Dealing with seasickness

Seasickness occurs when your body’s inner ear balance system reacts to the unfamiliar motion of the ship, causing an imbalance that leads to nausea. Although it often disappears after a few days, those few days can be miserable.

Prevention

Avoid onboard activities that make seasickness worse:

• Stay on deck in the fresh air as much as possible. Facing forward seems to help. If you do go below, don’t stay long and look out a porthole and gaze at the horizon.
• Avoid looking through binoculars for any length of time.
• Avoid staring at objects your brain interprets as stable, such as books, needlecraft or compasses.
• Take deep breaths, drink plenty of water and eat bland foods to keep the hunger at bay.

Treating seasickness

Although it’s easier to prevent than to cure, you can do a few things when nausea overtakes you:

• Take Dramamine or Bonine, over-the-counter antihistamines that can make you sleepy.
• The prescription anti-nausea medication Phenergan keeps vomiting to a minimum and lessens the chance of dehydration.
• Fishermen often wear prescription scopolamine patches behind their ears. Patches should be in place before setting sail and last three days.
• Ginger, a natural herbal cure, comes in various forms such as capsule, chews, chips and roots. Make sure you get real ginger.
• Acupressure wristbands can also combat nausea.

Before you shove off, try not to consume too much alcohol the night before, stay away from heavy meals, and get a good night’s sleep. –Beth Schwab