Ginger & Sea Sickness

[tinman]

I have read anecdotal evidence to support that the spice ginger ingested prior to a voyage can help prevent producing your own sea chum. Any clinical evidence to support this? Anyone routinely do this? Any contraindications for this practice? For example, can it be done in concert with antacids to minimize abdominal gas?

 

[DocVikingo]

Yes, it's been studied & a number of findings show it has a beneficial effect on nausea, vomiting & seasickness.

A number of divers use it, and most tell me they find it effective.

Antacids can be used to minimize heartburn & abdominal gas if they occur, although these shouldn't be a problem.

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[Jarhead]

Are there any guidelines telling:

How much?
How often?
etc.

Thanks,
Philip (Jarhead)

 

[Genesis]

I've been fishing and boating my entire life.

People who have been on my boat have tried every remedy under the sun. Dramamine, Scop patches, Ginger, accupressure bands, the new "relief bands", dancing under the moon naked the night before, etc etc etc.

There have also been several studies done by various reviewers over the years.

Most medical studies I have seen have not been limited to water-borne motion sickness. There may be some distinction between the various environments, although I don't know why there would be....

What I've found;

1. If something works for you, keep with it.
2. You may need to try several different things before you find something that works for you. Many people who get no relief with one method get it with others.
3. Dramamine OFTEN produces drowsiness. I would be extremely careful using it while diving until you determine if it has this side effect in you.
4. The 'Scop patches almost certainly won't stay on while diving, and from what I understand you need to keep them on (they're "apply and keep on" things)
5. Ginger works for my dive buddy. It has done NOTHING for several others who fish with me; I've had others try it and they hurled anyway
6. The accupressure bands seem to work for some people. I keep a stash of them on my boat - they're cheap, have no side effects, and if they work for you they're great.
7. The "relief bands" (shock-watches) work for MOST people. I've only run into ONE person who did not get relief from them. They are, from my experience, the ONLY method that works once you GET sick (Dramamine will make things WORSE - don't take it if you're already feeling queazy!) I keep two of those on my boat as well.

All anecdotal.... but from many years of time at sea, these are my observations....

 

[DocVikingo]

One pretty solid study found 1 gram/1,000 mg of powdered ginger to do the trick, although I found sources that variously recommend anywhere from 1/2 gram/500 mg to as much as 4 grams/4,000 mg.

As with any drug or supplement, one is generally better off using the smallest effective dose. This may involve some trial & error.

Ginger in powdered, root or crystallized form is probably the easiest to control in terms of the amount of active ingredient ingested. Eating ginger snaps, or drinking ginger soda or tea makes control more difficult.

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[TigerShark]

Hi,

what if its those instant ginger tea available in the market??

Will they be effective??

 

[DocVikingo]

Depends on the brand. You'd have to check the ingredients.

I wouldn't be surprised if, like some ginger ales, certain brands didn't contain any real ginger.

As I stated, "Ginger in powdered, root or crystallized form is probably the easiest to control in terms of the amount of active ingredient ingested. Eating ginger snaps, or drinking ginger soda or tea makes control more difficult."

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[EBdiver]

Awesome! I have to try that....

I remember my first dive ever was also the first time I stayed out that long on a boat -- you can guess what happened. I felt so bad I thought I'd never go diving again. Then I started taking Dramamine, and it worked wonders for me, but I guess my body is used to it now, that the medication seems to have no effect anymore. So yeah, I definitely want to try ginger. Hopefully, it'll have a lasting effect on my body.

 

[DocVikingo]

Might also want to read my oft posted mal de mer spiel. Here's an updated version of a piece from my Jan/Feb '00 "Ask RSD" column in "Rodale's Scuba Diving":

"Sea sickness, which shows wide variation in susceptibility among individuals, is not yet fully understood. It is believed to occur when portions of the brain tasked with maintaining balance receive input from the eyes, inner ear, muscles and joints that is inconsistent and unexpected over an extended period of time.

Prevention is a first step. Avoid fatigue and get adequate rest. Eat modestly, avoiding greasy, fatty, acidic and spicy foods. Don't skip breakfast, but stick to bland foods like toast, rolls and cereal. Go easy on tea and coffee, and very, very easy on alcoholic beverages. When on the boat, don't get overheated--stay under a sunshade, don't put on your protective suit until necessary, and get in the water as soon as possible. Search out a spot low and in the center where motion is minimized, face forward, focus your eyes on a fixed object on the horizon or elsewhere, avoid unnecessary neck movements and stay out of exhaust fumes. Do not go below, read anything or look through binoculars. If you must vomit, do so freely, but not anywhere on the boat, and especially not in the marine toilet.

There are plenty of medications available, and you may wish to discuss this with your physician. Among those reported to be the most effective are meclizine and scopolamine. Prescription strength meclizine commonly comes as Antivert. Scopolamine can be delivered through a transdermal patch, Transderm Scop, orally, and as a gel applied to the wrists. The gel reportedly works faster, but not as long as the patch. Scopolamine is the US Navy's first line sea sickness drug, including for divers, and DAN approves it with a trial run. Occasionally Phenergan, whose primary indication is as a sedative, is recommended. It can cause very serious drowsiness, however, and is sometimes prescribed in combination with a stimulant to counteract this. The above drugs are prescription only and have reported side effects, most commonly dryness of the mouth and drowsiness. They may also cause blurred vision, dizziness and even confusion in some users, and it is recommended to carefully discuss their use with your physician, give them a trial run prior to use in conjunction with diving, and take them only according to instructions.

Over the counter (OTC) drugs include Bonine, Dramamine (Not recommended due to demonstrated adverse effects on alertness & performance), Dramamine II (Advertised as a "less drowsy" formula. As this implies, be aware that some individuals still do experience some degree of drowsiness.) and Triptone (Same active ingredient as original Dramamine, dimenhydrinate, so draw your own conclusions) . A British drug, Stugeron (cinnarizine), has been mentioned by several sources as an effective treatment (Have seen a recent research piece suggesting impairment at higher doses), but it is not yet available in the US. Those diving in such places as Mexico & the British Virgin Islands can find it. Many report these OTC medications most effective if taken at bedtime the night prior to diving, with a second dose about an hour before diving, although recommended dosage amounts should of course not be exceeded. These medications often cause significant dryness of the mouth. Stay very well hydrated.

Considering more "natural" remedies, ginger is frequently mentioned, which can be taken in powdered, crystallized or root form (recommended preparations), or as ginger snaps, ginger ale, or tea. As heartburn with the use of ginger has been reported, also pack an antacid. Others swear by wrist straps, such as 'Sea Bands,' usually wooden or plastic balls on elastic bands which are placed so as to exert pressure on an acupressure point on the inside of the wrist. There are also 'artificial-horizon' glasses. Even aromatherapy has been tried, with a combination of mandarin, peppermint, spearmint and lavender oil being recommended.

In the final analysis, you will need to discover what works best for you with the least risk, side effect, cost and inconvenience. If you take any medications, you should understand their adverse effects and carefully follow directions for use. And remember, there is one safe, sure cure: 'Sleep under a tree all day.' "

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[Scubaholic]

This is some pretty lame stuff that I just found from an ENT on the web:

Do you get seasick on the boat or in the water?
Seasickness is a particular problem for divers. They are not permitted to take over the counter anti-seasickness medications. This is because these all have a side effect of drowsiness, which can add to nitrogen narcosis at depth. For every 33 feet you descend it is like having a Martini. Thus if you add the sedative effect of Antivert or Dramamine you may have a problem.

You can take Emmetrol, however. This is an over the counter antinausea liquid, essentially a sugar solution. Often this takes care of the nausea and dizziness. Take a teaspoon on arriving at the boat and keep sipping it as needed. Another trick is to fool your body into thinking you are in an automobile. You have learned to accommodate to the car stop and go and no longer get car sick. Turn your head so that the motion of the boat is like the direction of the car.