What should you eat to relieve discomfort when experiencing motion sickness?
Jul 30, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, when experiencing motion sickness, you can consume foods such as lemon, mint gum, soda crackers, ginger slices, and locust honey water, and take medications as directed by a physician to relieve discomfort, including diphenhydramine tablets, dimenhydrinate sublingual tablets, scopolamine transdermal patches, chlorpromazine hydrochloride tablets, and metoclopramide tablets. Before traveling by vehicle, avoid eating too much or being overly hungry; it is advisable to eat light and easily digestible foods.
Generally, when experiencing motion sickness, you can eat foods such as lemon, mint gum, soda crackers, ginger slices, and locust honey water. Additionally, medications such as diphenhydramine tablets, dimenhydrinate chewable tablets, scopolamine patches, chlorpromazine hydrochloride tablets, and metoclopramide tablets can be taken under a doctor's guidance to relieve discomfort. The details are as follows:
I. Foods
1. Lemon: Lemons are rich in citric acid, which can stimulate the secretion of saliva and gastric juice, promoting gastrointestinal motility and effectively relieving symptoms such as nausea and vomiting during motion sickness. Its fresh aroma can also soothe the nervous system. Lemon slices can be taken sublingually before boarding or inhaling the scent of lemon peel to help reduce discomfort caused by motion sickness.
2. Mint Gum: The volatile components in mint gum, such as menthol, have a cool and aromatic effect. Chewing mint gum can stimulate the nerves, refresh the mind, and effectively relieve dizziness and nausea caused by motion sickness. Its convenience makes it suitable for use anytime during travel, continuously releasing mint aroma to improve discomfort.
3. Soda Crackers: Soda crackers are alkaline foods that can neutralize stomach acid and relieve symptoms such as acid reflux and nausea caused by motion sickness. The dry texture of the crackers can reduce oral discomfort and provide a certain feeling of fullness to the stomach. Eating them before boarding can help regulate the body's condition in advance.
4. Ginger Slices: Ginger contains components such as gingerol and shogaol, which have antiemetic, anti-inflammatory, and gastrointestinal antispasmodic effects. Before boarding, take fresh ginger slices and place them under the tongue. The pungent and stimulating effect can effectively suppress the feeling of nausea during motion sickness, making it a natural remedy for motion sickness.
5. Locust Honey Water: Locust honey is rich in glucose and fructose, which can quickly replenish energy consumed due to motion sickness discomfort. At the same time, locust honey has a mild calming effect. When mixed with warm water, it can soothe the gastrointestinal tract and relieve emotional discomfort, effectively reducing the unpleasant sensations caused by motion sickness.
II. Medications
1. Diphenhydramine Tablets: Diphenhydramine tablets are classic oral antihistamine medications. After oral administration, they can block histamine receptors, inhibit central nervous system excitation, reduce the sensitivity of the vestibular system, and alleviate symptoms such as dizziness and nausea caused by motion sickness. They are usually taken half an hour to one hour before boarding to allow the medication to take effect in advance.
2. Dimenhydrinate Chewable Tablets: Dimenhydrinate chewable tablets are a combination of diphenhydramine and aminophylline. Administered sublingually, the medication is slowly released in the mouth, providing both antihistamine effects and central nervous system suppression. It effectively inhibits vestibular nerve excitation and reduces abnormal gastrointestinal motility, preventing and relieving symptoms of motion sickness.
3. Scopolamine Patch: The scopolamine patch is a topical formulation. When used, the patch is applied to a hairless area behind the ear, allowing the medication to be slowly absorbed through the skin into the body. It blocks acetylcholine receptors and inhibits vestibular nucleus activity. Its effect lasts for a long time, effectively reducing dizziness and vomiting caused by motion sickness.
4. Chlorpromazine Hydrochloride Tablets: Chlorpromazine hydrochloride tablets can regulate central nervous system neurotransmitters. After oral administration, they inhibit the vomiting center and improve the body's stress response during travel, relieving nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness. Dosage must strictly follow medical instructions. An appropriate dose should be taken before boarding to reduce discomfort.
5. Metoclopramide Tablets: Metoclopramide tablets act rapidly on the gastrointestinal tract, enhancing gastric motility, promoting gastric emptying, and regulating gastrointestinal motility rhythms. They quickly relieve gastrointestinal discomfort and nausea caused by motion sickness and are especially suitable for emergency treatment in cases of severe motion sickness symptoms.
Before boarding, avoid eating too much or traveling on an empty stomach; opt for light and easily digestible foods. During the trip, keep your head stable and minimize head movement, and focus on distant fixed scenery outside the window. When using medications to relieve motion sickness, strictly follow medical instructions, learn about potential side effects in advance, and seek medical attention promptly if adverse reactions occur. When choosing food to relieve discomfort, prepare portable options in advance for easy consumption during travel.
