Enjoy the ride

Q: We’re taking our grandchildren to an amusement park this summer. It’s about four hours away, and I’m afraid I tend to get carsick during long rides. Is there anything I can do to make sure carsickness doesn’t interfere with my enjoyment of the trip?

Dr. Wright: It may not be making many sensational headlines, but ginger is the best-proven treatment for nausea induced by a wide variety of causes, including motion sickness.

Most anti-nausea drugs work by blocking signals to the brain that induce nausea. Ginger, on the other hand, has a localized effect on the stomach. Since its presence in the stomach is a useful part of its action, small doses (250-500 milligrams) repeated often will give the best results.

One common side effect of ginger is heartburn. If this occurs, use a lower dose more often or take the ginger with food. You will find ginger and ginger powder supplements easily in most natural food stores.