Car Sickness: Acupressure Points & Self-Care

Your brain senses movement through signals from your inner ears, eyes, muscles and joints. When those signals do not match, you can get motion sickness. It can start suddenly with a queasy feeling and cold sweats, and lead to dizziness, nausea and vomiting.

Traditional use: in TCM, points such as PC-6, ST-36 and EXT-2 are traditionally used for motion sickness.

Recognizing Symptoms

Physical Symptoms

  • A queasy feeling
  • Cold sweats
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea and vomiting

Primary Points for Car Sickness

Select a point to learn more.

Additional Support Points

Select a point to learn more.

Self-Care Acupressure Routines

Travel Routine (5-7 minutes)

  1. Press PC-6 firmly for 1-2 minutes each arm
  2. Massage ST-36 in circles for 30 seconds each leg
  3. Gently press EXT-2 for 30 seconds
  4. Continue PC-6 pressure as needed throughout the journey
  5. Optional: SP-4 or LI-4

Everyday Considerations

When you travel

  • Seat: The front seat of a car, or a seat over the wing of a plane, may give a smoother ride
  • Where to look: Look out into the distance rather than reading or focusing on something inside the vehicle

Pregnancy

  • Traditionally avoided during pregnancy: LI-4. Skip this point if you are or may be pregnant.

When to Seek Medical Care

See a doctor if you have

  • Vomited for longer than 24 hours
  • Signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, infrequent urination or dark urine