In our most recent post, the Louisiana Bluewater charter fishing team shared five tips on how to manage motion sickness at sea. We spend a lot of time out there on the waves, and we know that even mild nausea can ruin the perfect fishing day, so today, we’re back with another unique seasickness-busting trick.
Read on to study up before your next offshore fishing charter adventure. Don’t have one booked yet? What are you waiting for? Contact us to learn more about our world-class Louisiana fishing charters and book your spot today!
NO ONE DESERVES THE MAL DE MER
In our last post, we talked about where seasickness comes from and covered five pieces of advice on how to get rid of your seaborne headaches, dizziness, and nausea:
- Get plenty of sleep before ever setting foot on board.
- Don’t sail on an empty stomach, and choose mild, filling foods like oatmeal or bagels. Also, stock up on mess-free snacks like granola bars and fruit.
- Avoid hangovers at all costs! Try to skip the booze the night before your voyage.
- Use over-the-counter antihistamines like Dramamine to combat nausea.
- Keep ginger on-hand. It’s a natural anti-nausea medication whose effects are comparable to (or even stronger than) pills like Dramamine.
Even the hardiest seamen are not immune to seasickness — Christopher Columbus and Charles Darwin both reportedly suffered from motion sickness during their respective travels. According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 100% of us will suffer from seaborne motion sickness symptoms at some point in our lives.
Given how common the problem is, we decided we couldn’t stop at five tips. If you’re looking for a drug-free, natural option for fighting nausea next time you feel your lunch coming back up on-deck, you mind find what you’re looking for in a wristband.
A WRISTBAND? SERIOUSLY?
If using a wristband to fight nausea sounds strange to you, you aren’t alone. The concept was not invented until 1980, when Dr. Daniel Choy (a physician and surgeon) got his seasickness pills wet during a sea race from Newport to Bermuda. Remembering a previous conversation with an acupuncture teacher, he applied pressure to the nei-kuan acupressure point: a spot just above the crease of the wrist, midway between the flexor tendons. The sickness went away almost instantly.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
How does this work? Medical researchers believe there are neuroanatomical relationships between the nei-kuan point and the brain stem, cerebellum, and hypothalamus, and that by applying pressure to this point, you can stimulate the median nerve, interrupting nausea signals to the brain.
These days, you can buy anti-seasickness wristbands that apply gentle pressure (or mild electrical pulses) to this sweet spot.
THE SCIENCE IS STILL OUT
The wristbands’ original inventor and advocate, Dr. Daniel Choy, claimed that the bands were effective for up to 70% of people — but the science is still being tested, and the results are mixed. Some studies find that the bands provide no significant relief, and that any positive results come from a placebo effect. Others, however, like this clinical study from the United States National Library of Medicine that tested the bands on pregnant women with morning sickness, find that the wristbands can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting.
SHOULD YOU TRY IT?
That’s up to you. Lots of people, including frequent sailors, anecdotally report that the bands have helped their seasickness. Others find that they provide no significant relief. In any case, the bands are relatively inexpensive and easy to find, so you won’t have wasted much time or money if you find that they don’t work for you — and if they do work, then great! You’ve got yourself a cheap, drug-free, side-effect-free way to combat motion sickness.
Test Your Seasickness Wristband With LA Bluewater Charter Company!
Ready to see if the wristband works for you? Although hopefully you won’t need it at all, we’re happy to provide you the opportunity to try it out! We offer Louisiana fishing charters out of Venice, and we have guided trips for anglers of all ages and abilities. Whether you’re looking for a multi-day deep sea fishing charter in the Gulf, or a lazy day fishing in-shore, our guides have the knowledge and skills to bring you to the best fishing waters.
There are few things we love more than chasing down blue water fish with you. Red snapper, swordfish, tuna, and more… we’re ready to take on the waves in our trusty Freeman charter boat and get you a catch you’ll brag about for decades to come. A fishing excursion with Louisiana Bluewater Charter Company is the adventure of a lifetime, so what are you waiting for? Check out our charters to find one that works best for you or your family, and contact us to book your fishing trip today.