sea sickness cure

smeaks

smeaks

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At last I got my sultry teenager to join me for an afternoons sail. We cast off and got up the sails and left the river and enjoyed an hour or twosailing directly offshore into a steady easterly sea breeze, the problem was that there was a pretty big swell running from the NE today and the growing breeze drove it a little giving us an exhilerating ride. problem was he went quiet.... very quiet and then green and then very green... i prudently turned around and headed home not wanting to mar his rare day out with me...

Ok heres my question.. if on the very slim chance i persuaded him to come again what it considered the best medication to take in order to avoid sea sickness.... I know the physical ways to avoid it but hes a teenage lad and cant/wont be told (remember those years?) so i am hoping you chemists out there might have a secret or two!!!

thanks

smeaks
 
Stugeron - I think it's over-the-counter. Makes some people drowsy.
Stemotab - I think it's prescription only. Makes some people drowsy.
A wrist band - I've no experience of these at all, but apparently work for some.
Stay on deck, keep an eye on the horizon so the brain knows which way is up.
Go down below, lie down and sleep.
Ginger biscuits and tea.
Sit under an oak tree - the only certain cure I know.

I used to be affected when in my teens, but rarely now. Going below in a swell to do anything other than sleep will set me off, and going back on deck it takes about 30mins to get back to feeling ok. It's lousy to be a sufferer. Strangely, if it is really very rough weather, being on deck and enjoying the sleigh ride is not a problem.
 
Them patches are pretty good - scopolamine or similar; put them on early and they last for a few days. The old hocus pocus placebo effect might work: wrist bands or those pulsing watch gadgets. Glad to hear you turned back and don't want to turn the ankle biter off.
 
[ QUOTE ]
so i am hoping you chemists

[/ QUOTE ] Probably need the advice of a Pharmacist.

Both my two and SWMBO suffer from travel sickness. I have used Stugeron but I don't like the side effects. SWMBO seems OK with them. The other two wont take tablets!

We have all found the wrist bands help.

BUT I notice Force 4 now have a different version of the electronic device about £40 cheaper than the previous on. That might be worth a try and a report back would be welcome I am sure.

<span style="color:white"> .................................................... </span> See here
 
Give him the bloody tiller to hold - very early on, before he goes quiet & green. It will take his mind off being bored/ frightened/ cold/ hungry or whatever else has triggered the attack. It will force him to focus on the horizon rather than looking at his boots to avoid eye contact.

It can also help if you go below to put the kettle on/ check the charts or whatever, showing that you have confidence in his ability to helm. (even if you haven't - it's about building his confidence and eliminating his anxiety).

I works for my Daughter-in-law who had never been on a boat until she met no1 son. Didn't work for son-in-law as he wouldn't take the wheel because he is a poor swimmer and is frightened of deep water.
 
A spliff will do and actually attract him to sailing.
C&E might not be amused, though.
It works as it affects the same area in your brain.
Sail to Holland.
;-)
cheers
chris
 
The patches are Scopoderm. They used to be available otc @ pharmacists but now seem to be prescription only, but my local GP was OK with prescribing them for family members with a past history of sea sickness. They are a prophylactic so need to be put on well before the trip and imo not worth the hassle unless you are going to do at least a day's sailing, but they do work pretty well. Also second (or third?) ginger biscuits- esp the ones with actual bits of crystalised ginger in!
 
The cause of motion sickness is a conflict between what the eyes see, and what the body feels, in terms of movement. Not everyone is affected, and a few percent are affected to an incurable degree. It is likely that motion sickness is an evolutionary defence mechanism against the ingestion of poisons - think of those teen-age years when too much beer created dizziness . . . and a defensive vomit . . .

The prime cure is exposure (back to that beer analogy!). It is likely that wrist bands and other mechanical aids gain their advocates this way - 'went out, felt sick, bought a wrist band, next time no problem!'.

Drug aids (patches and pills, many mentioned above, mostly ant-histamines) work by partially closing down the brain so that the conflicts have less effect. The side effects are that part of your brain is closed down . . . the ratio between cure and shut-down varies between drugs and people, so finding the optimum drug for you takes time. Meanwhile, everyone who finds one that works for him, says that his cure is the right one . . .

So you'll receive conflicting advice.

But understanding helps. You can reduce visual/motion conflicts by closing the eyes (when below); or by ensuring that the horizon is fully visible (don't hide inside the spray hood!). Many similar strategies have been mentioned above.

And the best start for a novice is for them to gain a feel for the fun of sailing first (keeping to flat water) until they're hooked, and only then exposing them to rougher weather. At that stage they may well be prepared to accept occasional discomfort - or take the medicine - to keep their interest in the sport. Hence the popularity of flotilla holidays in flat water areas - like the Inland Ionian.
 
From first hand experience and at least two people in my direct surroundings I can tell the seasickness watch

http://www.force4.co.uk/ProductDetails/m...ed-e3165d14fe93

works quite well. I was very much doubting the thing, but being sensitive to motion sickness myself I can say it does work. It's a little uncomfortable to use, but much better then feeling nauseous, that's for sure.

I actually bought the thing in the USA
http://www.aeromedix.com/product-exec/pr...ief#productINFO

as it's a little cheaper there.

Cheers,

Arno
 
Ginger biscuits, tried them on loads of people with great results, no idea why they work /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
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