Seasickness: New Treatment May Cure Motion Sickness with Electricity

There may now be a cure for seasickness. Scientists are developing a new treatment that may help those with motion sickness.

The cause of motion sickness is a bit of a mystery. The popular theory, though, is that it has to do with confusing messages received by our brains from both our ears and eyes when we are moving. This effect is common and has the potential to affect us on boats or roller coasters. However, three in ten people experience hard-to-bear motion sickness symptoms, which can include dizziness, severe nausea, cold sweats and more.

In this latest study, the researchers found that a mild electrical current applied to the scalp can dampen responses in an area of the brain that is responsible for processing motion signals. Doing this helps the brain reduce the impact of the confusing inputs it is receiving and so prevents the problem that causes the symptoms of motion sickness.

"We are confident that within five to ten years people will be able to walk into the chemist and buy an anti-seasickness device," said Qadeer Arshad, the lead researcher, in a news release. "It may be something like a tens machine that is used for back pain. We hope it might even integrate with a mobile phone, which would be able to deliver the small amount of electricity required via the headphone jack. In either case, you would temporarily attach small electrodes to your scalp before travelling-on a cross channel ferry, for example."

The findings could be huge for curing seasickness. This could help those who experience more severe symptoms and allow them to travel in more comfort.

The findings are published in the journal Neurology.

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