MOTION SICKNESS HELP NEEDED.

[rbh1515]

So.....did anything work?
Rob

[Bilgemaster]

My wife gets a bit motion sick at times, even in the car...especially while reading or watching streaming videos or whatnot while underway.  Fortunately, either I've been blessed with wobble-friendly genes by my Irish Aran Islands fisher folk forebears, or my checkered past of basically marinating myself in those neurotoxins someone mentioned earlier actually wound up doing me the power of good.  The sea could become a raging whirlygig and you'd hear not so much as a burp from yours truly.

I did grab a big pack of dramamine for the boat's first aid kit...for the wife or anyone else aboard who might be prone to turning green, but I just thought I'd toss this suggestion out there:

Dry Sherry.

According to Stuart Woods' book, Blue Water, Green Skipper, dry sherry is said to be the traditional British palliative for sea sickness...And Britannia rules the waves, right?

One also hears of ginger or ginger ale being curative for the old mal de mer, so subject to future exhaustive testing, I might provisionally propose liberal administration of the following cocktail, based on materials that should be on hand in any properly appointed vessel, to those prone to "feeding the fish" or, for that matter, to any witnesses thereto. Then, as one reads in the Norton N15CS motorcycle service manual, "Observe effect on performance":

The Woozy Wayfarer
Ingredients:

    1 1/2 oz Rum
    1 oz Sherry
    Juice of 1/2 Lime
    Ginger Ale

How-to:
Pour rum, sherry, and juice of lime over ice cubes. Fill with ginger ale, stir, and serve.  One may optionally add a dash of Angostura or Orange bitters or some sweet vermouth, if on hand, to taste or just to "brighten things up" in case it doesn't work as well as hoped.  Administer until the afflicted can be safely bungied to a stanchion or lashed to an out of the way lifeline for the duration of the voyage.  Somewhere easily hosed down would be best.

[BruceW]

My wife gets a bit motion sick at times, even in the car...especially while reading or watching streaming videos or whatnot while underway.  Fortunately, either I've been blessed with wobble-friendly genes by my Irish Aran Islands fisher folk forebears, or my checkered past of basically marinating myself in those neurotoxins someone mentioned earlier actually wound up doing me the power of good.  The sea could become a raging whirlygig and you'd hear not so much as a burp from yours truly.

I did grab a big pack of dramamine for the boat's first aid kit...for the wife or anyone else aboard who might be prone to turning green, but I just thought I'd toss this suggestion out there:

Dry Sherry.

According to Stuart Woods' book, Blue Water, Green Skipper, dry sherry is said to be the traditional British palliative for sea sickness...And Britannia rules the waves, right?

One also hears of ginger or ginger ale being curative for the old mal de mer, so subject to future exhaustive testing, I might provisionally propose liberal administration of the following cocktail, based on materials that should be on hand in any properly appointed vessel, to those prone to "feeding the fish" or, for that matter, to any witnesses thereto. Then, as one reads in the Norton N15CS motorcycle service manual, "Observe effect on performance":

The Woozy Wayfarer
Ingredients:

    1 1/2 oz Rum
    1 oz Sherry
    Juice of 1/2 Lime
    Ginger Ale

How-to:
Pour rum, sherry, and juice of lime over ice cubes. Fill with ginger ale, stir, and serve.  One may optionally add a dash of Angostura or Orange bitters or some sweet vermouth, if on hand, to taste or just to "brighten things up" in case it doesn't work as well as hoped.  Administer until the afflicted can be safely bungied to a stanchion or lashed to an out of the way lifeline for the duration of the voyage.  Somewhere easily hosed down would be best.

That cocktail is similar to,  but more complex than, the Dark and Stormy, making me wonder if the origin of the D&S was an effort to address seasickness during a dark and stormy passage. Gosling's Black Seal Rum, Ginger Beer, and a wedge of lime. Besides, it's good!

[Bob23]

Dark and Stormy are darn good. It was suggested to me by a former 27 owner here that Reeds and Maine Root ginger beer are superior to Gosslings. After much in depth investigation into this, I whole heartedly concur!
Bob23
I'll suggest the Woozy Wayfarer also.
Thanks all for the great suggestions.

[BruceW]

Sorry, Bob23, your post didn't seem clear. Goslings is the Rum, you mentioned ginger beer. It takes both.

PS, I am new to the Dark & Stormy, but a big fan, and am open to learning alternatives.

Bruce

[Bob23]

Yup. Gosslings Rum and I are old friends. But Gosslings also makes their own ginger beer. Reeds and Maine Root ginger beer are much better. I guess I wasn't very clear. I don't know what other ginger beers are out there. But whatever you choose, the rum must be Gosslings Black Seal. A few years ago some friends gave me a bottle of Gosslings rum. I noticed the label was a bit different but I failed to see the proof was 151!!! Yikes!!! Now that makes a killer D & S! I prefer the taste of the 80 proof over the 150.
On board my boat, I always keep a bottle of Gosslings rum. You never know when you'll get stranded on that desert island with Ginger or Maryann...gotta be prepared!!!

[BruceW]

Okay, I am with you now. I have used several different ginger beers, including the Reed's.

A guy at my sailing club says he likes the kind you get in the mexican food aisle. I haven't tried it yet, because I still have a bit left of the Reed's.

Oh, and just about one drink left of the Gosling's. I better go back for more.

Thanks, Bob; haven't seen the Maine type of ginger beer yet, but I am open to it. I like the sugar free when I can get it. That way I can have more of them.

Bruce

[K3v1n]

I use the Ginger Root. During sailing season I take one everyday along with my regular dose of supplements. Then a couple extra when sailing, its also good for digestive health. Still want to stay out of the cabin if its rocking and rolling!

[oceanroadus]

Bonine seems to be the best preventative, maybe have her try to take a dose at bedtime the night before and then again in a.m.  Stay away from caffeine, alcohol and eat lightly before, during and after trips, stay hydrated with H2O and also minimize time below decks if possible.  If you are cruising multiday going to sleep as it comes on can help if an option.  I spent a couple years in sail training and got sick from time to time myself, I would usually feel the knot in my stomach coming and then once I had "fed the fish" over the side I was good for the rest of the trip.  I saw hundreds of students and crew all try different things and everyone is different just a lousy feeling for those that suffer it.     

[lweisman]

It only got passing mention above, but transdermal scopolomine patches can be very effective with minimal side effects for most users.  It delivers the anticholinergic drug, scopolomine, directly through skin into ones circulation, and is effective for many types of nausea, especially used for mal de mar.    It's OTC in Canada but Rx in US last I knew (Transderm Scop was the name brand).  And unlike pills or booze, the patch can be removed at any time to stop delivery of the medication.  (maybe run it by your family doc before trying, if you have any medical issues)

What gets me seasick (I'm quite prone) is focusing on some work or little project in the cockpit or on my lap, instead of looking out at sea and horizon (as others mentioned above).  I was kneeling in the cockpit last week on the mooring, installing a padeye on the step in front of the companionway. Already feeling a little ill I foolishly then bent fully into the cabin and looked up underneath to put the nuts on.  Big mistake for sure, I was immediately done for the day.

I'd like to try the suggestion of a small amount of alcohol, that sounds reasonable.  Also very intriguing, the suggestion of trying Hall/Pike exercises. It's a safe, easy 'treatment' for positional vertigo, by repositioning otoliths in the inner ear. Maybe work for mal de mar?.  The other major intoxicant which is widely prescribed (legally and otherwise) for nausea is THC/cannabis........
Lee, in VT