Eliminate travel sickness with 1 'life-saving' medicine cabinet staple

Travel sickness can be a real hindrance for those who suffer from it, making public transport journeys a daunting task and even car travel a nightmare. There are numerous products available that claim to alleviate travel sickness, such as patches and tablets, but they may not work for everyone and aren't always readily available when sudden motion sickness strikes.

However, one woman has hailed a common household product as a "life-saving" remedy for travel sickness sufferers. In an Instagram video, Kiki Rough shared her recent experience of battling severe nausea in the back of a taxi en route to the airport. She informed the taxi driver that she would cover the cleaning costs and offer a generous tip if she ended up being sick in the vehicle.

But the driver's response was unexpected. Rather than expressing annoyance at the potential mess, the driver reached into her pocket and handed Kiki some Vicks VapoRub, instructing her to "put it under her nose".

Kiki revealed: "When I tell you, three decades of my life where I have fought to not throw up on every long-form car trip just disappeared. My nausea? Out the window."

The taxi driver's generosity didn't end there, as she also produced a small, empty container and decanted some of the VapoRub into it, passing it to Kiki for the remainder of her journey, accompanied by the heartwarming message: "Don't get sick on your flight."

Viewers of the video were astounded by the hack. Numerous people declared it would be "life-saving" for their forthcoming travels if the aroma of the Vicks product could prevent them from feeling queasy.

One individual commented: "I'm actually excited to try a long car ride now. Thank you for sharing this!".

Another remarked: "This is LIFE SAVING."

A third penned: "Did you just change my life with this?".

It's thought that Vicks VapoRub functions because the menthol fragrance masks any potent odours that might be worsening your nausea. Getting fresh air and inhaling clean aromas are established methods to reduce motion sickness, and the scent of Vicks could play a part in that.

Guidance for managing motion sickness

Vicks isn't formulated to treat motion sickness, and the technique may not be effective for everyone; however, there are alternative approaches you can try. According to the NHS, you can try these measures to relieve the queasiness yourself:

• Reduce motion by sitting in the front seat of a car or the middle of a boat
• Look straight ahead at a fixed point, such as the horizon
• Breathe fresh air if possible - for example, by opening a car window
• Close your eyes and breathe slowly while focusing on your breathing
• Break up long journeys to get some fresh air, drink water or take a walk
• Try ginger to settle the stomach, either as a tablet, in a biscuit, or in tea

The NHS also advises that you should not do the following:

• Do not read, watch films or use electronic devices
• Do not look at moving objects, such as passing cars or rolling waves
• Do not eat heavy meals, spicy foods, or drink alcohol shortly before or during travel
• Do not go on fairground rides if they make you feel unwell