Homeopathy for Motion Sickness

Motion sickness, which includes airsickness, carsickness, and seasickness, is an acute condition that causes a feeling of nausea and malaise. It is usually accompanied by vomiting, headache, and vertigo. There are drugs to help prevent this condition but homeopathy offers one of the best solutions for prophylaxis as well as treatment.

Motion sickness is caused by an overstimulation of the vestibular nerve in the inner ear which controls balance. The condition is usually brought about by motion that is accompanied by acceleration and deceleration. The body has a hard time keeping up with the continual changes brought on by the constant motion and movement.

Motion sickness is common in children who are susceptible to the motions of riding in cars and boats. Once motion sickness sets in, the first symptom is usually nausea. This can be accompanied by sweats or chills, dizziness, hyperventilation, headache, anxiety, inability to concentrate, and sometimes claustrophobia. Vomiting can be violent and prolonged leading to dehydration. Often the person will not be able to hold down any liquids and this can become a serious situation.

Rubrics that can be helpful in repertizing motion sickness include:

• Generalities; traveling, ailments from
• Mind; anxiety, motion from, aggravates
• Mind; fear narrow places
• Stomach; nausea, riding in car, while, aggravates
• Stomach; nausea, seasickness

Often, giving an indicated remedy a day or two before traveling can be prophylactic. Remember to choose a remedy that is reflective of the person's constitutional state. Even though motion sickness is an acute condition, it is only through a person's susceptibility that it occurs. Hering said Nux Vomica was the best preventative, Opium offered the quickest relief, and  Cocculus and Petroleum were often most indicated. In the Complete 2005 Repertory, there are 65 remedies listed under Stomach; nausea, seasickness.

Consider these more common remedies:

• Arnica - Usually a more sudden onset. Often, nausea will be accompanied by a bruised, achy feeling. They just can't get comfortable.
• Cocculus - The characteristic symptom is a hollow feeling in the stomach. It can be brought on by watching moving objects.
• Nux Vomica - Nausea before travel or during the voyage.
• Opium - Hot or cold sweat on the forehead. Drowsiness and sleepiness will usually be present. A mental fog often ensues.
• Petroleum - Face pale. Dizziness, even while lying. Hering suggested Petroleum if Cocculus fails.
• Tabacum - Cold sweat, chills, and deathly nausea. Vomiting with pallor and cold sweat over the whole body.

As in most acute conditions, the 30C potency will often be best. Repetition of the dose depends on the person's response. Giving the remedy a few days before travel will often be helpful if the remedy has proven to work in past situations. There is some evidence that eating ginger will help with nausea of motion sickness. Massaging an area about an inch above the inner wrist will stimulate acupressure points that can relieve nausea as well. There are now wristband products available that stimulate this point and claim to prevent motion sickness.

Homeopathy still offers the best and safest treatment of motion sickness. If you or someone you know is prone to motion sickness, do a little research into how they typically feel. Then get a few of the most indicated remedies for their condition and have them available during travel. You might be helping them in a way that no drug ever could.