For countless travellers, the excitement of a trip is often marred by the debilitating effects of motion sickness. This common condition can turn a scenic car ride or a smooth flight into a nauseating ordeal. While pharmacies are stocked with various pills and specialist wristbands, a remarkably simple and affordable solution might already be sitting in your kitchen cupboard.
The 4p Wonder: How Peppermint Tea Fights Nausea
Travel expert Yasmin Pekel from Blue Cruise has shared a cost-effective secret with The Mirror, stating, 'You don't need expensive tablets or special wristbands.' Her surprising recommendation? A humble peppermint tea bag. 'A peppermint tea bag genuinely helps settle the stomach before you travel,' she confirmed.
This advice is grounded in science. It is well-established that peppermint possesses properties that help to relax the stomach muscles and provide relief from feelings of nausea. While available as essential oils or capsules, the tea bag form is exceptionally accessible. Choosing to drink peppermint tea offers a fantastic alternative to pricier medications, which can sometimes come with unwanted side effects.
The cost is perhaps the most staggering part. A box of 40 peppermint tea bags can be purchased from Tesco for just £1.60, working out to a mere 4p per bag. Furthermore, they are frequently provided complimentary in hotel rooms and at breakfast buffets, making them even easier to source.
Your On-the-Go Sickness Strategy
Integrating this remedy into your travel routine is straightforward. For air travel, simply carry a couple of peppermint tea bags in your hand luggage and ask the cabin crew for a cup of hot water once you are on board. For road trips or voyages at sea, preparing a thermos of the tea beforehand is a wise move. As an added bonus, the warm drink can help keep you cosy on cooler days.
Pekel explains the science behind the sickness: 'When your eyes and ears send mixed messages to the brain, that's when travel sickness starts.' She clarifies that 'Peppermint helps smooth out that response and stops the feeling of motion building up.' This natural solution has stood the test of time, is safe for both adults and children, and is widely available.
While a mint lozenge or sweet can offer some assistance, Pekel notes that tea is the best option because it keeps you hydrated and the smell alone helps people feel less queasy.
Understanding Motion Sickness and Tech Solutions
The NHS corroborates the expert's explanation, stating that motion sickness is triggered by repeated movements during travel. 'The inner ear sends different signals to your brain from those your eyes are seeing. These confusing messages cause you to feel unwell,' the health service outlines. To alleviate symptoms, they suggest focusing on the horizon ahead or closing your eyes while breathing slowly.
In the modern age, technology also offers a novel solution. Australian author Zoe-Foster-Blake highlighted a feature for iPhone users with the iOS 18 update. A setting called 'Vehicle Motion Cues' can be activated within the accessibility section of the phone's settings. This function uses the phone's sensors to detect when you are in a moving vehicle and displays animated dots on the screen's edges to represent the vehicle's motion, which can help reduce sensory conflict without interrupting phone use.
