11.Feeling bad in the air 4 – Flight problems

Herbs for airsickness
Many studies have indicated that ginger appears to be more effective than a placebo in reducing the adverse effects of motion sickness. For example, in one study, a group who were given ginger extract reported significant reduction in nausea, vomiting and cold sweating when compared with the control group who were taking a placebo.

However, other studies have indicated that ginger may not be as effective as some experts suggest, so further study is obviously necessary.

Nevertheless, of the herbal remedies that have been put forward for dealing with airsickness, there is some evidence that ginger is the most effective, and therefore dosing yourself up with ginger capsules before and during your flight might help to reduce the severity of your problem if it does not get rid of it completely.

A combination of peppermint and black horehound has been used by some herbalists as an effective method of treating nausea, so whilst it is not specifically used as a treatment for motion sickness, it can certainly offset some of the worst effects of being sick on the plane.

Acupuncture and acupressure
Several studies have indicated that both acupressure and acupuncture can help to reduce the nausea and vomiting that is usually associated with air sickness.
Obviously, if acupuncture is the way you want to deal with your problem, you would do so before flying, whereas using an acupressure band is something that you can do throughout your flight.

For this reason, it makes considerably more sense to consider using an acupressure band than it does to resort to more traditional acupuncture particularly as there seems to be little or no difference between the two in terms of effectiveness.

The acupressure band works by putting pressure on the acupuncture point known as the Pericardium 6 which is usually the one that is most commonly associated with nausea. This acupuncture point is located on the inside of the wrist, approximately half an inch to one inch above the central crease on your wrist. Thus, by applying pressure to this particular point on your wrist, the acupressure band can significantly reduce the level of nausea that you feel every time you fly.

Breathing and relaxing works again…
In the same way that learning deep breathing techniques can help people overcome their fear of flying, studies indicate that people who suffer airsickness might significantly reduce the chances of doing so by forcing themselves to breathe deeply and slowly whilst sat in their seat.

Similarly, practicing progressive relaxation can be a big help too, not least because of the fact that for most people who suffer from airsickness, their problem is that least as much a psychological one as it is a physical condition.

As anyone who has ever suffered regular motion sickness will tell you, they almost always think themselves into a situation where they suffer because as soon as they get on the plane, they can think of nothing else but being sick.

Consequently, it quickly becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, meaning that if you recognize yourself in this situation, you have to do something to break the cycle of mentally making yourself sick.

Focusing your thoughts on breathing deeply or on carrying out a program of deep progressive relaxation will take your mind off your susceptibility to airsickness.

Thus, even if it does little for you physically, just the fact that it allows you to think about something other than being ill could be enough to help you overcome your problem.