Nauseous during travel? Simple measures can help reduce motion sickness: Experts

Time of India

20-05-2025

Pune: City-based software engineer Rajesh (34) dreads long road trips. Every time he embarks on a journey, whether in a car, bus, or even a flight, he experiences nausea, dizziness, and cold sweats within minutes.
Despite trying different remedies like looking at the horizon or chewing gum, the symptoms persist, often ruining family vacations.
Rajesh's case is not unique.
Motion sickness
is a widespread issue, affecting millions of Indians, particularly during road travel, which remains the country's most common mode of transportation.
As India's travel infrastructure expands, addressing motion sickness becomes increasingly relevant, particularly with rising domestic tourism and long-distance commutes.
While no universal cure exists, medical experts have underlined that a combination of awareness, preventive strategies, and medical interventions can significantly help the affected.
"Motion sickness occurs due to a sensory mismatch between the inner ear (vestibular system) and visual input," said senior neurologist Dr Sudhir Kothari.
The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, contains semi-circular canals and otolith organs that detect motion and balance.
"When the body is in motion, but the eyes perceive a stable environment, such as reading a book in a moving car, conflicting signals confuse the brain, triggering nausea and dizziness," Dr Kothari said.
According to a study published in the Journal of Travel Medicine, up to 30% of individuals experience motion sickness during travel, with symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to severe vomiting.
Another study by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru suggests that 40% of Indians experience motion sickness in some form, with higher prevalence among children, pregnant women, and migraine sufferers.
Medical experts recommend a combination of behavioural adjustments, natural remedies, and medical interventions. "Sitting in the front seat of a car, choosing a window seat in flights, and focusing on a stable object (horizon) reduces the sensory conflict," advises Dr Kothari who is head of the neurology department at Poona Hospital.
Neurologist Dr Rajas Deshpande, chief of the neurology department, Jupiter Hospital, emphasised eliminating sour and cold food.
"Lifestyle changes like eliminating sour and cold food, especially on the day prior to travel, adequate sleep, stress management, and avoidance of alcohol help reduce the impact of motion sickness," said Dr Deshpande.
It is wise to carry emergency medicines as some attacks may cause panic, he said.
Over-the-counter drugs like dimenhydrinate (dramamine) and prescription patches like scopolamine help mitigate symptoms but should be taken under medical advice.
Emerging research explores brain-training techniques using virtual reality (VR) and neuroplasticity-based exercises.
A 2022 study in the Journal of Vestibular Research demonstrated that gradual exposure to motion through VR simulations reduced motion sickness symptoms over time.
"Some Indian researchers at AIIMS Delhi are experimenting with eye movement training and vestibular rehabilitation exercises to enhance adaptation," Dr Deshpande said.