At Louisiana Bluewater Charter Company in Venice, we’ve had a lot of practice getting our sea legs — but we’re no strangers to seasickness. Some of us can remember a time when our bodies weren’t so used to the sway of the ocean, and it took everything we had to keep our lunches from making a rude reappearance. Fortunately, those experiences have equipped us with the knowledge to teach our charter fishing clients how to handle seasickness of their own.
In today’s post, we’re offering our top five tips for fighting motion sickness at sea. Read on to learn more, and if you’re interested in testing out these tricks for yourself (though we hope you’ll never have to), contact us to learn more about our Louisiana fishing charters and book your fishing trip today!
WHY DO WE GET SEASICK?
It turns out that seasickness is a complicated phenomenon, and it affects everyone differently. Researchers believe that motion sickness is caused by conflicting messages from our bodies’ sensory systems. When you’re standing on the swaying deck of a charter boat, your eyes may take cues from your immediate surroundings on deck and tell your brain that you aren’t moving. Meanwhile, the sensitive systems in your inner ear that control balance and equilibrium feel the swaying of the boat, and communicate to your brain that you are indeed moving.
This incongruence can cause unpleasant symptoms including sweating, dizziness, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Some people are more sensitive to motion than others, and the people at highest risk for seasickness include pregnant women, people who are prone to migraines, and children from 2 to 12 years old.
HOW TO COMBAT SEASICKNESS
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to prevent or lessen the severity of seasickness.
1. Get Enough Sleep
A big part of seasickness prevention happens before you ever set foot on the boat. Making sure your body is in peak condition by arriving well-rested will help you keep up your stamina and reduce your risk of fatigue-induced motion sickness.
Additionally, research from the United States Navy found that sleep deprivation can interfere with your vestibular system’s habituation process — i.e., it can lower your inner ear’s ability to adapt to changes in your body’s equilibrium. This can result in more frequent and severe occurrences of seasickness.
So make sure you’re well-rested before embarking on your voyage!
(P.S. Need somewhere to stay in Venice before your offshore fishing charter trip? Catch some shut-eye on one of Louisiana Bluewater’s houseboats!)
2. …And Enough Food
You never want to voyage on an empty stomach, but you also don’t want to be stuffed. To set yourself up for sailing success, you’ve got to make like Goldilocks and find the right in-between. We recommend starting the day with a mild but filling meal like oatmeal, bagels, or pancakes, and then grazing throughout the day. Sandwiches, granola bars, and fruit are all excellent snacks to keep on deck.
3. Skip the Alcoholic Beverages
With enough alcohol, you can enjoy all the nauseating effects of seasickness without ever setting foot on a boat! It’s not surprising that booze can magnify motion sickness symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and nausea, so try to avoid drinking for at least 24 hours before embarking. Even a mild hangover can turn into a miserable day at sea.
4. Take Motion Sickness Medications
Some over-the-counter antihistamines like Dramamine and Bonine can help with the symptoms of seasickness, but make sure to look for the non-drowsy formulas. If you’ve never taken the medications before, it’s a good idea to take them for a “test run” well before your big offshore fishing trip!
To use antihistamines to try to prevent motion sickness before it starts, take the recommended dose before bed the night before your trip, and then one more dose at least an hour before embarking. This can help your body stop the symptoms of seasickness in their tracks.
5. Munch on Ginger
If you’d prefer an all-natural alternative to help you fight seasickness, bring some ginger! Sailors have been using this herbal remedy for centuries, and a study from Brigham Young University found that one gram of ginger is actually more effective against motion sickness than the recommended dose of Dramamine. We don’t fully understand how this works yet, but scientists believe that ginger shuts down messages between your digestive track and your brain to lessen the effects of nausea.
There are tons of ginger products out there to try — gums, capsules, lollipops, tea. Find a form you like and keep it on-hand for your fishing excursion.
Have the Adventure of a Lifetime With Louisiana Bluewater!
Ready to put these tips to the test? Book your next Louisiana fishing charter with Louisiana Bluewater Charter Company today! We offer everything from lazy day trips fishing in-shore to multi-day offshore fishing excursions, so you can plan the perfect fishing trip for you.
Contact us today to learn more and book your dates!
