Car Sickness

Carsickness is a kind of motion sickness, which also includes seasickness and airsickness. It affects most people in varying degrees. Symptoms range from a general feeling of discomfort to nausea and vomiting.
Motion sickness occurs when the body is subjected to accelerations of movement under conditions where visual contact with the actual horizon is lost. This results in conflicting messages being sent to the brain. The brain relies on messages from the inner ear, the muscles and the eyes to tell it where the body is in space. When any of these systems send different messages, the brain gets confused, and results in feelings of discomfort.
Approximately 90 percent of adults experience motion sickness at some time in their lives; however, some people seem to be naturally prone to motion sickness since childhood, and have an extraordinarily difficult time with it. Motion sickness is rare in children under 2 years of age. Also, women seem to get motion sickness more than men (the rate is 1.7:1 compared to males). It is also increased during menstruation and pregnancy.

Symptoms of carsickness generally consist of dizziness, nausea, light-headedness, disorientation, and vomiting, which vary with the intensity of the stimulus and the susceptibility of the individual.
The initial symptom is usually discomfort around the upper abdomen followed by nausea and increasing malaise. Concurrently the face or area around the mouth becomes pale and the individual starts to sweat. With rapid worsening of symptoms, there can be increased salivation, feelings of body warmth, a lightness of the head, and often depression and apathy. Vomiting typically follows. Important physical characteristics of the stimulus include the frequency, intensity, and duration of directional changes. It is increased by visual stimuli, such as a moving horizon, or by zero gravity.

Incorporating beets or milk thistle into the diet in the days prior to departure can improve the liver's ability to de-toxify. Drinking plenty of water will also help cleanse the body and avoid dehydration during travel. 

There are many strategies people can use to lower their vulnerability to motion sickness. In addition to the suggestions above, the following may help: 

• If you know you're prone to motion sickness, try taking a commercial motion sickness remedy such as Dramamine an hour before the ride. If you prefer herbal remedies, try eating ginger before you ride. 
• If you are going on a long trip, ask your doctor for scopolamine in the form of a timed-release skin patch to reduce the muscle spasms and contractions that trigger vomiting. 
• Don't eat a heavy meal or drink alcohol before leaving on a trip. Eat light meals of low-fat, starchy foods and avoid strong-smelling or -tasting foods. 
• Stay in the part of the vehicle subject to the least motion: the front seat of cars. Recline in your seat as much as possible, and open the car window and get plenty of fresh air, if possible. 
• Don't watch the waves or the passing scenery through the window. Look out at a spot 45 degrees above the horizon. 
• Avoid strong odors from food, tobacco, perfume, gasoline or diesel fumes while traveling. 
• If nausea does set in, try eating olives or sucking on a lemon; these foods make your mouth dry and help diminish nausea.

Motion sickness occurs because the brain is receiving conflicting information from different sensory organs. There is a balance mechanism in the inner ear to register the movement of the body. When the eyes do not detect motion to the same degree as the inner ear, the central nervous system reacts to this stress-producing phenomenon by activating the nausea center in the brain.
Carsickness or nausea can be caused by the liver's inability to expel toxins from the body effectively.

Carsickness is usually evident and is easy to diagnose. The nauseating feeling and the color of the patient is an easy give away and a diagnosis of this condition.

When going on long journeys in the car it is best to avoid heavy foods. The best way is to take something very light or a diet mainly consisting of vegetables and fruits and to avoid food while traveling.

Try powdered ginger root capsules. Ginger root does help calm the stomach. Ginger can be given in tea, too. Ginger root raw is a little strong, and is mostly disliked. Scale down the dosage and give a little before the car ride as well as during the trip if needed.

Carsickness is a disease that occurs because of being in a car for too long the best way to avoid it is to relax when going for a long journey especially. Come out of the car and stop at places to relax and take a walk to stretch the legs. It is best to relax and do deep breathing exercises in order to relax the mind.