Travel Nausea: Quick Ways to Prevent and Stop Motion Sickness

About one-third of people feel queasy while travelling. Travel nausea comes fast and ruins trips, but you can usually prevent it or stop it quickly if you know what to do. Read on for straight-up tips that work for cars, boats, planes, and even VR.

Why it happens and who’s most at risk

Motion sickness happens when your inner ear (balance system) and your eyes send mixed signals to your brain. If your body feels movement but your eyes don’t agree—like reading in a car—you get nausea, sweating, or dizziness. Kids, pregnant people, migraine sufferers, and people new to motion are more likely to get hit hard.

Different travel types trigger different problems. Boats cause strong inner-ear motion; cars and buses cause short, repeated turns; planes can cause subtle turbulence that confuses your balance. Knowing the trigger helps pick the right fix.

Practical prevention and quick fixes

Before you travel: pick the right seat. Sit where motion feels smallest—front of a car, over the wing on a plane, middle of a boat. Face forward and look at the horizon. Avoid heavy meals, alcohol, and greasy foods right before travel. Stay hydrated and get fresh air when you can.

During travel: keep your head still and rest it against a headrest. Use a fixed gaze—look at a stable point in the distance. Try slow, deep breaths and splash cool water on your face if you start to feel off. If reading or screens trigger nausea, stop using them and close your eyes.

Simple over-the-counter options: dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and meclizine (Bonine) are common and help for many people. Take them 30–60 minutes before travel for best effect. For longer trips, a scopolamine patch (prescription) behind the ear works well for sea voyages and multi-day travel; apply it the night before if possible.

Natural and non-drug aids: ginger (candied ginger, ginger capsules, or ginger tea) eases nausea for many folks. Acupressure wristbands press a point on your wrist (P6) and can reduce symptoms for some. Peppermint candy or oil can help calm your stomach quickly.

Special groups: if you’re pregnant, check with your clinician—ginger and wristbands are usually safe; many anti-motion drugs aren’t recommended without advice. For kids use age-appropriate doses or pediatric formulations and ask a doctor before medicating young children.

When to see a doctor: if vomiting won’t stop, you can’t keep liquids down, you get signs of dehydration, or nausea is linked to fainting or severe headache. Also see a clinician if motion sickness starts suddenly in someone who never had it before.

Quick checklist before your next trip: pick the right seat, take an OTC pill if you’ve had trouble before, pack ginger or pressure bands, avoid heavy meals, and get fresh air. Small steps often make the trip comfortable again.