First aid for seasickness

What really helps when suffering on the waves?

01/29/2015

On the high seas, many passengers are fast from the so-called „seasickness“ which manifests itself mainly in symptoms such as malaise, nausea, dizziness and facial pallor. Even experienced seafarers may be affected, as a rocking ship poses a major challenge to inner balance. Other travelers, however, quickly suffer from motion sickness in cars, planes or buses. Here, however, special medicines, simple tricks and home remedies can quickly remedy.

Motion sickness as a natural physical reaction
Sudden facial blotches, dizziness, sweats, nausea and vomiting: the so-called „seasickness“ can spoil the long-awaited holiday pleasure quickly. This is basically not one „real“ Disease, instead, the term summarizes all those symptoms that occur as a physical reaction to unusual movements and accelerations.

Sense of balance is overloaded
The seasickness belongs to the so-called „kinetoses“ or motion sickness, also in the car, plane („airsickness“) or less frequently in bus and train. The motion sickness on the high seas is caused by a „Sensory Mismatch“, because the rigid space (cabin), the passengers perceive through the eyes, does not match with the perceived movement through the waves, explains Prof. Andreas Koch of the Marine Marine Institute in front of the news agency „dpa“. Due to the contradictory information that the brain receives from the sensory cells in this way, in the healthy sense of balance an overload occurs which is interpreted by the brain as a danger. As a result, stress hormones such as e.g. Histamine secreted, which in turn lead to symptoms such as dizziness and nausea.

Malaise, belching and paleness as the first signs of seasickness
In the first phase, according to the head of the shipping market, Christian Ottomann, especially discomfort, belching, pressure, paleness and tiredness would occur. „Then it comes to nausea“, so Ottomann further opposite the „dpa“- a sign that the passenger is actually in full „seasick“ has become. According to Martin Dirksen-Fischer, head of the Hamburg Port Medical Service, however, those affected should be aware that this is a reaction of the body which is usually rapid. „It's over again“ assures the expert. Because in most cases, the body usually gets used to the unfamiliar movements after two to three days, moreover, many modern cruise ships are equipped today with stabilizers for the wave motion.

Use ginger as a natural remedy
Among other things, as the body emits histamine in response to the perceived danger, travel sickness is commonly prescribed antihistamines. In addition to scopolamine is also used, which contains among other henbane and datura and thus acts against the inner restlessness and nausea. In addition, natural remedies have been proven in the treatment of motion sickness. As a home remedy for nausea is especially ginger, which centuries ago sailors used as a remedy for seasickness by chopped into pieces and chewed against dizziness and nausea worked. Also in the field of homeopathy, there are a number of helpful remedies that can be taken in an acute case or as a preventive measure. In question here, for example, Cocculus (Kockelskörner), Tabacum or Nux Vomica.

Self-help through simple tricks and relaxation exercises
According to Ottomann, it is also helpful to position yourself in the direction of the ship's movements, ie to the bow or stern during tipping or when the ship tilts sideways („rolls“) to the back or starboard side. Relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, autogenic training or progressive muscle relaxation can also be helpful in order to lower the stress level and focus on oneself. If a high sea state is to be expected, alcohol and nicotine should be better avoided on the eve of the previous day because both have a negative effect on the circulation and the balance system and can therefore lead to an increase in symptoms. Sleep deprivation also causes the body to seep, which may make the sea state even faster „out of balance“ The same applies to rich, heavy food, which also puts additional strain on the body. (No)