Motion+Sickness


 * IBIS:**

Definition:
A disorder caused by the movement involved in traveling, mainly causing nausea and vomiting.

Etiology:
The common subtypes are sea, air, train, and car sickness. This disorder is notable by its marked individuality of susceptibility to symptoms. Some people never experience motion sickness and in others, very minor movement may initiate problems.

Physiologically, significant motion stimulation to the vestibular apparatus is the main cause. For nausea and vomiting to occur, both the 8th cranial nerve and the cerebellar tracts must be functioning. often several factors are involved with the creation of motion sickness: poor ventilation (smoky atmosphere, crowded environment); visual stimuli (a moving horizon, reading a book while moving); and mental/emotional concerns (anxiety about traveling or being confined). It is easier to prevent the illness than to treat it.

Somatic therapies:
• prevention : » hold hands together at shoulder height and bend knees slightly, now walk a big circle, spiral inward walk in square, walk in triangle, finish by turning in a circle until dizzy, then rest and walk all patterns in opposite direction » standing, arms behind head do trunk circles until slightly dizzy, rest and repeat circles in opposite direction » the above exercises help vestibular apparatus to adapt to irregular motion (Chang, p. 137)

Nutrition:
eating principles: • eat a light meal • decrease heavy proteins and dairy products

therapeutic foods: • ginger, lemon • decrease Damp foods • increase foods that nourish Xue (Blood)

specific remedies: • ginger in any form: ginger tea, ginger juice or oil, ginger ale, ginger candies that are available in Oriental grocery stores • suck on a fresh lemon or lemon drops (Shefi) • peel an orange and smell it (Shefi)

Botanicals
• Gelsemium sempervirens (toxic): (Sherman) • Cinnamonum zeylanicum: nausea (Harper-Shove, p. 65) • Mentha piperita: as tea, sip for sea sickness, nausea (Mitchell, p. 3) • Matricaria chamomilla: travel sickness (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 139) • Zingiber officinale: 2 well-filled "OO" caps 20 minutes before travel (NCNM Botanicals)

see: vertigo, dizziness

Chinese Formulae
• Kang Ning Wan (Pill Curing) (patent): if patient has a history of motion sickness, take 1/2 to 1 hour before traveling (Zhu, p. 62)

Acupuncture
after assessing the person and palpating, consider these patterns: » vertigo: Kidney Yang Xu (Deficiency); Interior Retention of Phlegm-Damp; Kidney Yin Xu (Deficiency); upward attack of hyperactive Liver Yang » nausea: Stomach Qi Rebelling Upwards; Spleen Qi Xu (Deficiency); Phlegm-Damp

» illustrative combinations: • GV-20 and PC-5 (d. D): three or five cones of direct moxa, green bean size each, two times per week for two weeks; also consider: Sp-1, Sp-4, PC-3, CV-13, CV-11, UB-17, CV-16, CV-12 and/or GV-14 (So, 1987, p. 203) • UB-20, St-36 and CV-12: build Spleen Yang, harmonize the Stomach, release Damp, and eliminate Phlegm (Finkelstein, p. 42) • CV-11 and PC-6 (-): open the chest and diaphragm, harmonize the Stomach, and stop vomiting (Finkelstein, p. 88) • PC-6 and CV-12: harmonize Middle Warmer, broaden the chest and descend Rebellious Stomach Qi (Finkelstein, p. 58) • PC-6 and St-36: harmonize Stomach, regulate Middle Warmer Qi, stop vomiting; (Finkelstein, p. 58) • PC-6 and St-40: dissolve Phlegm and harmonize the Center (Finkelstein, p. 59)

Homeopathy
• Cocculus indicus: vertigo and nausea < any motion, when riding in car, boat, plane accentuated weakness; wants to be immobile and alone • Ipecacuanha: persistent nausea; < any motion; not relieved by vomiting • Petroleum: feels intoxicated; nausea from moving; > dark room with eyes closed • Tabacum: sick riding in a boat; pale, weak; > fresh open air; > closing eyes; cold sweats; desires to have stomach exposed to fresh air

Mind/Body
• Fear of not being in control. (Hay, 1984, p. 174)

Chinese psychophysiology: • Kidney ~ Shen stores Jing (Essence) and governs birth, growth, reproduction, development, and aging; houses the Zhi (Will); expresses ambition and focus; governs Water to regulate body fluids; manifests through the ears and equilibrium; and displays the effects of overwork, chronic debilitation, or extreme stress. » Healthy expressions are gentleness, groundedness, and endurance. » Kidney Xu (Deficiency) signs include indecisiveness; confused speech; dreams of trees submerged under water; cold feet and legs; abundant sweating (Seem, p. 28); fearfulness; apathy; chronic fatigue; discouragement; scatteredness; lack of will; negativity; impatience; difficult inhalation; low sex drive; lumbago; sciatica; and musculoskeletal irritation and inflammation, especially when worse from touch. » Intense or prolonged fear depletes the Kidney. Overwork, parenting, simple aging, and a sedentary or excessively indulgent lifestyle all contribute significantly to Kidney Xu (Deficiency).

• Spleen ~ Pi governs digestion; transforms food into Qi and Xue (Blood); resolves Dampness and Phlegm; and relates to the ability to assimilate, stabilize, and feel centered and balanced. » Healthy expressions are fairness, openness, deep thinking, and reminiscence. » Spleen Xu (Deficiency) signs include slightness (deficient "form"); abundant elimination; morning fatigue; cold, wet feet (Seem, p. 28); abdomen taut and distended like a drum; craving for sweets; flatulence; nausea; mild edema; memory failure; heavy feeling in legs; pale lips; loose stools; muscular weakness; and, indirectly, obesity. Unresolved Spleen Xu (Deficiency) predisposes to Spleen Shi (Excess), particularly accumulation of Dampness, as the Spleen's functioning declines. » Spleen Shi (Excess) signs include heaviness (excess "form"); large abdomen; great sighing; sadness; obsessions and nightmares (Seem, p. 28); abdominal pain; irregular appetite; stickiness in the mouth and on lips; red lips; chest congestion; fatigue; and constipation. Dampness Excess usually derives from Spleen Yang and/or Qi Xu (Deficiency). » The excessive use of the mind in thinking, studying, concentrating, and memorizing over a long period of time tends to weaken the Spleen and may lead to Xue Yu (Blood Stasis). This also includes excessive pensiveness and constant brooding. (Maciocia, p. 241) Likewise, inadequate physical exercise and excess consumption of sweet and/or Cold foods will also deplete the Spleen. Environmentally, the Spleen is highly susceptible to attack from external Dampness and Cold.

Integrative Therapies
Motion sickness is experienced by some people while riding in a vehicle such as a boat, car, or a plane. The most common symptoms are nausea and vomiting, but there may also be cold sweats, dizziness, headaches, and fatigue.

MOTION SICKNESS MAY OFTEN BE PREVENTED BY ADOPTING THE FOLLOWING MEASURES: 1. Position yourself where there is the least motion, such as the center of the boat or plane. 2. Do not read maps or other materials while in motion. 3. Do not drink alcohol or eat in excess 4. For short trips, you may want to avoid food altogether or consume small amounts of food and liquids during longer trips.

THE FOLLOWING SUPPLEMENTS ARE USED FOR MOTION SICKNESS: 1. Vitamin B6 – 100 to 200 milligrams per day, starting 3 days before the trip. 2. Vitamin B1 – 10 milligrams per day, also starting 3 days before the trip. 3. B-complex – 100 milligrams the night before and the morning when leaving.

HERBS USED FOR MOTION SICKNESS: 1. Sip on Peppermint tea. You can carry a small amount of Peppermint oil with you and mix 2 to 3 drops of oil in hot water or just place the drops on your tongue. 2. Ginger Powder – 2 capsules before and during the trip as necessary, or add this to the Peppermint tea.

HOMEOPATHY: From the following homeopathic medicines, choose the one that best matches the symptoms. Dissolve 3 pellets under the tongue, just before the trip and every 30 minutes as needed. Do not take homeopathic remedies at the same time you use Peppermint oil. • Cocculus 12c: If there is severe vomiting and nausea and the sight of food brings on new waves of nausea. • Tabacum 12c: For strong nausea with cold perspiration all over the body. Also for violent vomiting made worse by every movement.

AS AN ADDITIONAL MEASURE FOR MOTION SICKNESS: Place ice packs on the base of the skull and the middle of the chest for 20 minutes or so. This may alleviate the symptoms.