A road trip across Australia, with its extensive views and varied terrains, can be an exciting experience. For many, though, the thrill of exploration is often tempered by an unwelcome travel and holiday companion: motion sickness. Also called motion sickness can transform a scenic road trip or a soothing boat ride into an uncomfortable ordeal. Knowing its causes and discussing effective treatments can help travelers have smoother journeys.
What is Travel Sickness?
Travel sickness happens when there’s a mismatch in the sensory signals sent to your brain. Your inner ear, for example, could detect motion from a moving vehicle, but your eyes could see a static environment, say, if you were reading or looking down. That mismatch overwhelms the brain, causing a gaggle of symptoms like nausea, dizziness, cold sweats and vomiting.
Common Causes of Travel Sickness in Australia
Australia’s distinct geography and modes of travel create a perfect recipe for the conditions to worsen. Some common triggers include:
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Car sickness: Spending hours on winding or hilly roads (such as the Great Ocean Road) can trigger the disease. The back seat or engaging in activities, such as reading, can exacerbate.
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Sea Sickness: Australia has a vast coastline, and traveling by boat is popular for whale watching, reef diving, and many other kinds of trips. The rolling action of smaller craft in rough seas is a common cause of seasickness.
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Air travel: Turbulence on flights that cross Australia’s considerable distances can contribute to air sickness, especially if you are already motion sick.
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Other Triggers: Unusual movements, such as playing virtual reality games, theme park rides and even camel rides in desert locations like Uluru, can also produce movements which may conflict with inputs from the body's gravity sensors and our vision, causing motion sickness.
Who is Most Susceptible?
Some groups are more susceptible to motion sickness:
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Children aged 2-12 years.
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Enlarged, fibrous or vascular breasts or women, especially if this enlargement occurs in pregnant women or during particular phases of their menstrual cycle.
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People with vestibular disorders (balance-related problems) or migraines.
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People who have a family history of motion sickness.
Symptoms of Travel Sickness
The symptoms of travel sickness can be mild to severe and include:
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Nausea and vomiting
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Dizziness
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Cold sweats
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Headaches
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Fatigue
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Rapid breathing
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Excessive salivation
Preventing Travel Sickness
Preventing travel sickness is often the best course of action. Here are some practical tips:
Before Traveling
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Eat Lightly: Do not eat too heavy or greasy food before traveling. Stick to light snacks, such as crackers or bananas.
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Hydrate: Water is your friend; avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks, which can make symptoms worse.
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Choose Your Seat Wisely.
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In cars: Sit in the front seat.
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On boats: Remain on deck so you have a view of the horizon.
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On planes: Choose seats over the wings, where movement feels less pronounced.
During Travel
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Gaze Far Focus: Keeping your gaze fixed on a steady point allows sensory inputs to align.
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Fresh air: Keep windows open or use air vents to circulate the air.
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No Reading or Screens: Makes things worse by increasing sensory conflict.
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Stay Still: Minimize movement by sitting upright with your head well supported.
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Relaxation: A. Deep breathing, B. Listening to soothing music.
Treatments for Travel Sickness
And if prevention measures aren’t sufficient, several treatments are available:
Medications
Antihistamines:
When medications used to prevent nausea (like promethazine, dimenhydrinate) are considered, but they may not be very effective in this case.
These should be taken half an hour before travelling, but be warned, they can make one drowsy.
Hyoscine (Scopolamine):
Hyoscine (also known as scopolamine and available as tablets or patches) is very effective in the prevention of motion sickness.
They’re placed behind the ear several hours before traveling and can last up to 72 hours.
Over-the-Counter Remedies:
When taken before travel, products containing over-the-counter chewable tablets, such as Shop NCC Health, work by blocking the sensory signals known to trigger nausea.
Natural Remedies
1). Ginger:
Drinking ginger tea, eating ginger capsules, or even drinking ginger ale can greatly help with nausea and come without side effects.
2). Acupressure Bands:
Wristbands that exert pressure at this P6 point have been shown to effectively reduce symptoms.
3). Vitamin C Supplements:
Vitamin C alleviates motion sickness in a few individuals (as indicated by certain studies).
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT)
For chronic sufferers or those whose vestibular system is not functioning optimally, VRT can retrain the brain’s response to conflicting sensory inputs through exercises tailored to improve balance and reduce vestibular susceptibility over time.
Managing Symptoms During an Episode
If despite all precautions you’ll still get motion sickness:
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Pull over and rest, whenever feasible — stop during car rides or stand on a stable surface on yachts.
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Drink cold water or ginger ale to calm your stomach.
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That means closing your eyes and taking deep breaths to steady your inner ear signals.
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If symptoms do not go away, take anti-nausea medications.
When to Seek Medical Advice
Most cases of travel sickness resolve quickly when movement stops, but see a doctor if:
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Symptoms linger long after the journey ends (disembarkation syndrome).
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You are severely dehydrated from vomiting.
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Motion sickness really takes a toll on your quality of life.
Conclusion
From rugged road trips through some of the most isolated landscapes in the world to ocean cruises that take you along some of the most breathtaking coasts on earth, exploring Australia has no shortage of epic adventures. By recognizing the reasons for travel sickness and taking preventative measures or treatments that best suit your circumstances, you can make sure that motion doesn’t upend your adventures.
Whether it’s selecting the best seat on a plane, sipping ginger tea while on a boat ride or wearing acupressure bands on a road trip, there are many strategies to help manage this condition. However, as long as you prepare in advance and take proper care of yourself, you can enjoy all that Australia has to offer in style — don’t let travel sickness get in your way!
Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Sickness
1) What causes travel sickness?
Travel sickness, or motion sickness, is when the brain receives conflicting information from the body’s sensory systems. So, for instance, your inner ear picks up motion, but your eyes are seeing a stationary environment if you’re reading or looking down. This mismatch can confuse the brain, leading to nausea, dizziness and vomiting.
2) What are the symptoms of travel sickness?
Symptoms mainly involve nausea, vomiting, light-headedness, headaches, cold sweats, fatigue, paleness, and hypersalivation. In more severe cases, excessive vomiting can lead to hyperventilation and dehydration.
3) How can I prevent travel sickness?
To help prevent:
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Have a light snack before departing and avoid heavy meals or alcohol.
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Selecting seats in safe zones, like over the wings of airplanes or in front of autos.
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Avoid looking at the speedometer (especially when nervously) or watching the road roll by too fast.
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Taking medicines such as antihistamines or hyoscine 30 minutes to two hours before travel.
4) How to find Natural Home Remedies for travel sickness?
Yes, natural remedies include:
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Ginger (in tea, capsules or candies) to quell nausea.
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Peppermint soothes tummy trouble.
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Acupressure wristbands that press on pressure points to relieve symptoms.
5) When should I see a doctor for travel sickness?
Consult a doctor if:
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Symptoms linger long after travel is done.
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You are severely dehydrated or vomit often.
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Travel sickness severely impinges upon your quality of life.
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For these cases, doctors can also prescribe stronger medications, including hyoscine patches or prochlorperazine.
