TRAVEL sickness is a major problem faced by drivers and passengers alike on long road trips.
Nearly half of road users across the world are affected, according to one study from the Ford Research and Innovation Centre.
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For many Brits, the thought of cruising down winding country lanes on a sunny day is blissful, but for some it’s nothing short of a nightmare.
Thankfully, motoring experts have now come up with a set of four handy hacks that you can use to beat car sickness and battle back nausea.
Indeed, the team at Swansway Motor Group may have even found a miraculous cure in the form of a £2.35 vegetable.
Fix your eyes
Car sickness is caused by repeated motion within the inner ear.
It’s based on the same principles as your equilibrium, which determines things like your balance.
Just like when your trying to stand on one leg, keeping your eyes up and focussing on a fixed point is the best way to cancel out the movement around you.
Try and pick out a landmark, road sign or even just the horizon and keep your gaze locked on it.
Make sure you aren’t looking at the road (except to stay safe while driving) or the car itself.
Distract yourself
Just as you should take your eyes off the motion of the motor, taking your mind off it is also vital.
Distracting yourself through some music, an audiobook or a podcast can be a great way to try and forget that you’re hurtling along the lanes.
Of course, as a driver just be sure that nothing you listen to makes you lose focus on the world around you.
Passengers should also avoid reading or screentime as this can actually make things worse.
Pick the right seat
The team at Swansway also had a tip on exactly where to sit in a car to minimise your symptoms.
They explained: “If you can, sit in the front.
“Or if you must sit in the back, choose the middle.
“Staring at a stationary seat in front of you while your body feels movement can cause mixed messages which make you feel sick.”
A miracle cure?
Finally, one of the more unusual tricks could actually be a bit of a miracle cure.
The experts recommended eating ginger in some form one or two hours before setting out on your road trip.
Be it raw, in tea, as a tablet or even in biscuits, it can help to beat back some of the worst effects of motion sickness.
The team said: “Ginger contains 2 main active components: Gingerol and Shogaols.
“Gingerol and Shogaols limit the effects of acetylcholine and serotonin in the body.
“Serotonin stimulates humans’ vomiting reflex while acetylcholine can cause involuntary stomach reflexes.
“By limiting these, ginger can help to stop your stomach from feeling icky.”
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