Naked Science Forum
General Science => General Science => Topic started by: Aeddan on 08/04/2021 00:08:54
-
I get travel sick. Its been year's of suffering & many failed attempts at finding a solution.
Found out ginger might help.
Took some ginger with me & I went on a bus from south Wales to north Wales. With all the hills in Wales this is a nightmare journey full of up's down's & side to sides ,with the occasional bus driver who drives like they have a death wish.
Ate some ginger & there was no signs of travel sickness at all ! I even went to get an ice cream while changing buses.
I find it incredible that eating a piece of ginger the size of a coin is powerful enough to prevent/cure feeling so well!
HOW is this possible?
Dose it help with hangovers? Why is ginger not in every beer i have ever drank ?
-
Ginger is known to calm the stomach. Somebody with a better biological background might better be able to explain how it does this.
Ginger ale (soda flavored with real ginger) and ginger tea also help with motion sickness and general stomach flu symptoms.
I've never heard of it being particularly effective against a hangover, which typically hits you in the head and not so much the gut.
-
Travel sickness is as much in the mind, eyes and ears as it is in the gut.
- The placebo effect has a powerful impact on the mind
- So almost anything can improve travel sickness, if you believe it will.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placebo
Dealing with the eyes, I know people who get carsick in the rear seat, but not in the front seat.
- In the front seat, they can see the road ahead, and expect the turns coming up.
- And it's also a matter of control - if they are controlling the steering wheel, they don't feel carsick
Another technique, available to military pilots: Turn up the oxygen to 100%.
When preparing for an ocean trip, we were advised: We have seasick tablets - we have herbal tablets, and we have the ones that work!
- But it's best to take them an hour or so before you start the trip..
-
The problem seems to be associated with a disconnect between visual information and the orientation data coming from your semicircular canals, which respond much more slowly and can even get "stuck" in a high-g manouver so you think you are still turning/climbing or whatever when the car/plane recovers to straight and level.
Acute poisoning can produce the same effect, apparently interfering with either or both perceptual systems, so the stomach reacts autonomically to void its contents - hence the vomiting drunk.
Taking control certainly helps as the conscious brain anticipates the next acceleration or, on a boat, tries to offset it, and overrides the autonomic response.
Ancient Chinese sailors discovered the value of ginger and whilst I'm quite happy throwing a car or plane around the place, I never go sailing without ginger biscuits - even though I don't understand the biochemistry.
On a long sea passage the brain seems to learn the fundamental roll frequency of the boat, so you gradually get better at standing on the deck, but the rolling sensation can persist for a day or so on land - very odd!
-
Travel sickness is as much in the mind,
I would be very happy if that was the case for me. I have become convinced nothing works.
Yet ginger is a dream come true.
I am wondering if it simply just overpowers all the senses. When I chew it all my focus is on my tongue.
That said the effects seem to be long lasting.
Dose anybody know why it works?
-
Dose anybody know why it works?
Gingerols is the effective ingredient, and science isn't settled on gingerols' effect the digestive system, but possibly works through obstruction of the gut's serotonin receptors responsible for one's feelings of nausea. It's been suggested that gingerols promote the release of enzymes that help with food breakdown.
-
Hey,
i've suffered quite a long time from travel sickness too, but ever since I am driving myself it got better. Anyways - I've read a lot that ginger is commonly used as treatment for an upset stomach and nausea. Since travel sickness does upset the stomache (or at least in my case it did) this may be an explanation as to why you feel better. Further its aiding digestion and saliva flow. Both seems to be helpful when having an upset stomach.
I hope this may help!
Greetings