You can buy ginger capsules at a health food store, and when combined with Bonine really do help. This is a retired Alaska fisherwoman speaking from experience. However, you do need to start taking the ginger several weeks in advance to make a difference. Bonine is the quick fix without dry mouth or making you sleepy.

Good luck!

I take a ginger tablet(health food store) the moment I get on the ship...I also bring peppermint tea for settling Parrot Pops stomach. Sturgeron is in my medical supplies bought in Bermuda and used by the yachtsmen..not available in US

hi, khakif,

DD was very sick on the flight out from AMS to CPT [11 hours in daylight] so we had to do something for the return trip. we resorted to stugerons [she'd had those on the way out as well] AND ginger beer, which I'd used when pregnant.

she was ok on the flight from PE to Jo'burg [about an hour] and on the long leg from jo'burg to Schipol, which was a ngiht flight.

of course we don't know if it was the stugeron, the ginger beer, or the fact that it was a night flight and we'd been up since 7am so she was dog tired.

regards, ann

Caution: you should know that Stugeron has not been approved by the FDA for sale in the U.S.. It is effective for motion sickness in many people but it is not without risk and may in fact be dangerous for many people. It is in fact cinnarizine, an antihistamine. For those of you with real problems, talk to your doctors about Scopolamine patches. As a physician who does a lot of offshore sailing, I am well aware of motion sickness. The only preventaive that has a basis in modern medicine is Scopolamine-Transderm Scope. If any of you live near Annapolis Maryland you may have seen all of the Midshipmen walking around wearing the patches when they do their crusie races. Also used by NASA in the Space program. The side effects are dry mouth and occasional double vision. These effects disappear when the patch is removed. I still eat ginger cookies but not to prvent seasickness.
Regards-Chuck

Hi Safarichuck

I found an article in the NYTimes dated Aug 27 2007, entitled “Ginger Can Cure Motion Sickness.” They quoted a Lancet Journal Study as well as Danish scientist that looked at 80 naval cadets…interesting read. I’ve always believed the Lancet had credibility. As a physician, do you believe the studies may have been flawed?

I've tried to find a copy of the actual Lancet Study, but I don't have the proper resources. Looking forward to your input…

Khaki Fever

Short answer-Yes it was a flawed study. In the field of motion sicknes and "n" of 80 means nothing. I have no problem with people thinking that ginger is a motion sickness preventative. Much of this area is not understood so my philosophy is that if you have tried it and it seems to work, continue. Unfortunately short handed offshore ocean sailing does not allow for this sort of uncertainty, When it's your turn to be on watch you had better be able, otherwise you put the entire crew at risk. Most of us that engage in this activity, at least the one I know (many are physicians) use the Scope Patch. Still, I know ta few who swear ny the wrist band and a few (very few) that ginger in some form helps. Let me add just a little more, the cause of motion sickness may be different between individuals. We have always beleived that it was an inner ear problem but for some it may have another root cause. Julian mentioned the use of ginger in maternity/OBGYN settings. That sort of sickness is due to an entirely different set of casues and has nothing to do with inner ear equilibrium. Just a brief explanation of what the Transderm Scop Patch it might help to explain the science behind how it works. The Transderm Scop patch (Transderm), contains Belladonna, an alkaloid that blocks certain nerve transmission from the inner ear to the brain. The drug is delivered across the skin (hence the name Transderm Scop) into the blood stream. Once the patch is removed, the effects of the drug wear off quickly. I would not use it for the short plane trips in country (Africa). Some of the common over the counter drugs work well enough for those short trips. On long flights or any trip of a prolonged nature is expected, it might be the best alternative. As with all of these things be certain to discuss with your doctor. Many are not even aware of this drug, they will tell you that in their defense, they are to busy to travel :-). Make them open their Physician's Desk Reference.
Regards-Chuck

Dear Fodor"s, we really need to be able to edit our posts. What's up?
Chuck

hi, chuck,

thanskf romentioning that stugeron is not licenced in the US.

As we're British, I'm assuming we're ok.

:S-

regards, ann

ps seriously, do you know if we can get these Transderm patches in the UK?

annhig, Yes Transderm Scop is made by Novartis and is available in the U.K.. You will need a doctors Rx however. Make certain that your doctor knows you are refering to Transderm Scop. There are other Transderm products you don't want him to confuse it with.
Regards-Chuck

hi, chuck.

thanks so much for that. I'll try to get it next time I'm flying anywhere with DD -I don't fancy being next to that again.

regards, ann

Ginger tidbit for Trekkers:

My friend who is a guide on Kili drinks Ginger Chai to soothe high altitude abdominal distress resulting in “<b>F</b>requency <b>A</b>ctuated <b>R</b>ectal <b>T</b>remors.” The tents are very small on the mountain so it is not encouraged to share those magic moments a/k/a flatulence, shuzi, phoosi, paad, etc.

Den :-&amp;

bump

Thanks all. Your excellent input raised interesting possibilities and inspired me to look further into the matter. Recently I purchased some of your recommended items. Here is my personal bias:
„O The chewy candies tasted great, but melted and fused to the paper wrapping (not ideal for safari). Note: there are some ginger ¡§pops¡¨ on the market, but I have not tried them.
„O The candied ginger (tried three brands) was too sweet to my liking; in addition I¡¦m not found of a ¡§communal bag¡¨ of goodies on safari (think incubator for various germs from your hands).
„O The organic ginger tea was harder to find, but was wonderful. This would be my first choice.

Using Google Scholar I found a research paper re a study conducted by the cruise industry; documenting the results of about 2,000 subjects. the Transderm Scop Patch, as well as ginger, performed best. They did note in the study that a few people who used the Patch experienced vision problems. (Maybe Safarichuck can expound).

Lastly, Chinese, Japanese, and Indian cultures extol the virtues of ginger. It has a long history as a digestive aid (and healing properties) in the Old World, and is still being studied in our New World.

I¡¦ll recommend my friends (taking the camel safari in Kenya) discuss the Patch and ginger with their personal physician. That said, I will also suggest they pack air sickness bags (just in case modern science et al fail them).

In regards to ginger, I always took ginger tablets purchased from a health food store two weeks before going to work in Alaska on commercial fishing boats. Then I would combine Bonine tablets everyday with the ginger capsules and it was the only thing that worked for me. The patches are not a good idea as the medicine used never leaves your system. Bonine also does not make you drowsy like Dramamine.

Key to the ginger is taking in advance, not waiting to the day of. Good luck.