What should you know about ginger ale and motion sickness?

Motion sickness occurs when signals from the eyes, inner ear and body disagree about movement. Cars, boats, aircraft and amusement rides can trigger nausea, sweating, dizziness, headache or vomiting. Ginger ale may provide fluid, sweetness and a familiar flavour, but carbonation can worsen bloating for some people, and products differ in how much ginger they contain.

The drink may ease an unsettled feeling without correcting the movement signals that cause the illness. Persistent nausea or vomiting can also have causes unrelated to travel.

Before and during travel, choose a light meal, sip fluids and avoid alcohol. Sit where movement is least noticeable, face forward, look at the horizon and keep fresh air moving. Limit reading or screen use. If you are prone to motion sickness, ask a pharmacist or clinician about preventive medicine before departure, because some options cause drowsiness and are not suitable for everyone.

A Travel Health Consultation can help if you have a long journey, take regular medicines or are travelling with a child. Carry oral rehydration supplies if vomiting is a concern.

Seek medical advice for repeated vomiting, inability to keep fluids down, fainting, severe headache, confusion, blood in vomit, severe abdominal pain or symptoms that continue after the journey. Urgent help is needed for signs of dehydration such as very little urine, marked weakness or worsening dizziness.

Would a motion-sickness medicine be suitable for me? When should I take it? Could it interact with my regular medicines? What should I use if vomiting prevents me keeping tablets down? How can I protect a child or pregnant traveller from dehydration?