Many people experience motion sickness or sea sickness, either during long car rides, boat rides, or when traveling by train or plane. This nausea can ruin an otherwise looked-forward-to experience. While medicine is still the most popular method to settle this feeling, some people turn to motion sickness bands to alleviate their nausea quickly and inexpensively. In determining how these devices work, one should understand what motion sickness is.
Motion sickness generally begins with a feeling of mild nausea. This feeling progresses and often becomes a stronger nausea accompanied by sweating and discomfort. Eventually, this will most likely result in vomiting. Why do these symptoms occur, though? You brain is, simply put, confused by the movement of the car, plane or boat. It is receiving conflicting messages from your body due to the strange patterns of motion of a pitching and rolling deck, or the movement of a fast-moving vehicle. Your brain can no longer pinpoint the spatial location of the affected body, and nausea, vertigo, and dizziness are results of this confusion.
Motion sickness bands are small devices that one wears on the wrist. The main component is positioned on the inside area of the wrist and works in one of two ways. One type works by stimulating a nerve called the Median Nerve with electricity. These electric signals can often be controlled to provide different levels of relief as necessary. This area of the inner wrist is an important location in acupuncture therapy, and is referred to as Pericardium 6. The electric signals given off by the device within the band tell the brain to resume or maintain the stomach’s normal movement and rhythm. In effect, the confused signals your brain is receiving from your normal senses are ignored and the device is sending an alternate message. Another, simpler type of wristband works by a simple plastic nub on the inside of the band which applies pressure to the Median Nerve. Such wristbands are meant to work on the principle of acupressure.
Motion sickness bands have been shown to be just as effective as certain medications which are used to combat motion sickness. They can be worn before the activity that will potentially cause motion sickness to prevent the effects, or during motion sickness to alleviate the nausea and disorientation. One appeal of these devices is the fact that they are drug-free and FDA-approved. They are relatively inexpensive and do not cause any side effects that may be associated with drugs that are used to relieve motion sickness.
Longtime sufferers of motion sickness may finally find relief in these devices now that they are being more publicized. The simpler type of wristbands can now be commonly found in airports, seaports, roadside rest stops and some train stations, as well as at general pharmacies. Those prone to motion sickness may want to bring them on trips to amusement parks, cable cars or other attractions that may cause vertigo, as they can be quickly and easily applied and are reusable.
Motion sickness bands, though imperfect, will likely to continue to evolve and improve. Someday, such a product may be able to eliminate motion sickness altogether.
