It is not possible to talk about handling a boat on the ocean without the topic of seasickness working its way into the conversation. Mal de mer is a wicked spirit, haunting those of us who love the sea. It’s been known to make grown men crawl into a fetal position and cry for their mothers.
This insidious condition is not limited to the rolling of the ocean. It can come from many forms of motion, be it the back seat of a car, a turbulent airplane flight or a ride at a summer carnival. Seasickness is, however, the oldest known form of motion sickness. It was well documented by the Greeks and Romans. The very word “nausea” comes from the Greek word naus, an ancient type of sailing ship.
Seasickness results when a conflict occurs between what your inner ear senses and your eyes see. Inside your ears are three tiny, semicircular, fluid-filled canals, part of the vestibular system. When your body experiences motion, liquid inside the canals moves around, interacting with tiny hairs lining each canal. These hairs translate the movement of the liquid into nerve messages that are then sent to your brain. The brain reads these signals and compensates with countermovement, enabling you to keep your balance when moving.
When you are inside a boat or reading in the back seat of a car, the fluid in your ears senses the motion, but your eyes don’t register movement, because what your eyes see is moving with you. Your brain responds with a series of stress-related symptoms such as profuse sweating, chills, nausea, vertigo and vomiting.
Why vomiting? It was once meant to keep you alive. Thousands of years ago, when humans lived in small hunter-gatherer societies, people foraged for part of their diet. Beyond watching what animals ate and avoided eating, finding safe food was largely trial and error. A variety of tempting fruits and berries had a hallucinogenic effect, causing dizziness and disorientation. It’s theorized that when people ate the poisonous berries, their bodies attempted to expel the poison. Our bodies have retained that life-saving response.
A curious thing about seasickness is the varying degree to which people are affected, with some clearly more susceptible than others. It is certain that everyone with a working vestibular system is capable of suffering from some type of motion sickness. If you boat long enough, you will fall into one of two categories: those who have been and those who will become seasick.
Underlying the sweating and vomiting phase of seasickness is a little-known and potentially more pernicious type of seasickness, called Sopite syndrome. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, Sopite syndrome comes from the Latin word sopire, which means to lull or put to sleep. It differs from the more-common motion sickness symptoms and may occur before the onset of other symptoms.
Some of the first symptoms of Sopite syndrome could include yawning, drowsiness, apathy and decreased ability to concentrate, in addition to nausea. Some research suggests that boaters underway for extended periods of time are especially susceptible to Sopite syndrome. Vessel noise, vibration and harsh weather can lead to Sopite syndrome and have serious ramifications in the safe handling of a vessel.
Prevention Is Best
It’s well known that looking at the horizon or out the window can help the feelings of seasickness to subside. The reason is that you’ve eliminated the conflict. Your ears still sense the motion, and your eyes now validate what your ears are sensing.
Unfortunately, boaters don’t often seek relief until they already feel the effects, and this may be too late. Once your brain thinks it needs to save you by giving up your breakfast, you may have a hard time talking that back down. It’s more effective to stop it from happening in the first place.
Over-the-counter drugs may provide some relief, but many have significant side effects. For centuries, sailors have used non-pharmaceutical solutions such as ginger, which can quiet an upset stomach.
Chewing gum is also beneficial, not because of the gum, but because of the act of chewing. Acupressure bands on the wrist have also proved effective for some people. While all these methods may calm the stomach, they can leave the other symptoms of seasickness untreated. A combination of techniques may be required to provide an acceptable amount of comfort.
Research into why some people are more susceptible than others also suggests a psychological factor. One study looked at people who were told they were unlikely to experience seasickness on a newly modified ship, while others went out on a non-
modified ship. After five days at sea, the people on the “improved” ship reported less seasickness. In reality, the ships were identical.
Having the mind occupied with a task also helps to combat seasickness. A boat’s helmsman is less prone to motion sickness than a passenger, because the helmsman is controlling the vessel and can predict the motion. Taking over the helm for a while may quiet a queasy stomach.
This is especially notable when it comes to women, who are statistically more prone to suffering from seasickness than men. In recreational boating, it is likely that men are driving the boat. Simply sharing that responsibility could go a long way toward minimizing seasickness for everyone on board.
Remember: It’s called sea sickness, but you’re not really sick. Your brain is just confused. The more time you spend on a boat, the better the brain gets at being on boats. Allowing your mind to adjust to the movement helps your subconscious realize a new normal.
This article was originally published in the October 2024 issue.
