Vanquishing Motion Sickness With Ginger
Posted by Kate W on Tuesday, June 26th, 2012
When I was a kid, we took a lot of family road trips. Much to my parents’ dismay I usually had my head buried in a book, completely oblivious to the majestic sights around me. I’ve driven past snowcapped mountains and desert plateaus without deigning to give them more than a passing glance; I was always more interested in the world inside my own head.
Now though, if I so much glance at an open book in the car, I won’t be able to see the scenery around me, because I’ll have my head in a barf bag. The older I get, the more motion sick I become. I prefer being the driver of the car now; even riding in the front passenger seat gets my stomach churning. I always take the aisle seat on a plane, just in case I need to bolt to the lavatory. Forget about boats, too; even before the sharks get me, I’ll keel over from dehydration from the total seasickness that overtakes me. It’s no surprise I suffered from hyperemesis during the entirety of my pregnancy; some studies suggest the two conditions may have the same underlying cause. Hyperemesis, incidentally, is one of the contributing factors behind my decision to only have one child.
Image From: Best-diving.org
Because I can’t live my life at a complete standstill, I’ve tried to come up with different ways to compensate for my ever-present queasiness in the face of motion. I don’t like to take anti-nausea meds too frequently; even the non-drowsy ones have me nodding off almost immediately. I have had luck with Sea Bands, which use pressure points to relieve nausea. Against my better judgment, I agreed to go on a nature cruise in Alaska and was surprised to have a nausea-free trip. In fact, I’d love to return as part of a Hero Project.
Image From: Facebook.com
I’ve also developed a real fondness for ginger. Ginger has many benefits. Regular consumption may help kill ovarian cancer cells and prevent colorectal cancer. It also helps people to fight off colds, and can provide some pain relief and increased mobility for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Most notable though, it has long been used to help ease nausea.
Image From: Coconutandquinoa.com
While I have been known to take ginger in supplement form, I have also developed a real culinary appreciation for it. It is a key ingredient in my favorite fried rice recipe and I’ve been known to use it to add an unexpected level of heat and dimension of flavor to a vegetarian chili. It’s also an ingredient in one of my favorite sodas. I won’t even call it a guilty pleasure; after all, the soda is all-natural and I’m totally indulging in it for medicinal purposes anyway!
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