Travel sickness help before you set off
If planes, ferries or long coach journeys leave you queasy, a quick chat with our pharmacist can help you travel more comfortably. We'll talk through what works for you and what suits your health.
Travel sickness — also called motion sickness — happens when your eyes, your inner ear and your body send your brain signals that don't quite match up. Reading in a moving car, the gentle roll of a ferry or turbulence on a flight can all set it off, leaving you feeling sweaty, dizzy and nauseous. It's very common, it's nothing to be embarrassed about, and the good news is there's plenty you can do about it.
At Davyhulme Pharmacy in Urmston, our pharmacist can talk through your journey and how motion sickness usually affects you, share practical steps that often help, and assess whether a remedy would be suitable for you. It's a friendly, no-rush conversation — pop in before your next trip and we'll help you plan ahead.
Why some journeys make us feel ill
Motion sickness comes from a mismatch between what your eyes see and what the balance organs in your inner ear feel. On a boat, for example, your inner ear senses the rolling movement while your eyes — fixed on a book or the cabin — tell your brain you're still. That conflict can trigger nausea, cold sweats, dizziness, tiredness and a lot of yawning. Some people are simply more prone to it, and children between about three and twelve often feel it most. The fresh air on deck or a clear view of the road ahead helps because it lets your eyes and ears agree again.
Simple things that often help
A few small changes can make a real difference. Try to sit where the movement feels least — over the wing on a plane, near the middle of a boat, or in the front seat of a car looking at the horizon. Face forward, get plenty of fresh air, and avoid reading or staring at a screen while you move. Go easy on heavy, greasy or spicy meals and alcohol before and during the journey, sip water, and take regular breaks on long drives. Many people also find slow, steady breathing and a distraction — music, conversation or a podcast — settles things nicely.
Talking to our pharmacist about remedies
When tips alone aren't enough, there are remedies that can help prevent or ease motion sickness, and some need to be started before you travel rather than once symptoms begin. Suitability depends on your age, your health, any other medicines you take and the journey itself, so it's always assessed individually. Our pharmacist will ask a few questions, talk you through the options and, where it's clinically suitable, recommend or supply something appropriate. If anything needs a different approach or a prescription, we'll explain that clearly and point you in the right direction.
Frequently asked questions
It's caused by mixed messages reaching your brain — the balance organs in your inner ear sense movement while your eyes may not, and that conflict brings on nausea and dizziness. It's a normal reaction, just more noticeable in some people than others.
Yes, and they help a lot of people. Sit where the motion is gentlest, look at the horizon or the road ahead, get fresh air, avoid reading or screens while moving, and keep meals light. Slow breathing and a good distraction help too.
We can. Children are often the most affected by motion sickness, and our pharmacist can talk through practical steps and assess whether any suitable remedy is appropriate for your child's age and health. Just pop in and let us know their age.
You're welcome to call in and speak with our pharmacist, though it's worth allowing a few minutes for a quick chat. If you'd rather plan ahead, ring us on 0161 748 3016 and we'll let you know a good time to come by.
This information is grounded in NHS and TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC) guidance and is for general information — not a substitute for a personal consultation. Your travel consultation is carried out by our pharmacist.
Travel more comfortably
Pop into Davyhulme Pharmacy in Urmston or call 0161 748 3016 before your trip, and we'll help you find what works for you.