Imagine a cruise or a boat trip on a hot summer day – just the thought of this can brighten your mood!
Going away on a trip to escape from all the hustles for a day or two is a great idea. But an appealing trip can lose all its fun due to seasickness. [1]
Don’t get sad because we have good news for you!
You can use essential oils to treat your seasickness along with the symptoms accompanied by it. [2]
What is Seasickness?
Seasickness is a form of motion sickness.
So what is motion sickness? Motion sickness is feeling sick due to the motion of vehicles. [3]
When your ear senses the fact that your body is moving due to the moving vehicle, but the others parts are not, you start to feel dizzy and nauseous – this is what motion sickness is. [4]
The same goes for seasickness. In the case of seasickness, the moving vehicle is a ship or a boat.
The symptoms accompanied by seasickness are:
- Dizziness
- Feeling nauseous
- Feeling lightheaded
- Vomiting
- A headache
- Rapid breathing and sudden sweating
- Stomach discomfort
- Lack of balance
Seasickness is not a rare thing. Most of us feel seasick at least once in our life.
Even the young sailors have to go through some trials to win over this sickness.
Also Read: Nausea After Eating: Reasons And Remedies
Luckily, we have some essential oils that are effective in treating seasickness.
Following is a list of essential oils that you can use.
1. Ginger Essential Oil
Ginger is certainly one of the most used spices of the world. The root of the plant is the source of ginger essential oil. [5]
The oil is very effective in treating seasickness.
Two significant seasickness symptoms are nausea and vomiting. Research shows that ginger essential oil can successfully treat these two problems.
The carminative properties of this oil help to relieve intestinal gas. [6]
Ginger essential oil also stimulates your nervous system.
It has digestive and tonic properties that help with the proper digestion and prevent nausea or vomiting. [7]
Also Read: 10 Health Benefits of Ginger Oil That You Should Know About
2. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender essential oil is one of the most famous oils in the world of aromatherapy.
The delightful sweet smell of the oil can calm your mind at any time.
Since seasickness is a game of minds, lavender essential oil successfully takes its place as an ailment here. [8]
The oil is especially helpful in treating nausea and vomiting as it helps both your muscles and mind to relax.
Its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties help to reduce other problems which include stomach discomfort and other digestive issues. [9]
Also read: 11 Health Benefits of Lavender Oil That You Should Know
4. Cardamom Essential Oil
Cardamom is quite an impressive spice. Though the essential oil is not that famous, it had its contribution in many important situations. [10]
The spicy aroma of cardamom essential oil makes it a great inhaler to treat your seasickness.
It calms the nervous systems and fights the urge of nausea and vomiting. [11]
The oil also soothes stomach pain and checks digestion problems.
People who have asthma or epilepsy must consult a doctor before using cardamom essential oil. Same goes for them with kidney stones. If you are on any medication, it is wise to talk to your doctor beforehand.
5. Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint essential oil is an amazing element for treating many health problems. Its minty fragrance can soothe the nerves. [12]
Peppermint is a hybrid mint which is a cross between spearmint and water mint.
The oil is the extraction of peppermint leaves and has strong antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and antifungal properties. All these properties can come handy in treating seasickness. [13, 14]
One of the key elements of peppermint oil is menthol which inhibits nausea and vomiting. [15]
It helps with respiratory issues and deals with headaches and stomach aches as well.
You can also make peppermint oil at home. For this, you need to chop and crush some peppermint leaves and seal them in a jar mixed with some olive oil.
Then you need to add some more leaves and oil the next day and repeat the same for five days. Now you have your homemade peppermint essential oil.
Also Read: 8 Reasons to Use Peppermint Oil for Hair
6. Fennel Essential Oil
You can also use fennel essential oil for seasickness.
The oil has many health benefits that include its usefulness in treating nausea, vomiting, and digestive problems as well. [16]
The strong licorice aroma of fennel essential oil has its calming effect on the mind.
The oil combats dizziness which eventually reduces the risk of vomiting or feeling nauseous. [17]
Fennel essential oil also works in your digestive issues and cures the loss of appetite. The oil also relieves gas and heartburn and reduces your discomfort. [18]
Methods of Using Essential Oils for Seasickness
You can use essential oils in a few ways.
- Inhaler
You can make a blend by mixing your favorite essential oils and store it in a glass bottle.
Take a few drops on a cotton ball or an inhaler fabric and inhale when necessary.
- Massage Oil
You can also use essential oils to massage on your certain areas to treat seasickness.
For this, you need to take a few drops of the essential oil of your choice and dilute with a good carrier oil.
Rub this blend on your neck, shoulder, wrists and your stomach area.
- Roller Blend
You can make a roller blend by mixing your choice of essential oils. Here’s a recipe:
Dilute eight drops of ginger essential oil and five drops of cardamom and peppermint essential oil each with one oz of sweet almond oil.
You need to mix then we’ll and pour it into a roller bottle. You can apply the blend to your stomach area, nostrils, and temples when you feel seasick.
Also Read: 14 Essential Oils For Your Bruises Plus How To Use Them
Tips and Precautions
- Apply a little amount of oil on a smaller portion of your skin first to check for allergies or irritation.
- Don’t apply undiluted potent oil to your bare skin.
- Be careful when using any of the above remedies for children.
- Keep the bottles of essential oils, roller bottles or nasal sprays away from children.
- Try to stand or sit in open places from where you can see the horizon while on a trip.
- Avoid heavy meals and too much alcohol and caffeine before going on a trip.
- Also, avoid sweets till you start feeling better.
Bottom Line
To see water glittering under the sunlight is beautiful scenery. Let not seasickness ruin the beauty of it.
To fight off seasickness and to let yourself enjoy the water, all you need to do is to do some extra preparations before going on a trip.
Pack your necessary essential oils along with cotton balls, spray bottles or other essentials and you are all set for the water trip!
Hope this article was helpful. For any questions, leave a comment on our comments section below.
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