Eight Home Remedies for Car Sickness

For some people, just the thought of a long car trip is enough to make them nauseous. But being prone to car sickness doesn't mean you have to give up on taking long car rides. Here are some home remedies that will help prevent, or alleviate, car sickness.

Alleviate car sickness by taking in the sights.

Letting your eyes see the motion your body feels can often help with car sickness. So, look out the window. Relax and take in the sights passing by.

Drivers are less likely to suffer from car sickness.

Think back on all the times you've suffered from car sickness. Were you driving, or were you a passenger? You were probably the passenger. The person driving a car is much less likely to experience car sickness than the passengers. Why? It's because they are watching the scenery pass by. If possible, you should be the one in the driver's seat during long car trips.

Sit in the front seat.

If you aren't going to be driving, at least sit in the front seat. Some people find that sitting in the backseat during a car trip is a much rougher, bumpier ride than sitting in the front seat. So, if you're prone to car sickness, arrange to take the front seat. Not only will the ride be smoother, having such a clear view of the road ahead could make you less likely to be hit by car sickness.

Avoid the scenic route.

The scenic route might be more colorful and interesting than the interstate. But, in many cases, car sickness is caused by bumpy roads, or constant stops and starts. On an interstate, the roads are smooth, and the driver won't have to stop as often.

Smoke will make car sickness worse.

If you're prone to car sickness, the smell of cigaretter smoke could push you over the edge. So, if you're traveling with someone who smokes, ask them to refrain from smoking. And you definitely shouldn't light up yourself.

Reading will make you vulnerable to car sickness.

If you suffer from car sickness, reading while you travel can be a bad idea.

Looking out the window is one of the best remedies for car sickness. And, if you're looking down at a book or newspaper instead, you can't do that.

Try to find other ways to pass the time, like listening to music.

If you must read during a car trip, there is a way you can do it that might make you less likely to suffer from car sickness.

Part of what makes reading during a trip so troublesome is that, while your looking down at the page, you're still seeing the visible motion from the side windows out of the corner of your eye, which could trigger car sickness symptoms.

Blocking the side view, either by using something to cover the window, or holding one hand next to your temple, could help prevent the car sickness.

Get some fresh air.

Fresh air can sometimes help alleviate car sickness. So crack the window, even if it's cold outside. In fact, cold air will actually help alleviate car sickness.

When car sickness strikes, take a break.

If car sickness strikes, ask the driver to stop the car. Then get out and walk around for five or ten minutes.