Seasickness Remedies, Hints and Tips

1. Drugs 

Common drugs are: 
Hyoscine hydrobromide (Kwells). Dose 0.3mg. Onset of effect - within one hour. Duration of action - up to 6 hours. 
Also available, by prescription only, as a skin patch (Scopoderm TTS) to wear behind the ear with a duration of 
action up to 72 hours. 

Meclozine Hydrochloride (Sea Legs). 12.5mg Promethazine Hydrochloride take an elixir of 25mg at bedtime on the 
night before travelling followed by a repeat dose in the morning, if necessary. 

Stugeron (cinnarizine) is another drug that some people swear by - although it doesn't work for everyone. Beware 
of Stugeron tablets available abroad as they may give a much larger dose (up to 75mg) than that provided by UK
'over the counter' tablets, which are 15mg and should have "S/15" stamped on them if you need to check. 

All the above are antihistamines, and may cause drowsiness. Do read the instructions if using any drugs - they 
won't work unless taken in the prescribed quantities at the prescribed times. Some may need to be taken well in 
advance, so don't wait until you are on board before reading the instructions. If pregnant or suffering from any 
chronic medical condition (other than seasickness! then you should consult your GP before taking any medicines. 

Note that Dramamine has now been withdrawn from the UK. 

2. Food 

Avoid fatty foods for a good 12 hours before, and during sailing. Painfully enough, that means laying off bacon
sandwiches. Make sure that there is a steady supply of non-fatty food handy in the cockpit to stop hunger setting
in. Yoghurts, apples, Nutrigrain bars, bread are all good. Best of all is hot food. If setting off for a voyage
of 12 hours or more or doing a long night watch, prepare a big thermos flask of hot soup beforehand and preferably
also a separate one with tea. Cooking down below in a small boat with a lively motion is not a good idea if you 
are beginning to feel queasy - forget the heroics and let someone else do it. 

3. Water 

Drink a small amount of water regularly, don't allow yourself to get dehydrated. Don't drink large amounts or 
the weight in your stomach may make you feel strange. 

4. Diesel 

Diesel fumes are a very bad thing. Try to keep the bilges sweet at all times - being down below in a diesely 
boat is horrible if you feel unwell. Sufferers should likewise avoid exhaust fumes. 

5. Rest 

If you set off for a longish trip when you are tired, your brain will become befuddled quickly and you will become
sick. Later on you'll get tired anyway, but don't start off like that during the getting your sealegs phase at the
beginning. If sailing through the night, make sure that everyone is in his or her bunk except whoever is on watch.
A common mistake if doing say a 24-hour passage is for everyone to sit in the cockpit during the day. It is a good 
idea to keep the watch system going day and night to maximise resting time. 

6. Clothing 

Don't let yourself get wet and cold. Make sure that a big supply of warm clothing can be reached from the cockpit. 

7. Traditional/Folk Remedies 

Why not try the traditional remedy of ginger, like Nelson? The Chinese have used it for thousands of years. Ginger
biscuits are great to munch on. Some people like ginger or lime flavoured drinks, and these can also be used as a 
mouth rinse after being sick. Some people find special wristbands that exert gentle pressure on a specific acupressure
point on the underside of each wrist are effective, and there is certainly no harm in keeping a pair of these in the
chart table. Fancier ones use a magnet to apply the pressure. You could also try applying pressure to the appropriate
spot manually. 

8. It Will Get Better 

Things will improve. If you're around on the boat for a few days/weeks/frequently then you'll become more accustomed
to the motion and less vulnerable. Try spending more time at anchor rather than in a marina. The rolling motion may
help you to get your sealegs while you're asleep. Try to avoid doing a lumpy wind-over-tide passage as your first of
the season. If possible arrive on the boat a day or two before starting a cruise, giving you time to acclimatise and
provision. 

9. Heaving To  

If things get on top of you, heave to for a while. The motion will suddenly become bearable. Put the kettle on, 
make hot food, use the heads, take reefs in, deal with any problem that is causing you anxiety. Carry on when you're
ready. Driving blindly on with the feeling that things are out of control causes stress that causes sickness. 

10. Be Prepared 

Being prepared. Reading below is one of the things that can bring it on. Navigation has to be done, but in some ways
you can minimise the burden. Make sure you have the relevant charts ready and open in the right place before you set
off, pencil, parallel rulers etc. ready to hand. You might want to keep the logbook and pencil next to the companionway
so they can be filled in from the cockpit. Paper Navtex beats electric read out because you can tear it off and read it
in the cockpit rather than fiddling with buttons below. Make sure that everything that you are going to need is in a 
handy place in the cockpit to hand before setting off, to minimise scrabbling around in lockers below: hand bearing 
compass, torch, lifelines and lifejackets, oilies, food etc. etc. 

11. Keep People Busy 

One of the best things you can do with a crew member who is starting to feel sick is to put them on the helm. They 
have to concentrate, they are focussed on the horizon and they are getting plenty of fresh air. 

12. Web Links 

http://seasickness.co.uk Excellent site with lots of links
Sickness Prevention and Treatment Mark R. Anderson, M.D. 2000 
Motion Sickness - Dr. Galingher Very detailed, especially on drugs 
Sailor Doc's Seasick Page Short but excellent article