August 2018 – Page 2 – watercress words by Dr Aletha

updated January 23, 2026

This post includes an update about a new medication to control motion sickness.

I read all comments on my posts, like this one in response to

Safe and Healthy Cruising-Keys to an Enjoyable Vacation on a Ship

In this post I share experiences from visiting the Titanic museum and a subsequent cruise, emphasizing enhanced safety measures unlike those on the Titanic. Observations include thorough safety drills, food allergy considerations, hygiene protocols, and various activities available. While the cruise was enjoyable, potential health risks exist, including sun exposure and noise levels.

Keep reading

Rhonda Gales (@RhondaGales) blogger

Your photos are great! I want to do a cruise to Alaska next year, but I’m a little leery. The last cruise that I took, I was sea sick the entire cruise. Any advice on how to avoid it this time, and thanks for sharing on Sunday’s Best.

Dr. Aletha

Thanks Rhonda we’ve also cruised to Alaska, it was beautiful. You might look for a facility offering desensitization training for motion sickness. Otherwise drugs work but can cause unpleasant side effects. Talk to your doctor.

Rhonda

This information is current as of the date of original publication or update but may have changed by the time you read this. Do not use this information for diagnosis or treatment purposes. Before making health decisions, discuss with a qualified healthcare professional.

What is motion sickness?

white and yellow roller coaster — Photo by Min An on Pexels.com

Motion sickness is the unpleasant sensation of motion, either with or without motion actually occurring. Those of us prone to it wonder why some people seek out experiences like roller coasters. Symptoms include

sweating
nausea with or without vomiting
dizziness
imbalance
general unwell feeling

Fear of motion sickness causes people to forgo activities like airplane travel, boating, amusement park rides, and car trips. But sometimes these activities are unavoidable or people just want to enjoy them.

Preventing motion sickness

If you don’t want to completely forgo activities that might cause motion sickness, manipulating the situation to minimize or change the motion can help.

Sitting toward the front of a vehicle and facing forward will help.

Airplanes- sit over the wings
Boat- sit level with the water facing the waves
Bus/Van/Car- nearest the front
Train- lowest level

Use your eyes

Don’t read
Focus on the horizon if possible.
Keep eyes closed (especially if not able to see the horizon) and/or wear sunglasses.

Maintain general wellness

Be rested, sleep if possible
Stay hydrated, eat lightly
Avoid alcohol
Keep the environment well ventilated, avoid strong smells
Listen to soothing music

a seaplane with a cruise ship in the background — No roads lead into Juneau, the capital of Alaska, so people there depend on boats and airplanes.

Using medications for motion sickness

One option is to use medication, either for prevention or to treat the symptoms once they occur (not as effective.)

Prescription medication

Transdermal Scopolamine patch (Transderm-Scop)

Apply behind one ear at least 4 hours before travel
Replace patch every 72 hours

man and woman standing next to a helicopter on a glacier — When our cruise ship stopped at Juneau, we took a helicopter ride over a glacier-and then landed on it.

Promethazine-Phenergan

woman walking over icy terrain near a mountain — exploring the surface of a glacier

Tradipitant- Nereus

Late in 2025 the FDA approved Nereus (tradipitant), an oral neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonist, for the prevention of vomiting induced by motion.

NON-PRESCRIPTION-Available OTC- over the counter(

(These affiliate links are for information only and are not a recommendation to use unless advised by your personal physician.)

a village by the shore flanked by mountains, Alaska — Sailing through Alaska’s Inside Passage, we were never far from breathtaking scenery.

Habituation and Desensitization

The more I travel, the less likely I am to suffer motion sickness. I use the tips above- I don’t read in the car, I sit in the front of a bus.

If an airplane encounters turbulence, I lean back, close my eyes, and direct the cool air toward me. I have gradually become habituated to motion, although I still do not ride roller coasters.

There are programs available to desensitize people to motion; the military uses these since pilots and sailors will constantly be exposed to motion and must be able to function.

A former NASA flight surgeon and fighter pilot developed such a method, naming it after himself. Dr. Sam Puma developed the Puma Method.

“The PUMA METHOD consists of a series of simple yet very effective warm-up and conditioning exercises.

These exercises raise your tolerance level to a variety of motion sickness producing activities such as reading in a moving vehicle, riding in a small boat or cruise ship, or flying in an airplane. This process is called habituation.

The exercises use your body’s own habituation mechanism to prevent motion sickness. You don’t need any drugs, so there are no negative side effects.”

(quote from the website)

a street in Ketchikan Alaska with a sign-The Salmon Capital of the World — Fortunately for us, we love to eat salmon.

Motion Sickness Treatment Makes Waves

This article from Scientific American explains how NASA and the U.S. Navy are finding new ways to help everyone overcome motion sickness.

“Researchers and those who work with pilots and the military’s most frequent flyers, are especially keen to find better ways to treat motion sickness. And the many civilians who face nausea in cars, planes, boats or even the tamest amusement park rides would welcome a cure without the common side effects of current medications, such as sleepiness, or the questionable efficacy of alternative treatments, such as pressure bracelets.

The path to those ends remains bumpy and filled with more than a few green faces, but new research is closer to finding the best treatments to keep both side effects and lunch down.”

boats in a harbor with a mountain in the distance

Here’s what you should know about what to wear on Alaskan Cruises

Blogger Cathy Lawdanski offers these tips on what to pack for an Alaskan cruise, which is not as easy as packing for a warm weather cruise. Read her helpful tips based on her experience at this link.

Exploring the HEART of healthy travelling

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Dr Aletha

On the way back to Seattle, the ship stopped on Vancouver Island in British Columbia and we toured Bouchart Gardens, a must-see on an Alaskan cruise.

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Matthew 6:9-13, NIV

(Jesus said)

“This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

give us this day our daily bread — social graphic from Lightstock.com, an affiliate link

And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”

The Lord’s Prayer

This passage from Matthew may be the most quoted from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Although traditionally called the “Lord’s Prayer”, it might also be called the disciples’ prayer.

In the book of Luke, the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray.

He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”

Christians pray these words exactly as written (although there are now many different Bible translations and paraphrases), or may use them as a model or outline for prayer. They are prayed during church services and in private devotions.

man praying on holy bible in the morning

The Lord’s Prayer has been set to music in various forms. A family friend sung it at my wedding. Some choose it for funerals or memorial services.

Singers ranging from amateur to professional have recorded The Lord’s Prayer in multiple languages. I enjoyed this Kenyan choir singing it in English.

Umoja English choir, Nairobi, Kenya

In Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster writes,

“Jesus taught us to pray for daily bread. Have you ever noticed that children ask for lunch in utter confidence that it will be provided. Children do not find it difficult or complicated to talk to their parents, nor do they feel embarrassed to bring the simplest need to their attention. Neither should we hesitate to bring the simplest requests confidently to the Father.”