Homeopathic medicine, treatment and remedies for Motion sickness

Although conventional medicines are used to treat motion sickness, many of them are known to have drowsiness as an unwanted side effect. On the other hand, homeopathic treatment helps in the management of motion sickness and prevents further recurrences without causing undesirable side effects. Thus, homeopathic remedies for motion sickness improve the overall quality of life. They stimulate and strengthen the immune system of the body to deal with motion sickness. Homeopathic medicines can be safely given to children and adults as they are made from natural sources. Moreover, these remedies are easy to administer in children as they are usually dispensed as sweet pellets or liquid drops. The correct remedy, selected based on the individual characteristics of the patient, can effectively treat motion sickness.

In a research study done in Belgium, 30 patients with motion sickness were given individualised homeopathic treatment for a period of about two months. All the patients were reviewed every 15 days or as needed. At the end of the study, 90% of the patients showed improvement in symptoms. 

However, more studies are still needed to better understand the benefits of homeopathic treatment for motion sickness.

The following are some of the homeopathic remedies for morning sickness:

• Cocculus Indicus
  Common Name: Indian cockle
  Symptoms: Patients who benefit from cocculus tend to be fickle-minded and absorbed in daydreaming. They have a feeling that their time is passing too quickly. These patients have the following symptoms:
  • Vertigo
  • Slow at understanding things
  • Feeling of emptiness
  • Nausea when riding or sitting up
  • Headache that worsens by lying on the back of the head
  • Dizziness and vomiting
  • Dislike for food and drink
  • Metallic taste in the mouth
  • Chilliness with sweating

Symptoms worsen in the afternoon, from eating, due to loss of sleep, in open air, during menstruation and due to emotional disturbance.

• Ipecacuanha
  Common Name: Ipecac-root
  Symptoms: This remedy is especially indicated for fat children and adults, who are weak and tend to catch cold in warm moist weather. Ipecac helps in the management of the following symptoms:
  • Irritability
  • A sensation as if the skull bones are being bruised or crushed
  • Vomiting food, bile, blood and mucus
  • Headache extending to teeth and root of the tongue
  • Moist mouth with excessive salivation
  • Persistent nausea and vomiting with paleness of face and twitching of muscles

Symptoms worsen periodically, on lying down, and on exposure to moist warm wind.

• Kalium Bichromicum
  Common Name: Bichromate of potash
  Symptoms: Bichromate of potash helps relieve the following symptoms:
  • Headache above eyebrows
  • Weakness
  • Vertigo with nausea when rising from seat
  • Soreness in bones of head and scalp
  • Aching in the bony areas of face and small spots on the head
  • Loss of smell and violent sneezing
  • Dry and sticky saliva
  • Craving for beer and acidic food
  • Bright yellow vomit

Symptoms worsen in the morning, on having beer, and in hot weather while they get better with heat.

• Nux Vomica
  Common Name: Poison-nut
  Symptoms: Individuals who respond to nux vomica have the following symptoms:
  • Extremely irritable
  • Resentful and finding faults
  • pain at the back of the head over eyes
  • Vertigo with a brief loss of consciousness
  • Headache in the sunshine
  • Inability to bear stimuli such as noises, odours and light
  • Nausea and vomiting with retching
  • Sour, bitter burping
  • Desire for fatty foods and stimulants
  • Difficulty with burping
  • Ineffectual attempts to vomit

Symptoms worsen in the morning, on touching the affected area, after eating, and in dry and cold weather. Symptoms improve with a nap, in wet and damp weather, and while at rest.

• Petroleum
  Common Name: Crude rock-oil
  Symptoms: Petroleum is an effective remedy suited to individuals with the following symptoms:
  • Heaviness at the back of head
  • Vertigo on getting up
  • Headache that is relieved by holding temples and worsened by shaking while coughing
  • Low-spirited with dimness of eyesight
  • Hot, sharp and sour burping
  • Pain in stomach
  • Aversion to fatty foods and meat, worsens by eating cabbage
  • Nausea with excessive salivation
  • Extremely hungry
  • Pain and stiffness in the nape of neck Read more: Neck pain causes

Symptoms worsen on eating, in damp weather, before and during a thunderstorm, and in winter. Symptoms improve in warm air, dry weather, on lying with head high.

• Rhus Toxicodendron
  Common Name: Poison-ivy
  Symptoms: Rhus tox is a remedy used in patients with the following symptoms:
  • A sensation of heaviness in head
  • Extremely restlessness
  • Vertigo on getting up
  • Delirium with a constant fear of being poisoned
  • Cloudy senses
  • Extreme anxiety at night, cannot remain in bed
  • Feeling of brain being struck against skull on walking or rising
  • Pain at the back of the head
  • Sadness and thoughts of suicide
  • Craving for milk
  • Pain in the forehead that spreads to the back
  • Loss of appetite with an unquenchable thirst
  • Nausea, vertigo and bloating after eating
  • Dryness in mouth and throat
  • Trembling and palpitation when sitting still

Symptoms worsen at night, in cold and rainy weather, during rest, and when lying on the back or right side. Symptoms improve in warm weather, on walking, stretching limbs and with warm applications.

• Sepia Officinalis
  Common Name: Inky juice of cuttlefish
  Symptoms: Individuals who benefit from this remedy tend to be irritable and offended easily, they are averse to their family and occupation and are afraid of being alone. They experience the following symptoms:
  • Sensitiveness of hair roots
  • Nausea at the smell or sight of food
  • Stinging pain in head with nausea and vomiting that worsens when lying on the painful side
  • Thick and greenish discharge from nose
  • Craving acidic foods, vinegar, and pickles
  • Feeling of emptiness in stomach, which is not relieved by eating
  • Food tasting too salty
  • Nausea in the morning before eating
  • Bloating of abdomen with sour burping
  • Restlessness in limbs

Symptoms worsen in daytime and evening, on doing laundry work, after sweating, and before a thunderstorm. Symptoms become better after sleeping, exercising, in the warmth of the bed, and with hot applications.

• Tabacum
  Common Name: Tobacco
  Symptoms: Tabacum is a remedy that is indicated when an individual shows the following symptoms:
  • Vertigo on opening eyes
  • Sudden pain in head as if hit by a hammer
  • Periodic headache that feels like a tight band around head with nausea 
  • Persistent nausea that worsens with the smell of tobacco 
  • A sinking feeling at the pit of the stomach
  • Vomiting on even a bit of movement
  • Increase in secretions from eyes, nose and mouth
  • Excessively cold legs and hands
  • Chilliness with cold sweat

Symptoms worsen in the evening, on opening eyes, and in extremes of heat and cold. The patient feels better in fresh open air.

Homeopathic remedies are prescribed in very minute doses, and hence precautions must be taken to preserve the efficacy of these medicines by being aware of the factors that affect their action. Along with the medicines, homeopathic doctors suggest the following dietary and lifestyle changes to patients:

Do’s:

• Engage in active movement in fresh air every day. 
• Take light, healthy and nutritious foods and beverages before travelling.
• Keep yourself hydrated by increasing the intake of water. Read more: How much water to drink in a day
• Keep your windows open to breathe in fresh air. 

Don’ts: 

• Avoid strong beverages like coffee, herbal teas, spiced drinks and all kinds of punch.
• Avoid eating highly spiced food, cold foods, spoilt meat or cheese, onion, celery and foods that have medicinal properties.
• Avoid staying in unclean, damp and humid rooms.
• Refrain from using excess sugar and salt in the diet.
• Avoid using strong perfumes or deodorants.
• Avoid things that can cause anger, grief and overexertion to the body and mind. 

Homeopathic remedies are extremely diluted preparations that are made from natural substances. Hence, they are safe to use and do not have any side effects. However, the choice of these medicines and their dosages are dependent on the symptoms shown by the patient. Thus, it is essential to seek the advice of a registered homeopathic doctor before taking these medicines.

Motion sickness is a common problem characterised by a sensation of discomfort due to certain repeated movements, such as while travelling in a car, bus, train or boat. Children, pregnant women and people taking certain medications or having migraines are especially vulnerable to motion sickness. The condition is conventionally treated with medications and remedies like chewing gum.

Homeopathy is safe and effective in eliminating motion sickness without any notable side effects. It can also be taken along with conventional medicines. A thorough case history of the person helps the homeopathic physician select the correct remedy. So, it is best not to take any remedy on your own.