I’ve worked as a shopping journalist for almost six years, and during that time I’ve tested hundreds of products. Until now, I don’t think I’ve ever been so sure that others should invest in an item without trying it myself. But it finally happened. Cue the drum roll: the product is: anti-nausea bands.
Listen to me. I recently went on a cruise for the first time. It was a lovely experience…until the increasing nausea finally turned into actual dizziness on the third day. An anti-nausea pill only served to knock me out (turns out they have significant sedative properties) and for 24 hours I was either in a coma or nauseated on the toilet. I even missed dinner! I could barely recognize myself.
Feeling sick is a miserable experience, and that goes double when you’ve paid a lot to enjoy something but are forced to go to bed with the curtains closed. I missed a full day sunbathing on the top deck, reading my book, some onboard entertainment and even a bit of dolphin watching; I was actually too sedated and dizzy to wake up when the alert went off to say they had been seen.
We stopped in Lisbon and, during a wine tasting (I’m always well enough for that), I asked a guest if she had suffered the same fate. She told me that she had been feeling well and she put it down to a pair of £8.49 anti-sickness bracelets that she had bought in Boots before her departure. It had never occurred to me to invest in something preventive. I was really upset because a purchase of less than £10 could have helped me avoid nausea and enjoy the day at sea, if I had been more prepared.
More scientific studies are needed to draw conclusive data on the effectiveness of these bands, but they are designed to work by pressing pressure points on the wrist. According to traditional Chinese medicine principles, this should help relieve nausea. Based on some anecdotes, it seems to work for a lot of people: a quick look at the Amazon reviews suggests that many people find relief in using them. At least my cruise buddy is a fan, as am I. Traveler Trade editor Lauren Burvill, who learned from my mistakes and invested quickly before a recent trip to the Maldives.
“I suffer from motion sickness, so when I found out I would be arriving at my hotel in the Maldives by boat, I eagerly planned ahead and packed some of these bracelets,” says Lauren. “It could just be a placebo effect, but even wearing them made me feel much calmer than without them. The boat ride was fast, so I was fine. I also used them on a fishing trip where the boat rocked quite a bit and once “But I was fine. For the small price and the small space they take up in the luggage, I think they are worth it.”
So, it’s a lesson I learned that maybe you should pay attention too, if you have any cruises booked. I can’t guarantee that wearing these bands will prevent you from feeling nauseous the next time you go out to sea. But at less than £10, it’s a gamble I’m happy to take. Check out a few picks below, or more on Amazon here.
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