I think everyone experiences that. I know I always have from when I was a little boy. After a day of sailing, my couch does a wonderful sway all evening long after I am home. Like our eyes have a phenomena called Persistence of Vision which allows us to see a film as fluid motion, I think our ears have Persistence of Motion
Actually, I'm not sure why we experience it but I bet Moe knows!!!! He knows everything (and I mean that seriously.)
Unfortunately, at this age, Moe has forgotten more than he knows, and this is one of those cases.
I do remember when I was a young deckhand on one of the party boats out of Destin, the first time we were out in the Gulf in a storm, the first mate told me if I started to feel sick to go in the head (away from the customers), shove the finger down the throat, empty my stomach, and I'd feel a lot better and be able to do my job. Worked for me, even when everyone else was pukin' so badly we had to use the firehoses to keep the deck clear.
These days, I make it a habit to try to keep my eyes on the horizon, and don't have a problem with it any more.
BTW, you know you're getting old when you get your first unsolicited yet personally addressed brochure from Cadillac. First they go after me with Led Zeppelin music, now this.
Ginger
Ginger is a natural preventative. It soothes a queasy stomach and has no side effects. You can get it in pill form, tablets or powder, as ginger root in many herb and health food stores, or as pickled ginger slices at Japanese food marts and even at many Japanese restaurants. Most serve it pickled with sushi, hand rolls, and other of their dishes. It puts out the fire that too much wasabe can start.
Some doctors recommend that you can take it 12-24 hours before, as preventing sea sickness is easier than curing it. Somewhere from 1 gram up to 4 grams per day of powdered ginger is recommended. Some studies seem to indicate that ginger is more effective in the reduction of vomiting and sweating than nausea and vertigo, although they reduce those symptoms as well. You can try gingersnap cookies and ginger ale, although their lower ginger content may not be as effective. They do work for many sailors though.
Peppermint
Eating peppermint in conjunction with ginger is reported by as being even more effective. Since mint does have some of the same calming qualities as ginger, this may be true. Perhaps it is just the belief that it works that is effective. Regardless, it is an inexpensive and pleasant addition. An added benefit is making your breath sweeter.
Accupressure
Another treatment is an accupressure wrist band. It applies pressure to a particular point on your wrist which can prevent the feeling of nausea.
Feet in ice water
Here's an interesting treatment that was found. It is a treatment that works on some after they are feeling queasy, rather than as a preventative. Immerse your feet in ice water. Anecdotal reports indicate it helps some people.
My family and I use a product called Motion Eaze. A few drops rubbed behind your ear and you feel better within a few minutes. It lasts for hours and no drowsiness. Just Google for it.
You only use a few drops each time so the bottle lasts a very long time. I haved tried Ginger, other products, etc. and this has been, by far, the most effective solution and no side effects.
gravol makes a non drowsy, chewable product thats mostly ginger extract. we've never needed it, but the charter company we use has recommended it to customers, say it works great
On a passenger/freighter in the Aegean the skipper said there was nothing like gin for seasickness. It must have worked, I don't remember getting sick... or much else.
I'm usually OK if I can see the horizon, but if I have to go below to use the head, it's a race to get back up before I barf.
In fog, I'm virtually always queasy.
I've eaten a lot of ginger snap cookies with mixed results. I don't think there is really much ginger in them.
Dramamine on a sunny day puts me right to sleep.
The accupressure wrist band didn't do anything for me.
As for why I like to go sailing - most good things in life have their advantages as well as disadvantages.
There wouldn't be mountains without valleys.
Bill for some reason going below makes me a little woozy too. One day I was tired and went below to nap (someone else was driving) and started getting that feeling but then it went away when I fell asleep I woke 1/2 hour later and everything was fine. Now when I go below I dont get that feeling anymore. why I dont know.........
Molly's dad, now cruising the Sea of Cortez tried the electric wrist bands and it didn't work for him at all. After 9 months of cruising though, he no longer gets sick unless he stays below for a long period of time while in motion. The Myth Busters episode was very interesting and showed that the ginger pills were the best non-perscription remedy. It made me queasy watching those poor guys...they were strapped into a chair that made slow circles and they were blind folded. They had to move their heads forward/backward and side to side on command while spinning and blind folded...BARF city!! Apparently NASA puts their people through similar testing.
I havent experienced Sea Sickness, but I've heard a TALE that once you've exprienced a good dose of sea sickness...it doesnt reoccur. I've heard that more than once, and somehow the necessary physical & mental adjustments take over. Possibly some could go through a good barfing session, no meds, and that could be the cure.
Oh well, just something I've heard out on the waters' edge.
Happy Sailing
One word of caution about Motion Eaze and similar drops you put behind the ear. As a scuba instructor, I've seen every seasickness remedy there is and still have seen my share of people upchucking on dive boats. We always tell them it's ok and the fish don't mind (after all, it's a free meal for them!!!!) We also tell them the best cure for sea sickness is to get into the water as fast as possible as once you are out of the movement, all is well (except for the person I once saw puke through a scuba regulator...but I digress.)
You must be very careful with the drops behind the ears. If you get any in your eye (which is easy to do given sweat and wiping of the ear, etc), your eye will be hyper-dilated for some 12 hours (think of the drops you get at the eye doctor but worse.) It isn't dangerous of course, but you typically only get it into one eye and let me tell you how awful it is to have one eye dilated and one not and be on a boat in the blinding sun. So be very careful with this stuff.
