How to travel trouble-free

How to beat travel sickness
Various drugs are available for travel sickness but they all need to be taken before the journey. Some are available over-the-counter and others need a prescription. Some may cause drowsiness and you should note the risk of driving after taking these drugs.Some also interact with alcohol and other medication.

• Hyoscine (Kwells, Junior Kwells) is the most effective of these drugs and is available over-the-counter in tablet form, plus soluble tablets for children. It is also available in patch form that you can stick on to your skin prior to travelling and its effect lasts up to 72 hours. It should not be taken if you suffer from glaucoma, and can occasionally cause drowsiness, visual disturbance and a dry mouth.
• Antihistamine drugs (Stugeron, Sea-Legs) are also sold for travel sickness.
• If you are wary of the side effects from medication or you only have a mild problem, you could try an elastic acupressure wristband. This is worn on each wrist like a watch or sweatband and applies constant pressure to the P6 meridian point on each wrist. The manufacturers claim it is effective in preventing the symptoms of travel sickness, although no controlled trials have been reported.
• There is some evidence that foods such as ginger have a beneficial effect on motion sickness, though this is more likely to be from an effect on the gastro-intestinal tract than the balance mechanism.
• Choose the right seat: always travel where your eyes will see the same motion that your inner ears and body will experience. For example, go on deck when travelling by boat. Choose a seat in an aeroplane over the wings, where the motion is less, and by a window so you can see the direction of travel. Sit in the front of the car and do not read - even map-reading can precipitate an attack. If you are going on a cruise and are prone to seasickness choose your season of travel and geographical location with care. Bigger is definitely better when it comes to ships. Do not lie in your cabin but find a chair on deck in the fresh air.
• If you are suffering from an attack of motion sickness, try to have a break in your journey for a while to let your system adjust.
• Only eat light meals, avoiding spicy or fatty food.