how to avoid travel sickness

Travel sickness is caused by repetitive movements that affect the balance mechanism in the inner ear. Conflicting messages are sent to the brain by the eyes, stomach and the organs of balance in the ears. It's a common problem, especially in children.
Between one third to one half of airline passengers will experience some degree of travel sickness when a plane encounters heavy turbulence.
Car journeys, trains, planes and even fairground rides can send children and adults lunging for the sick bag.
Boats are a particular problem, with all the repetitive pitching, rolling or up and down motions. Aircraft are relatively stable, but anxiety can play a part and make people air sick because of worries about a previous attack.
What can you do to avoid travel sickness?

Avoid heavy meals (particularly meals with a high fat content) coffee, black tea, alcohol and nicotine before and during travel.
But, don't fly on an empty stomach. Contrary to many people’s belief, it doesn’t help against travel sickness, but promotes it. Light food such as fruit, vegetables, salad, cookies and breakfast bars are recommended as snacks before and during a flight.
Avoid activities that involve additional movement of the head and eyes, such as reading or focusing on near objects.
On a plane, ask for a seat on the center aisle near the wings. This is where an aircraft’s movements are least noticeable.
Focus on distant objects to avoid the mismatch of signals between eyes and the middle (e.g. looking into the distance outside a ship or plane). Ask for a window seat. If you fly by day you can fix your eyes on a point on the horizon and giving your sense of balance a reference point. That will ease your feeling of nausea.
Playing games also helps to distract children. 'I Spy' and looking for land ensures they look at distant objects.
In the car or on a boat, plenty of fresh air helps.
On a ship the centre of the vessel is the best place.
For car journeys, small children may need a ‘booster’ cushion to raise their height – so that they can look forward through the windscreen and focus on distant objects. They’ll be better in the front seat of a car, but remember all the legal requirements and switch off the air bag.
Try not to dwell on travel sickness as this may put the belief into your head that you are always going to be sick.

Travel sickness medicines
There are several over the counter medicines available from your pharmacist, including Stugeron and Sea Legs tablets (around £2.50 for a dozen tablets).
Before you take them, be aware that over the counter travel sickness tablets can cause drowsiness, they can't be taken with alcohol and are not suitable for all people.
Other remedies include ginger supplements, Nelsons Travella (homeopathic tablets available at Boots) and Sea Bands (a wrist band, they cost around £7.49 each).
If you decide to take tablets, use them before the journey begins. Most work best if taken at least one hour before your journey. Once an attack starts, they’re of little use.
Peppermint tea or ginger biscuits (or tea) can help to quell nausea.