The thought of traveling is exciting, but have you ever hesitated because of motion sickness, which causes headaches and nausea when you get in a car? People often take medication or try to sleep to combat motion sickness, but it doesn’t always work. Sometimes, it can even lead to vomiting. Why does motion sickness occur? Let’s delve into everything about motion sickness, which makes the brain mistakenly think you’ve ingested poison.
What is Motion Sickness?
Motion sickness is the body’s response to irregular movements. When our bodies move irregularly, this movement is transmitted to the fluid in the inner ear’s semicircular canals, causing abnormal vibrations to the brain’s vomiting center. Cyber sickness- motion sickness felt in virtual environments- has recently emerged. Major symptoms include nausea and dizziness, similar to traditional motion sickness.
Is There a Motion Sickness Gene?
Why do some people experience motion sickness while others don’t? The Genetic Research Institute in the U.S. found that people who frequently experience motion sickness have different genes than the general population. Specifically, they have 35 diterpenes, and women are three times more likely to suffer from motion sickness than men.
Using Smartphones Can Worsen Motion Sickness
Motion sickness occurs when the body is jolted or recoils during vehicle acceleration and deceleration. Reading on a smartphone or a book causes you to focus on the screen or text, making it impossible to react to the body’s jolting. Therefore, your motion sickness can worsen if you focus on your smartphone while driving. It’s better to look out the window or try to sleep.
Do Drivers Not Get Motion Sickness?
Drivers do not experience motion sickness because they actively monitor the road and control the vehicle. The body reacts to what the eyes see, and the car moves in the direction the driver wants. In this process, the body’s organs are already responding to the vehicle’s and body’s movements, so the driver does not get motion sickness.
The Illusion of Eating Poison?
Dean Burnett, a professor at Cardiff University in the U.K., recently proposed an interesting opinion about motion sickness. He suggested that the reason for vomiting symptoms due to motion sickness is because the brain misinterprets it as having ingested poison. Typically, vomiting occurs when someone has consumed too much alcohol, spoiled food, or poison. The brain, having received two contradictory pieces of information, induces motion sickness and vomiting to prevent intoxication from toxic substances.
Foods That Prevent Motion Sickness
Shiitake Mushrooms
Mushrooms are often called meat from the forest because they contain a large amount of plant-based protein and are effective for dieting due to their low-calorie content. The caloric content of mushrooms is about 40% of that of chicken breast, a typical diet food. Shiitake mushrooms not only help with motion sickness but also relieve headaches. They contain abundant magnesium, which calms excited nerves and is a natural sedative. They also help protect nerve cells and regulate balance, alleviating symptoms of dizziness.
Lemon
While lemons are known for their high vitamin C content and are a must-eat for everyone, citrus fruits are popular among women as they stimulate the secretion of lymph fluid from the mammary glands. One of the biggest causes of motion sickness is the unique smell of cars. In such cases, having a slice of lemon in your mouth can help. The citric acid in lemons calms an upset stomach.
Chenpi
Chenpi dried tangerine peel and Qingpi can be found in Donguibogam, a classic Korean medical book by Heo Jun. They have been known since ancient times to soothe an upset stomach with their digestive effects. Not only that, but they are also important medicinal ingredients used in herbal prescriptions. Drinking hot water infused with dried tangerine peel can protect the stomach and prevent nausea and abdominal pain caused by motion sickness.
Ginger
Ginger is excellent for treating diarrhea and aiding digestion. Diastase and proteolytic enzymes stimulate digestion and bowel movements and treat nausea and diarrhea. The gingerol in ginger calms the central nervous system, reducing symptoms of motion sickness. Diastase makes the digestive organs comfortable, preventing motion sickness. Drinking ginger tea before traveling can help prevent motion sickness.
Seaweed
Though previously considered a byproduct, sea mustard ear has gained popularity for its health benefits, including promoting metabolism and detoxification due to its high fucoidan content, minerals, and dietary fiber. Fucoidan in sea mustard ear helps maintain balance in the vestibular system, preventing motion sickness and providing various health benefits such as antimicrobial effects, blood pressure regulation, liver cell regeneration, blood sugar control, and anti-cancer properties.
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