There is no cure for motion sickness, but in Chinese medicine, it can effectively relieve the symptoms of motion sickness, and in the selection of prescription drugs, patients are often identified and treated.
1. Hyperactivity of liver yang: dizziness, tinnitus, accompanied by head and eyes distension and pain, irritability and other symptoms, etc., with red tongue and yellow fur and stringy pulse. Treatment should be based on the principle of calming the liver and submerging yang (suppressing too much rising yang in the liver), clearing the fire and restraining the wind, and using Tianma Hook Teng Drink with additions and subtractions for treatment.
2. Phlegm-dampness obstruction (phlegm-dampness staying in the spleen and stomach): the symptoms include dizziness, heaviness of the head, accompanied by spinning of vision, chest tightness and nausea, vomiting of phlegm and saliva, etc., with a white and greasy tongue coating and a moist and slippery pulse. Treatment is based on the principle of eliminating phlegm and dampness, strengthening the spleen and stomach, and can be treated with the addition and subtraction of Semixia and Atractylodes Macrocephalae Tianma Tang.
3. Blood stasis obstructing the orifices (瘀血阻滞孔窍): dizziness, headache, accompanied by dysphoria, tinnitus and deafness, etc., with dark tongue with petechiae and astringent pulse. Treatment should be based on the principle of eliminating blood stasis, promoting blood circulation and opening the orifices, which can be treated with the addition and subtraction of Tongkewangtong.
4. Deficiency of qi and blood: dizziness is aggravated by movement and occurs upon exertion, and there is lack of splendor of lips and nails, lack of luster of hair, palpitation and less sleep, etc. The tongue is pale, the moss is thin and white, and the pulse is thin and weak. Treatment is based on the principle of tonifying qi and blood, tonifying the heart and spleen, and can be treated with the addition or subtraction of Gui Spleen Tang.
5. Kidney essence insufficiency: dizziness that does not go away for a long time, accompanied by white color, cold form (cold body), cold limbs, etc., with pale tongue, white moss, and thin and weak pulse. Treatment is based on the principle of nourishing the liver and kidneys, filling in the marrow (replenishing the body’s essence and promoting the development of bone marrow), and Zuo Gui Wan can be used for treatment.
The above prescription should be used by a TCM doctor after diagnosis, avoid self-medication to avoid adverse consequences.