traveling is to take your favorite essential oils with you. Be sure to include peppermint. Not only is it the oil of choice for motion sickness, it is a universal oil that is good for many other ailments. If your bottle of peppermint won't fit in your "allowed liquids" while flying, put a few drops of peppermint on a tissue, and seal it in a baggy. When the queasiness starts, just open the bag and inhale.

Just in case peppermint is not your favorite aroma, other oils know to be particularly good for motion sickness include Patchouli (Pogostemon cublin), Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) , Ginger (Zingiber officinale), and spearmint. It is very important to use on the highest quality of therapeutic grade oils if you expect to have a proper outcome. Adulterated oils will only make the situation worse.

Here is a great recipe for Motion Sickness Prevention:

4 drops of peppermint

4 drops of ginger

1 Tablespoon of vegetable oil (or jojoba carrier oil, or unscented lotion).

Mix the ingredients together well. This will make about ½ ounce, so you can put it in a small container, seal it, and label it. Rub 6-10 drops of this blend on your chest and stomach about 1 hour before traveling. You can also apply it to your temples, wrist and feet. Here are ten other hints to keep motion sickness at bay:

1. Look off into the distance. Looking off as far as you can seems to counteract the topsy-turvy feeling.


2. Turn off the air-conditioner or heater and try to breathe in fresh air.


3. Stay on deck: Going inside or below only intensifies symptoms, so stay on top and look off as far as you can see.


4. Face forward on the bus or train, and take a seat. Standing seems to bring on motion sickness.


5. Volunteer to drive. Drivers as so busy watching the road that they are less apt to get carsick.


6. Eat a little or not at all. About an hour before you leave, eat a cracker. Otherwise, an empty stomach is a calmer stomach.


7. Avoid strong foods or odors. The smell of spicy or greasy foods and strong odors can prompt motion sickness before or during a trip


8. Leave your reading at home. Reading causes your eyes to move back and forth, so they are not fixed on a single point. The same holds true for movies on a plane. Anything that is visually demanding seems to be a culprit.


9. Stay away from others who are sick. The power of suggestion is very powerful. Share your peppermint and then let others tend to the sick, while you look out at the horizon.


10. Read the article titled Nausea: 7 Natural Ways to Use Essential Oils for Prevention and Relief for additional ways to use essential oils for nausea.

I invite you to my web-page to learn more about essential oils. This article is written for informational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat medical problems. The advice and care of a physician is recommended for your health concerns. Aromatherapy is intended as complementary care with health care providers, not as an alternative to care.