It was perfectly planned: a beautiful summer day, the cutest little sailboat, a select group of friends, and the wide-open sea. A cool breeze blew through your hair as the boat cut across the water, but minutes later your head began to spin. Your stomach churned. As your friends looked on, you ran to the railing, leaned your head far over the edge and let nature (and that morning’s breakfast) take its course.

Motion sickness can ruin any trip—whether you’re traveling by boat, car, plane, or train. Conventional treatments vary and can come with risks. The commonly used drug scopolamine, for example, can in some cases lead to blurred vision, drowsiness, and dry mouth. For smoother sailing on your next adventure, try these natural motion sickness helpers.

“The best way to treat motion sickness is to prevent it,” says Dana Myatt, NMD. Before you embark on a trip, Myatt recommends getting a good night’s sleep so you feel your best and eating a low-fat, low-dairy, high-carbohydrate meal 24 hours before departure¾this type of meal will be less likely to come back up during a topsy-turvy ride. Once on board, Myatt advises finding the calmest location: A seat over a plane’s wing shakes less; the front seat of a car will prove much less sickening; and the open air of a ship’s upper deck will keep you fresh faced instead of green at the gills.

The natural anti-emetic ginger can prevent vomiting and nausea. Keith F. Zeitlin, ND, medical director of the 5 Elements Naturopathic Health Center in Wallingford, Connecticut, recommends taking concentrated ginger capsules (available in any natural products store) for the oft bumpy road, or drinking a tea made from fresh cuts of gingerroot steeped in hot water. “Even the fragrance helps fight nausea,” he says.

Zeitlin also suggests wearing motion sickness bands (wristbands that stimulate the P6 acupressure point, which is known to relieve nausea) and taking several homeopathic remedies, including Tabacum and Ipecac. And if all else fails, Myatt says to place an uncoated aspirin tablet in your belly button and use a Band-Aid to hold it in place. “I know it’s strange,” she says of the remedy, which is based on the trance-inspired health readings of the 20th century psychic Edgar Cayce. “But the feedback I’ve received has been very positive.” Just don’t let the Band-Aid get in the way of your suntan.

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Information presented is of a general nature for educational and informational purposes only. Statements about products and health conditions have not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Products and information presented herein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional.

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