AIR SICKNESS

Airsickness is a form of travel or motion sickness in which brain receives confusing signals of motion from as well as being stationary, manifesting as spatial disorientation, nausea and vomiting.

Our ears are mainly responsible for balance and equilibrium of body, giving signals to brain about any problems with that, but while in air, eyes give signals of being stationary and ears of motion, and hence the symptoms. This is more so aggravated during taking off and landing.

Its common symptoms are

-         Vertigo or dizziness

-         Nausea

-         Vomiting

-         Cold sweat

-         Headache

-         Confusion

Simple steps to avoid air sickness

-         Never eat a large meal before getting on plane as it increases your chance of getting air sick but don’t be empty stomach as well; it will also increase your chance of nausea. Don’t eat too rich ir greasy food; eat light and healthy.

-         Don’t think over it too much, thinking continuously that you will get air sick will make you air sick.

-          When booking your ticket, ask for a seat that is over the wing, it is often the most stability offering seat where motion of flight is experienced the least Get adequate sleep the previous night

-         Wearing loose comfortable clothes is important while traveling

-         Avoid alcohol and smoking, as they help aggravate motion sickness.

-          Do not read when you are on the aircraft

-         Avoid coffee, you can have lemon tea or tea with ginger, it will help relieving the nausea.

-         Keeping yourself relax and stress free is very important, try deviating your eye and mind to distant objects or music. Sleeping is also a good option.

-         Don’t move around too much in aircraft, it tends to make you more unstable, try remaining seated; sudden movements in aircraft won’t affect you much if you are seated.

-         Keep chewing something like chewing gum or toffee, it helps in blocking out ear and you don’t feel that empty feeling in your ear.

-         Putting cotton in your ears or listening music with headphones on also helps in reducing airsickness.

Homoeopathic remedies

Coccculus indica – it is a very good medicine while travelling by air. Person experiences loathing and inclination to vomit.

Tabacum – for patients experiencing deathly nausea and vomiting, fainting and sinking feeling.

Ipecac –when person has constant nausea and clean tongue with no vomiting.

Borax –it is especially effective for people experiencing fear of downward motion.

Nux vomica – it is really effective for people who feel nausea with accumulation of water in mouth. There is pain in stomach with emptiness which becomes better by eating.

Petroleum- this is for people who experience nausea with a splitting headache and ineffectual vomiting with loathing for food.

Rhus tox- there is nausea and vomiting, with giddiness while attempting to rise. There is complete loss of appetite.

Fear of air travel

Some people have also extreme phobia for air travelling, manifested as acute panic, claustrophobia and fear of dying. They will feel better by taking either of medicines, depending on their symptoms, two hours before boarding on to their flights.

Aconite- if person has fear of flying which is precipitated by a frightening event or previous experience. The fear is intense and you will be surprised by the effect the medicine will produce. Remember kajol in plane scene in the movie pyar to hona hi tha, person reacts the same way screaming ‘the plane is going to crash; we all are going to die!’

Arsenic- when the fear is self centred and the person wants support to calm his anxiety and can’t sleep before the flight.

Argenticum nitricum- if the person is full of anxiety and apprehension before the flight and you will find him impulsive, dropping things from hand.

Calcarea carb-it is really effective for people who are afraid of heights but he feels responsible for safety of all passengers on board.