by Frederick Cheng, R.Ph, and Christine Cheng, R.Ph.
Our desire to travel and explore the world has not been muffled by the pandemic. With Covid 19 restrictions lifting and our lives cautiously returning to normal, many of us are planning vacations and travels again. The journey can be one of the most memorable parts of a vacation, but some people suffer from motion sickness, which could make a highly anticipated vacation miserable, especially when it involves things like a cruise, a plane ride, a road-trip, or a whale-watching expedition off the coast of beautiful British Columbia.
Fortunately, we do have several effective solutions for motion sickness in our integrative chest of medicines. “Motion sickness” involves symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, cold-sweat, anxiety, and vomiting. Staying properly hydrated and nourished does wonders. Take regular breaks from the car or bus ride, if possible, and ensure a light draft (eg. through an open window). Do not watch a movie or read in the car; rather, focus on something in the distance such as a forest or mountain passes.
“Meclizine” will benefit both the work and leisure traveler. It is indicated for both motion sickness and vertigo, and functions as an anti-histamine that interacts with receptors in the inner ear and in the nervous system. It can take effect in as little as 30 minutes. Meclizine used to be available in Canada as “Bonamine”, which has been off the market for 20+ years but has been available without a prescription as a custom compounded capsule at Cloverdale Pharmasave and Pharmasave Steveston Village Integrative Compounding Pharmacies.
“Cocculine” is a useful homeopathic remedy that has worked for many clients in our 25+-year experience with it and has been a favourite because it has no notable side-effects or interactions. It is labelled for 2yrs and up, but some clinicians have used them in younger kids as well.
Sipping on a strong ginger tea or beverage can be highly effective as a preventative or treatment remedy. Ginger candies and chews are also readily available, and are safe for kids. It takes action in the nervous system to minimize nauseous feelings and in the gut to maintain proper muscle tone.
If you have tried your own remedies with only mediocre or no results, then you must consult your physician for a proper diagnosis to address the root issue; just because your symptoms are controlled does not mean you have resolved a more serious underlying cause. Seeing an experienced integrative pharmacist such as the team at Cloverdale Pharmasave and Pharmasave Steveston Village will ensure you are choosing the correct remedies based on your needs and pre-existing health conditions and medication regiments, and allow you to enjoy your travels to the fullest.
Christine and Fred Cheng are a passionate, charismatic sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique, family-operated Pharmasave stores in Cloverdale and Steveston, B.C. They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use. Find them on Instagram and Facebook! Everything mentioned in their article is available InStore.
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