Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tfunk]

Yes, I'm travelling by boat.

Are there any home cures that you've heard of that can help ease the passage? I've heard that staying in the centre of the boat is supposed to work. There's also tablets you can get...

...any witches/wicas/buddhists/christians/atheists got inside remedies that they're willing to share?

[Bugmenot]

I've tried Dramamine tablets - they work! I hear the patches also work well. Good luck!


What is it?

Seasickness is a balance problem generally attributed to overactive nerve fibers in the inner ear. Your sensory perception gets out of synch as these nerve fibers attempt to compensate for the unfamiliar motion of the ship moving through water. This condition often disappears on its own in a few days, once you get your "sea legs," but by that time you've seen far too much of the inside of your bathroom and are ready to bolt the ship at any cost. You needn't suffer--there are a number of remedies available to help align your gyros.

Medications

Even those sailors who "never get seasick" have been known to avail themselves of medications on occasion. The most common drugs are Dramamine, Dramamine II, and Bonine. They are all essentially anti-histamines and are available at most pharmacies over-the-counter. Anti-histamines make most people drowsy and Dramamine will almost certainly have that effect. Dramamine II and Bonine are non-drowsy formulas but they still put some people to sleep for a few hours. Considering the alternative, that's not necessarily a bad side effect.

If you want to beat mal de mer before it has the chance to sneak up on you, it's recommended that you take one of these remedies a couple hours before sailing. Rest assured that if you don't bring your own, an ample supply will be available onboard your vessel, either in sick bay or at the Purser's Desk.

The "Patch"

Worn behind the ear, the "patch" dispenses a continuous metered dose of medication that's absorbed into the skin and enters the bloodstream. Apply the patch four hours before sailing and it will continue to be effective for three days. You'll need a prescription from your physician for the patch and, while wearing it, be vigilant for possible side effects including blurred vision, dry mouth, and drowsiness. Additionally, alcohol should be avoided and you shouldn't drive or do other things that require alertness until you discontinue using the patch.

[tfunk]

Brilliant! I want the patch (i thought it was a bracelet). Can I get it in Korea?

[dogshed]

[Masta_Don]

[SuperFly]

How big is the ship? I was in the Navy and never experienced seasickness, in other words...it doesn't happen to everyone. Once you get your 'sea legs' - you should be ok.

In those days (It was long ago and it was far away, but it was so much better than it is today) we used an anti nausea drug named Compasine for the guys who got seasick.

[Thunndarr]

There was an episode of Mythbusters about home cures for seasickness. The one thing they found to work was, IIRC, ginger.

[cangel]

Ditto that Mythbusters comment... Dried, powdered ginger supplement at least 30 minutes prior to sea travel works. The other 'natural' sea-sickness treatments didn't work. I am not prone to sea-sickness but when I go to Fukuoka and the seas are angry...... I take the free pill from the cabin crew.

[Tony_Balony]

Seasickness- you have a chamber in your ear canal that is round like a ball that contain small hairs that lead to nerve endings. That water level tells you are level. On a boat in a rough to even light sea, the water sloshes accordingly and you chamber tells you are in many positions at once and then erratically. Man wasn't meant to go to sea. Same thing in space, its very fatiguing

The remedies offered here work well. I went to Tuschima on a ferry during a storm and I saw the ajummas hurling.

[Fishead soup]

Don't drink soju or eat raw fish the night before. If you take the ferry to Uillongdo there will be a person handing out brown paper bags during the ride. Bear in mind Ferries to Uilongdo Hongdo and Haksando are regularly canceled due to bad weather.

[why not do it]

I've logged a lot of blue water under the keel. I always took a gravol 12 hours before leaving port, and every 12 hours after that. I never got seasick.

Possible urban myth: We always heard stories about why pirates etc. wore an earing, and that the earlobe is a pressure point that is allegedly supposed to releave nausea.

[pkang0202]

I saw a mythbusters on this.

Dramamine works wonders. Ginger is very effective too. Ginger root is a mild anti-emetic and sucking on crystallized ginger or sipping ginger tea can help to relieve the nausea.

So, take a couple dramamines, and plenty of ginger.

[prettyinscarlet777]

Stay outside and eat crackers. The fresh air always helps alot.

[cbclark4]

Dramamine can make you drowsy.

If you take a dose before bed the night before you travel and then adose one hour prior to travel the drowsy effect will be lessened the next day.

Never exceed the recommended dosage.

[Ekuboko]