Motion Sickness: The Cochrane evidence of what works

[Aussiemate]

Do you wonder what has been proven to work? Wristbands, ginger, antihistamines etc?

The Cochrane Library contains systematic reviews of research of high quality studies of what works for health www.cochrane.org. These independent reviews consider all of the high-quality studies on a topic, combining them into a mega-study.

Unfortunately there is only one completed review for motion sickness: Scopolamine - patches

In the Cochrane Review by AB Spinks, Scopolamine was more effective than placebo in the prevention of symptoms. Comparisons between scopolamine and other agents were few and suggested that scopolamine was superior (versus methscopolamine) or equivalent (versus antihistamines) as a preventative agent. Evidence comparing scopolamine to cinnarizine or combinations of scopolamine and ephedrine is equivocal or minimal. (Ref: Spinks AB, Wasiak J, Villanueva EV, Bernath V. Scopolamine (hyoscine) for preventing and treating motion sickness. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD002851. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002851.pub3.)

What about acupressure and antihistamines? The reviews are in progress.

As for acupressure wristbands, the evidence from clinical trails, a quick look shows reveals results with one small study showing a beneficial effect (Stern RM. Jokerst MD. Muth ER. Hollis C. Acupressure relieves the symptoms of motion sickness and reduces abnormal gastric activity. [Clinical Trial. Journal Article. Randomized Controlled Trial. Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't] Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine. 7(4):91-4, 2001 Jul-Aug.), and others, no effect (Miller KE. Muth ER. Efficacy of acupressure and acustimulation bands for the prevention of motion sickness. [Clinical Trial. Controlled Clinical Trial. Journal Article] Aviation Space & Environmental Medicine. 75(3):227-34, 2004 Mar.) Hopefully Cochrane reviewers will sort this out for us and determine whether the bands actually work. In the short term – doesn’t sound like there is harm, and you might get a placebo effect.

Are there other reviews applicable to travellers? Absolutely, just look at how beneficial melatonin is for Jet-setters crossing multiple time-zones (ref: Melatonin for the prevention and treatment of jet lag. A Herxheimer, KJ Petrie Cochrane Library)