Don’t Let Motion Sickness Ruin Your Summer Travel

I’ve struggled with motion sickness on and off for most of my life—and like many of you, I’ve noticed it seems to be getting a little worse with age! What used to only bother me when I sat in the back seat or read a book in the car can now sneak up on me, even on a smooth drive.

And as anyone who’s dealt with it knows, motion sickness can turn a long-awaited trip into a miserable experience fast. Whether you’re stuck in a car for hours or trying to enjoy the view from a train or boat, that queasy, unsettled feeling can make the whole journey feel endless, and leave you exhausted when you finally arrive.

With so many of us gearing up for summer road trips (or RV adventures!) right now, I wanted to share some natural remedies that can help you stay ahead of motion sickness and enjoy the ride. This post focuses mostly on car travel, since that’s where many of us are most likely to deal with motion sickness—especially during summer trips—but I know a few of these tips may come in handy on planes, trains, or boats too!

As with so many things, prevention is the key here! The tips below will help you stack the odds in your favor—and if nausea does sneak up on you, I’ve included a few simple tricks to help settle your stomach too.

How To Prevent Motion Sickness Before It Starts

You know what they say—an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! And when it comes to motion sickness, that couldn’t be more true. Your best bet is to stop it before it starts, because once nausea sets in, it can be much harder to shake. The tips below can help you stack the odds in your favor and (hopefully!) enjoy a smooth, symptom-free trip.

Get Your Ears Checked

Your inner ear plays a key role in helping you maintain balance, and when something is off, whether it’s fluid buildup, an infection, or age-related changes, it can trigger or worsen motion sickness. If you’ve noticed your symptoms getting worse or happening more often, it’s a good idea to have your doctor check your ears to rule out any underlying issues.

Choose the Right Seat

If you’re prone to car sickness, where you sit in the vehicle can make a big difference. Try sitting in the front passenger seat, where there’s less motion, and you’ll have a better view of the road ahead. Looking at a stable point on the horizon helps your brain and body sync up and can ease that queasy feeling.

Offer To Drive

If you’re able, offer to drive! Being behind the wheel gives you more control over the vehicle’s movement, which can reduce the disconnect between what your eyes see and what your inner ear senses—a big contributor to motion sickness.

Avoid Reading or Screen Use

As tempting as it may be to scroll through your phone or read a book on a long drive, it’s best to avoid these activities if you’re prone to motion sickness. Focusing on something close-up while your body is in motion can confuse your brain and worsen symptoms. Instead, look out the window or focus on the road ahead.

Have A Snack

I’ve found that an empty stomach makes me much more prone to car sickness. Eating a light snack, like crackers, nuts, or bread, before or during a trip can help keep nausea at bay. Sipping on ginger ale, sparkling water, or ice water can also soothe your stomach—just try not to overdo it with caffeinated drinks, which can leave you dehydrated and may make things worse.

Keep Fresh Air Circulating

Keep the air moving by opening a window when possible or using your car’s air vents. Good airflow can help prevent that stuffy, queasy feeling from building up in the first place.

Try Acupressure Wrist Bands

Acupressure wrist bands apply gentle pressure to the Nei Kuan (P6) acupressure point on your wrist—a spot that’s been shown to help ease nausea and motion sickness for many people. You can take a DIY approach by pressing on the Nei Kuan point yourself. It’s located about three finger-widths below your wrist crease, between the two tendons on the inside of your wrist. Apply firm pressure with your thumb for a few minutes at a time to see if it helps ease your nausea.

Eat or Drink Ginger

Ginger has long been a trusted remedy for nausea. You can sip ginger tea or ginger ale, suck on ginger candies, chew ginger chews, or even snack on ginger cookies. Many people find it helpful to combine ginger with other remedies, like deep breathing or essential oils, for even better results.

Use Essential Oils

Of course I’m going to suggest essential oils—you know I love them! They really can make a difference. One of my favorites is Tum Ease, a ready-to-apply essential oil roll-on I created to help calm queasiness and settle upset stomachs.

I first started using this on car trips when I was struggling with motion sickness myself, and now I always make sure to apply it before I travel—and I keep it in my purse so I can reapply as needed during the trip.

Tum Ease combines time-tested oils like ginger, sweet fennel, pink grapefruit, and coriander, all known for their soothing effects on digestion. The roll-on bottle makes it easy to apply—just swipe it onto your lower abdomen or the bottoms of your feet. Apply it an hour or two before you travel, then reapply as needed during your trip. You can also swipe a little under your nose, or add a few drops to a cotton ball and tuck it in your car’s air vent for a simple DIY diffuser.

Hundreds of women (and their families!) swear by Tum Ease for motion sickness and lots more:

“I have been very pleased with Tum Ease! It helped my upset stomach very quickly, and no pills were involved!” – Rae S.

“I used this on my granddaughter’s tummy ache. It was almost instant relief for her. I carry this with me at all times. I may need it, too.” – Janice B.

“It did just as they say it does. I was feeling nauseous. I rubbed this on my stomach. And the nausea went away. I will be letting others know how good this worked.” – Natalie R.

“This is a great tool to combat nausea. Highly recommend!” – Bonnie E.

Right now, all of the ready-to-apply roll-ons in my shop are on sale—mix and match 3 for $30! Choose from Tum Ease, Restore, Complete Relief, Defend, and Slumber. Just add any three roll-ons to your cart and the discount will apply automatically.

And remember—every product I offer is backed by my 90-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not completely satisfied, just contact me for a full refund.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP

When Prevention Isn’t Enough

Even with the best prevention, sometimes motion sickness still sneaks up on you. If that happens, try to stay calm and use a few simple tricks to help your body settle down.

Deep, steady breathing can help relax your nervous system and ease queasiness. Looking at the horizon or a fixed point outside the car can also help your brain and inner ear sync up again. And don’t underestimate the power of distraction—listening to music, chatting with your fellow passengers, or closing your eyes and resting can all make the ride more manageable.

I’d love to hear your favorite tips for staying ahead of motion sickness—especially if you’ve got any clever tricks for planes, trains, or boats! Feel free to share them in the comments.