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The results we got by searching on "seasickness" were not very helpful, so we shifted strategies and began browsing Yahoo!'s Health Reference category. MyHealtheon*, a consumer health resource, defines seasickness as a form of motion sickness -- the movement of a boat on a fluid sea "disturbs the organs of balance located in the inner ear. Symptoms are nausea and vomiting, dizziness, headache, pallor and cold perspiration." They go on to advise that seasickness may be prevented by eating lightly, avoiding fatty and spicy foods, or by staying in fresh air instead of in a stuffy cabin. There we also learned about herbal remedies recommended for treating seasickness, including cayenne pepper, ground pumpkin seed, and ginger to
combat nausea. We visited Healthfinder, a guide to reliable online consumer health information developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We typed "motion sickness" into the search box, and turned up an article from the Medical College of Wisconsin that offered some useful tips: Prevent or alleviate seasickness on a large ship by facing forward or seeking areas with minimal motion. Take medication at least one hour before embarking; over the counter medications like Dramamine or Bonine can be effective for short trips. A prescription medication called Transderm-Scop is available as a patch worn behind the ear for up to three days. It's recommended
for longer voyages, and is popular with sport and commercial fishermen. Steady on.
* Unfortunately, that web site is no longer available.
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