How to Cure Car Sickness

Car sickness can make you dread every long journey. Car sickness is a type of motion sickness that many people suffer from. It is especially prevalent in children between the ages of 2 and 12, pregnant women, and those suffering from migraines, vestibular disorders or psychosocial factors.[1] Motion sickness is caused when the brain receives conflicting messages. These are called "motion messages", which comes from the eyes and your inner ear. The inner ear says that you're spinning, twirling, and moving. Your eyes say that your body is stationary. The brain is confused and that's what makes us sick.[2]

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Changing Your Position and Behaviour in the Car

  1. Image titled Cure Car Sickness Step 5
    1
    Sit still. There are a number of small things that you can do to help relieve car sickness. Try to stay still in your seat. Lean your head back against the seat to stop it moving around. You can use a pillow or a head rest if you have one. The more still you can keep your head the better.[3]
    • If you can sit in the front of the car, do it.
    • Avoid a seat that faces backwards.
  2. Image titled Cure Car Sickness Step 6
    2
    Fix your gaze. To try to cope with motion sickness it's good to fix your gaze on a stable object. Try just staring out of your window at the horizon, or even just closing your eyes for a while. Don't read or play games, as this will most likely make your symptoms worse.[4]
    Advertisement
  3. Image titled Cure Car Sickness Step 7
    3
    Open a window. Having a good flow of ventilation in the car may help to relieve the symptoms of car sickness. Keeping a window open will also help you to ensure the air remains free of particularly strong odours[5]
    • A supply of fresh air will also stop you getting too hot in the car.
    • Air on your face can be refreshing.
  4. Image titled Cure Car Sickness Step 8
    4
    Make frequent stops. Plan enough time to stop and let everyone have a few minutes outside to walk around and get plenty of fresh air. Breaking up the journey for a few minutes to drink some cold water and take a brief walk can relieve the symptoms of car sickness[6]
  5. Image titled Cure Car Sickness Step 9
    5
    Try to relax. When in the car it's important to try not to get too anxious. Stay calm and try not to think about being carsick. You are more likely to get carsick if you are thinking about it all the time.[7]
    • Distract yourself by listening to music.
    • If you can drift off to sleep, this is one sure-fire way to avoid car sickness.
    6. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Trying Non-medical Remedies for Car Sickness

  1. Image titled Cure Car Sickness Step 1
    1
    Try an acupressure wristband. Acupressure bands are worn around the wrists and apply pressure to a point between the two tendons on the inside of your wrist. This method is based on traditional Chinese medicine and has been reported as effective against motion sickness.
    • These bands are easily available in drug stores and pharmacies.
    • Despite the anecdotal evidence, there is little scientific evidence which shows that they are an effective treatment.[8]
  2. Image titled Cure Car Sickness Step 2
    2
    Settle the stomach with a light meal. A child can feel better if they eat a dry saltine cracker. An empty stomach is not best for avoiding motion sickness. Just eat a light meal before travelling. Small bland snacks are best for when you are on the road.[9]
  3. Image titled Cure Car Sickness Step 3
    3
    Avoid fat and grease. Fatty and greasy foods will make it more likely that you will experience nausea. This is to be avoided when you are facing a long car ride. Avoid big heavy meals before and while travelling.
    • Spicy food is also best avoided.
    • Drinking alcohol before travelling can also heighten nausea.
  4. Image titled Cure Car Sickness Step 4
    4
    Try some ginger. Ginger products and supplements may help prevent the symptoms of motion sickness. There is little scientific evidence to prove its effectiveness, but ginger has long been used to treat nausea.[10]
    • You can take ginger tablets, or capsules.
    • You can try drinking ginger beer or ginger tea.
    • Before taking ginger supplements, check they won't affect any other medication you're taking.
    5. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Taking Medical Treatments for Car Sickness

  1. Image titled Cure Car Sickness Step 10
    1
    Consider visiting your doctor. If you suffer from acute car sickness, there are some drugs that your doctor can prescribe for you. Go to see them and explain your symptoms. If you travel a lot, your doctor may encourage you to learn how to control your symptoms without medication.
    • Many drugs are available over the counter, so you can talk to your pharmacist before seeing your doctor.
  2. Image titled Cure Car Sickness Step 11
    2
    Try anti-motion sickness tablets. There are a number of drugs available that counter motion sickness. These can have considerable side effects and shouldn't be taken by anybody who will be driving. Many of these are available over the counter. Your doctor or pharmacist might suggest:
    • Promethazine (Phenergan) comes in tablets that should be taken two hours before travelling, the effects of which will last 6-8 hours.
    • Cyclizine (Marezine) is not recommended for children younger than 6. It should be taken at least 30 minutes before travel.
    • Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) should be taken every 4 - 8 hours.
    • Meclizine (Bonine) is not recommended for children under 12, and should be taken an hour before travel.
  3. Image titled Cure Car Sickness Step 12
    3
    Try Scopolamine (Hyoscine) patches. These patches are commonly used to treat motion sickness. They are available over the counter from pharmacies and are best used for long journeys, for example at sea. You can apply a patch behind your ear and it will work for up to 72 hours before you need to replace it.
    • Common side effects include drowsiness, blurred vision and dizziness.
    • These patches should be used with caution with children, the elderly, and those with epilepsy or a history of heart, liver or kidney problems.[11]
  4. Image titled Cure Car Sickness Step 13
    4
    Try antihistamines. Some people find that taking normal antihistamines can help control nausea and vomiting. They are less effective than the more specialised drugs, but may result in fewer side effects. They should be taken an hour or two before your journey.
    • Antihistamines can lead to drowsiness, but if you are a passenger on a long journey drowsiness could be a good thing.
    • Non-drowsy antihistamines don't appear to be effective.[12]
    5. Advertisement

Warnings

Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Throw up As Comfortably As PossibleHow to Throw up More Comfortably When You Are Sick
Cure Hangover Nausea
How to
Cure Hangover Nausea
Make an Oral Rehydration Salts Drink (ORS)
How to
Make an Oral Rehydration Salts Drink (ORS)
Get Rid of Nausea FastWhat Helps with Nausea? 15+ Expert Strategies
Stop VomitingHow to Stop Throwing Up: Home Remedies & Medications
Overcome Nausea at Night
How to
Overcome Nausea at Night
Induce Vomiting
How to
Induce Vomiting
Wear Sea Bands
How to
Wear Sea Bands
Avoid Throwing Up
How to
Avoid Throwing Up
Fight Nausea
How to
Fight Nausea
Alleviate Nausea from Medicine
How to
Alleviate Nausea from Medicine
Stop Nausea With Acupressure
How to
Stop Nausea With Acupressure
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3107725/
  2. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/science/motion-sickness
  3. ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/motion-sickness/Pages/Introduction.aspx
  4. ↑ https://www.onemedical.com/blog/get-well/motion-sickness-cures/
  5. ↑ https://patient.info/travel-and-vaccinations/health-advice-for-travel-abroad/motion-travel-sickness
  6. ↑ http://www.patient.info/health/motion-travel-sickness-leaflet
  7. ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/motion-sickness/Pages/Introduction.aspx
  8. ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/motion-sickness/Pages/Introduction.aspx
  9. ↑ https://patient.info/travel-and-vaccinations/health-advice-for-travel-abroad/motion-travel-sickness
  1. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12576305/
  2. ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/motion-sickness/Pages/Introduction.aspx
  3. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/12782-motion-sickness

About This Article

Chris M. Matsko, MD
Co-authored by:
Chris M. Matsko, MD
Family Medicine Physician
This article was co-authored by Chris M. Matsko, MD. Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017. This article has been viewed 140,751 times.
83 votes - 84%
Co-authors: 41
Updated: May 25, 2022
Views: 140,751
Categories: Nausea and Vomiting

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

Article SummaryX

To cure car sickness, try to be as still as possible and fix your gaze on a stable object to prevent dizziness. Keep the window open, and plan to make frequent stops so you can get out of the car and walk around for a few minutes. You can also take ginger supplements, over-the-counter motion sickness medications, or antihistamines to knock out unpleasant symptoms. Acupressure wristbands, which you can buy from drug stores, are also helpful for some people who experience car sickness. For tips on when to seek medical treatment, read on!

Did this summary help you?
Advertisement