# Need advice for preventing air sickness- flying next week **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 6, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171 "2010-12-06T18:22:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171/1 "2010-12-06T18:22:04Z")
I NEVER used to get airsick- turbulence just wasn’t a big deal. In the last couple of years however, it’s become a big problem. Not only do I get sick from only moderate turbulence, I also can’t recover quickly. Any ideas? I am open to OTC remedies as well as homeopathic ones (ginger, etc), and am looking for things that work GREAT for the Dopers. Help! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171/2 "2010-12-06T19:13:30Z")
Ginger. My ex-wife swears by it. She was very susceptible to motion sickness and hated air travel until she learned about this. ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171/3 "2010-12-07T00:00:17Z")
+1 for ginger (or candied ginger, or REAL ginger ale). My wife and I were on a cruise when it started to get a little rough, and she started feeling a bit queasy. I ran to the sushi restaurant and asked for some pickled ginger for her. She started feeling better almost immediately after eating it. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171/4 "2010-12-07T02:18:48Z")
Hate to sound like a broken record, but I have to echo the ginger recommendations. My middle daughter has suffered motion sickness almost all her life (she’s 19 now). Throughout her childhood, we’d treat the motion sickness with Dramamine or Bonine; the result was she’d sleep through the ride (not normally a big deal; it _was_ a big deal, sort of, the time we got a free boat-ride to Chincoteague Island, and she slept through the whole thing). She was young the first time we tried the ginger (bought ground ginger in capsules at the health food store), maybe 10. I didn’t tell her it was different, just said “Here, take your car-sick medicine”. By the time we were almost to our destination, almost 3 hours away, not only had she not slept in the car, but was also asking how soon we would arrive, because she was hungry! She’s never been on an airplane, but if it’s worked on boats and in cars, to the best of my knowledge, motion-sickness is motion-sickness. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171/5 "2010-12-07T02:22:49Z")
1. Ginger. Has to be real ginger, but it does help 2. Eat _lightly_, no spicy stuff, before you leave 3. Stay hydrated. 4. Old reliables like Dramamine can work - although they can make you very drowsy. ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171/6 "2010-12-07T02:25:19Z")
Dramamine/Gravol. If you are particularly sensitive to motion, then start taking it the night before you travel. The long acting capsules don’t dry me out or make me as sleepy as the standard 50mg pills. Ginger does nothing for me. ---
**Author:** ![spoike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@spoike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spoike)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171/7 "2010-12-07T03:02:54Z")
I have a huge problem with motion sickness, so I feel your pain. I take gravol (dramamine), but, as others have said, it does cause drowsiness. Dramamine makes a [less drowsy version](http://www.dramamine.com/less-drowsy) that is almost as effective and does reduce the drowsiness a great deal, but not completely. It’s only available in the States, so I stock up whenever I’m down there. I also bring ginger chews with me, although, in a pinch, anything sweet, like a hard candy, can help. In Alberta, dramamine is behind the pharmacists counter, and you’re out of luck if you’re at a store when the pharmacy is closed. The airports here can’t sell it either, but they do sell ginger-based treatments. They work, but I much prefer them as a backup or just for mild nausea. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171/8 "2010-12-07T06:21:56Z")
As we are flying with the kids, it would kind of suck to sleep the whole flight! 😉 What kind of ginger works best? How to take/eat it? I am 100% willing! I drink a glass or two ginger ale in-flight but it doesn’t seem to stem the tide, so to speak… ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171/9 "2010-12-07T06:56:33Z")
> [@Moirai](#): > > As we are flying with the kids, it would kind of suck to sleep the whole flight! 😉 > > What kind of ginger works best? How to take/eat it? I am 100% willing! I drink a glass or two ginger ale in-flight but it doesn’t seem to stem the tide, so to speak… Well, most ginger ale is made with artificial ginger flavoring, so that’s _definitely_ not going to cut it! Go to a local health food/vitamin store, or even a well-stocked drug aisle in someplace like Target or Wal Mart, and look for ginger capsules. This is honest-to-goodness ginger, dried, powdered, and packed into capsules. This is what my middle daughter uses for her motion sickness. I’d think you could safely take two before flying, but read the bottle. My daughter usually uses one, and is fine. The key, all in all, is you need _real_ ginger, and a good bit of it. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171/10 "2010-12-08T01:46:08Z")
Ok, I got my ginger capsules and I’m ready for a much more comfortable flight this time! When it’s 9+ hours, you HAVE to feel better. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171/11 "2010-12-08T02:02:50Z")
> [@Moirai](#): > > Ok, I got my ginger capsules and I’m ready for a much more comfortable flight this time! When it’s 9+ hours, you HAVE to feel better. 🙂 Best of luck! And do let us know how it worked out for you. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171/12 "2010-12-08T18:56:07Z")
I _just_ posted this in another thread: > [@](#): > > The Mythbusters did a show on motion sickness, testing Dramamine, those wrist pressure point bands, and ginger. Maybe a couple other things (it’s been a few years since I’ve seen that episode) as well. > > Hands down the thing that worked the best (and pretty much the only thing that really worked) was ginger. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171/13 "2010-12-08T19:13:24Z")
Could you grate fresh ginger root over something else you’re eating? Can you make tea by steeping ginger root? There has to be some way to get fresh real ginger into you without resorting to capsules. - **purplehorseshoe** , who once spent most of a 7-hour flight hogging the bathroom, puking uncontrollably from motion sickness, and so would like to know ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171/14 "2010-12-08T19:17:25Z")
> [@Mauvaise](#): > > I _just_ posted this in another thread: Are you sure about that? I’m pretty sure the Mythbusters gave him a placebo. The “ginger” did work, though. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171/15 "2010-12-08T19:51:36Z")
Bonine’s worked better for me than Dramamine. Dramamine just knocks me out, but if I wake up, the queasy comes back or I’m groggy when I get to my destination. > **[Home - Bonine](https://bonine.com/)** > > Join the Movement - Don’t let motion sickness or nausea hold you back. With Bonine®, you can join enjoy the freedom to go wherever life takes you. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171/16 "2010-12-08T21:42:59Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Could you grate fresh ginger root over something else you’re eating? Can you make tea by steeping ginger root? > > There has to be some way to get fresh real ginger into you without resorting to capsules. > > - **purplehorseshoe** , who once spent most of a 7-hour flight hogging the bathroom, puking uncontrollably from motion sickness, and so would like to know You _can_ make ginger root tea; you can also develop a taste for (then nibble on) candied ginger. ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171/17 "2010-12-08T22:00:59Z")
> [@Mauvaise](#): > > I _just_ posted this in another thread: > [@](#): > > The Mythbusters did a show on motion sickness, testing Dramamine, those wrist pressure point bands, and ginger. Maybe a couple other things (it’s been a few years since I’ve seen that episode) as well. > > Hands down the thing that worked the best (and pretty much the only thing that really worked) was ginger. > [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Are you sure about that? I’m pretty sure the Mythbusters gave him a placebo. The “ginger” did work, though. According to [this summary](http://mythbustersresults.com/episode43) of the episode, you appear to be correct Chessic. In fact, the placebo worked for Grant. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171/18 "2010-12-08T23:08:28Z")
I found ginger pills in the vitamins section of the drugstore. They kept me from getting seasick, I imagine they’d work for airsickness also. Just give them 30-45 minutes to start working, and keep taking them regularly! ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171/19 "2010-12-09T03:46:35Z")
I get motion sickness real easy. My bigest problem comes with landing or up and down turbulence. My family makes fun of me along with my old classmates from college. Before traveling besure to eat normal. Do not take cold medicines they thicken the body fluids including the inner ear. An hour or two before leaving I take Ginger from the health food store. Avoid coffee even Starbucks. On the plane I take my jacket off and turn the AC on full blowing onto my head. If I get cold I will put my jacket over my legs but I do not want my upper body getting too worm. When the cabin attendent comes around with the drinks I ask for Ginger Ale and I ask them to leave the can. If I staart to get sick and am not sure I can make the landing I will ask for as ice pack to put accross the back of my neck. As of yet I have never flashed on a plane but I have had two flights where my wife almost had to carry me off the plane. MY first time at sea we were 13 days from San Francisco to Hawaii 12 days I never went anywhere with out my #10 can. Relax as much as you can. Pay attention to what your triggers are so you will know how to react. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171/20 "2010-12-09T14:11:50Z")
> [@Implicit](#): > > According to [this summary](http://mythbustersresults.com/episode43) of the episode, you appear to be correct Chessic. In fact, the placebo worked for Grant. According to the link the placebo was “plausible” because it helped Grant, but not Adam. Ginger, on the other hand, > [@](#): > > Seasickness can be cured by taking a ginger pill. > > **confirmed** > > Both Adam and Grant made it through their spin-chair sessions without feeling ill. I forgot that they tested on Grant as well. I was only remembering that nothing but ginger worked for Adam. I did say it’s been a few years. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-for-preventing-air-sickness-flying-next-week/563171.md?page=2)