Nothing can ruin a great car ride or road trip the way car sickness can. For many people, this unpleasant condition can lead to either uncomfortable rides or a life that doesn’t include the freedom of extended car travel. If you’re one of these individuals, you may want to learn different ways of handling car sickness on road trips. Fortunately, there are actually quite a few tips and tricks to help combat car sickness for good.
Handling Car Sickness on Road Trips
Here are some of the best ways to handle car sickness on your next car trip.
Use Ginger Oil
Ginger essential oil is a great natural choice for combating nausea. You can also carry a bottle on-the-go so it will always be at hand if car sickness starts to arise. Just add a couple of drops in some water to drink or drop some on your palm and take a whiff to ease stomach discomfort.
Skip the Book
Some people love reading on a long car ride, but it can cause some pretty bad bouts of motion sickness for certain individuals. If this sounds like something that has happened to you in the past, try an alternate activity, such as listening to music, during your next car trip. That way, you can stay free of nausea and still avoid boredom.
Watch What You Eat
Try not to consume spicy foods, greasy snacks, alcohol or other harsh substances that seem to bother your stomach before traveling by car. One of these could be the main cause of your nausea. Opt for gentler foods before or during your travels instead, such as water or saltine crackers. If you smoke, do not do so while traveling, and avoid others who are smoking during the trip if at all possible.
Try Pressure Points
There are specific acupressure points that may help combat car sickness. There are even bumpy wristbands and other devices that target motion sickness pressure points if you do not want to try applying pressure by hand.
Change Your Position
For many travelers, moving to the front passenger seat or even the driver’s seat of a car may be all it takes to combat motion sickness. If you can’t sit in the front for some reason, try looking out the window in front of you at a fixed point so your senses do not have to work so hard to focus while you are in motion. If all else fails, make every effort not to sit facing backwards from the direction you are traveling in.
Encourage Yourself
For some, people can talk themselves out of car sickness. Even just avoiding others who feel carsick can help your stomach stay calm.
Get Some Sleep
Before your car trips begin, make sure you’re well-rested. Getting an adequate amount of sleep the night before a trip can help minimize the chances of experiencing car sickness during the drive.
Use Your Head Rest
Lean your head back on the head rest of your car seat if you start to feel queasy. Holding your head in one place this way can help the feelings dissipate and can even stop them from arising in the first place. Just try not to lean back too far, as this can make things worse.
Open a Window
If you can crack a window or moon roof in the car, do so. The fresh air can help your feelings of nausea dissipate and make you feel more refreshed at the same time.
If you have to, try to take a break from driving so you can get out of the car. Standing up is a great way to quickly combat motion sickness. Make every effort not to lie down in the car, as this can make the nausea worse. Car sickness is frustrating and unpleasant, but a few actions and adjustments can help you overcome it and take control of your travel situations moving forward.
Author the Writer: Paisley Hansen is a freelance writer and expert in health and fitness. She also developed a passion for traveling during her college years. Today she spends most of her time writing about the things she loves.
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