Sea Sickness Solution - Anyone Tested?

[grantmc]

Just heard a simple, chemical free solution to sea sickness avoidance: wear a single ear plug.
The theory is that the brain will be fooled. It will recognise that there's an ear issue and so take much more notice of visual input.

Just wondering if anyone has tested this and what results were experienced.

[hobopacket]

So the idea is to cut down on the noise to make the sight sense heightened?

Or is it to mess with your balance?

[grantmc]

Originally Posted by hobopacket

So the idea is to cut down on the noise to make the sight sense heightened?

Or is it to mess with your balance?

Not really sure. The way it was explained to me was that there's a sudden change to the brain signals from the two ears so this confuses the brain. as a result the brain makes it's primary balance control the eyes. But grief I don't know. Sounds like quack science to me, but maybe it works?

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by grantmc

Just heard a simple, chemical free solution to sea sickness avoidance: wear a single ear plug.
The theory is that the brain will be fooled. It will recognise that there's an ear issue and so take much more notice of visual input.

Just wondering if anyone has tested this and what results were experienced.

Like most "remedies" I suspect this is just anecdotal and placebo effect if any.

I do take ear plugs with me on a boat, and use them when off watch and needing to sleep, as boats can be noisy when under sail, with deck hardware clacking, winches grinding, motors running, hulls pounding, or in a marina with slapping halyards on near boats.

But, I don't think a single or double ear plugs would make a difference as a anti-seasickness method.

Anecdotal "miracle cures" like copper bracelets and such depend on marketing hype (myth + pseudoscience + marketing language + testimonials) and customer "belief" (placebo) rather than scientifically proven evidence.

That said, I don't get seasick, despite rough seas.

[denverd0n]

Seasickness remedies are extremely personal. What works wonderfully for one person may not be the least bit of help to another. My wife and I are perfect examples. Like many people, stugeron helps her a lot -- doesn't do a thing for me. For me, meclizine is the miracle cure -- doesn't do a thing for my wife.

Is this a psychological thing? Or are there meaningful, physical differences that make my wife and I different in what cures seasickness for each of us? Who knows? Who cares? All I know is that meclizine works for me, but not for my wife.

Try the earplug. Can't hurt. Maybe it will work. Maybe it won't. The main thing to know is that, just because someone else says that some particular cure works for them, that means basically nothing for you. You have to find out for yourself what will work for you.

Good luck.

[danielamartindm]

When there are numerous remedies for a given malady, chances are none of them is really very good because if it were, it would be the remedy for the malady. I've had people swear to me that the best remedy for sea sickness is to take a dive into the water. Great, if you happen to be in the Caribbean.

[Yetii]

I tried this. It did not help me.

[Sojourner]

If you BELIEVE the plug will work, it has a better chance of working That said, candied ginger works like a dream for anyone I sail with. Also boiling a little raw ginger into a few liters of water and then using that in the waterbottles....

[WayNorth]

Lie down on a patch of grass under a birch tree...

[1000 islands]

It depends on which ear you have the plug in.......down wind it should be in the left ear with you standing looking at the pointy bit of the boat.

And if going the other way, up wind, you should have the plug in your right ear, I think, and still facing the pointy end.

This has been proven successful 1000's of times in the many pubs of Newfoundland.

[FionaJC]

Its like telling people you have a bad back, you will get as many sure-fire guaranteed cures as you will count the number of people you tell.

I don't get sea sick - I have been anxiety-sick at the end of a 18 hours wind blown swell. I did the five-finger spray as soon as I went ashore when my stomach muscles relaxed! My partner always feels sick, he was advised to eat before going out, now he stuffs himself and it works. - see I told you everyone had a guaranteed sure-fire cure!

[HopCar]

I wonder if it would help my balance? About a year ago the rocks in my head shifted and despite much physical therapy I still have balance problems.
I can now walk heal to toe with my eyes open, but not well. I can’t walk heel to toe with my eyes closed at all, so vision does help balance.

[anacapaisland42]

Written with tongue in cheek!!!!!!

As a major sea sickness sufferer I don't appreciate the "humour" at our expense. (LOL).....3 days of suffering then voila!
I also hope that the day I die I am sea-sick because I won't give a dam about dying.
I've tried virtually everything from pills to copper bands, my latest is some kind of strong antihistamine...we'll see how that works come spring.

In the meantime remember.sea-sickness can start at any age......so cut out your pitiful humour at our expense

I thought the purple and green emojis are quite appropriate
:-)
Bill the Barfer





[QUOTE=grantmc;2561078]Just heard a simple, chemical free solution to sea sickness avoidance: wear a single ear plug.

[Playtime]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

Seasickness remedies are extremely personal. What works wonderfully for one person may not be the least bit of help to another. My wife and I are perfect examples. Like many people, stugeron helps her a lot -- doesn't do a thing for me. For me, meclizine is the miracle cure -- doesn't do a thing for my wife.

Both are antihistamines of the diphenylmethylpiperazine group so chemically very similar

[Stu Jackson]

When I first saw the topic, I said, "Oh, no! Not again."

But then I read the OP and it does make sense. To me. As in: IMHO kinda way. Here's why:

Many, many years ago (but in this galaxy...), I had a series of operations on my left inner ear. I have poor to almost nonexistent hearing there. These operations were performed before we bought the series of boats we've owned since 1983.

I have never been seasick.

Sailed SF Bay and the ocean before I sailed up here in 2016.

Cause and effect? I dunno.

Could be.

Worth trying at least. The price is right.

Now let the "standard seasickness 101" routines get back underway.