If you are afraid to take a cruise due to a fear of seasickness, there is good news around the horizon. Scientists are working on a new treament for motion sickness that could do away with the misery of seasickness in the next five to ten years.
Seasickness is caused by the different messages our brain receives from both our ears and eyes when moving. It is estimated that 30% of people experience symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and cold sweats. For the 30% who also happen to be cruisers, there are few things that they take to help deal with the symptoms. However, Bonine and Dramamine have been known to cause drowsiness.
This new treatment being developed by scientists applies a mild electrical current to the area of the brain that processes motion signals. This impacts the confusing inputs that are received from the eyes and ears when at sea, preventing the problem that causes seasickness. The treatment takes about 10 minutes and those who took the treatment recovered more quickly and were less likely to feel nauseous, without any side affects.
Scientists hope to be able to integrate the treatment with cell phones offering a portable and inexpensive alternative. The small amount of electricity produced by the headphone jack would be enough to power the small electrodes making it a perfect solution for cruisers. When the ship begins to pull out of port, a passenger would plug the electrodes into their cell phone, apply them to their head for a few minutes, and then enjoy the rest of the day without feeling dizzy or sick.
