Wristbands for Airsickness

[Cricket23]

I while ago somebody was advocating some kind of wristband for air sickness. I think they were quite expensive at about 80 quid, but the testimonials in one of the flying mags rated them quite highly.

However, after about a 30 min trawl through loads of threads I can't find a mention.

Can anybody point me in the right direction please?

Also, has anybody used them?

Cheers,

C23

[captain_rossco]

i've heard the no-qweez ones are decent,fraction of the price too.

Cheers
Rossco

[Ghostie31]

A wristband to help air sickness? :ugh:
It works in exactly the same way as those little white things that hold rugby players nostrils open. i.e. it doesn't,...
Its all psychological!!

[Genghis the Engineer]

You might do worse than search on this in the medical forum, there have been several threads on the subject.

But don't pay £80!

G

[vancouv]

I've used them for sea-sickness, and despite what Ghostie31 said I thought they worked. I'm normally pretty sick on boats and while wearing them I didn't have any problems. Of course, to be sure you would have to do the exact same trip twice, once with and once without - completely impossible.

I've never had a problem in the air, but you certainly don't need to pay £80 - I just got mine from Boots - can't see why you would need anything special for airsickness.

[PlasticPro]

My wife suffers greatly from sea-sickness and occasionally from air-sickness. To alleviate the sea-sickness, she purchased some 'Sea-Bands' from the local chemist. Not sure how much, but certainly not £80. They are supposed to work by applying pressure (similar to acupuncture) to an area on the wrist belived to inhibit nausea. She swears by them.

PP

[Farmer 1]

I'll sell you a pair for £80.

They're called Sea-bands, among other things, and should be available in any half-decent chemist's. I've just done a quick search on Google, and they cost £7.99.

And they work. I use them on buses, ships, and in the sim.

[jabberwok]

Is that a tractor sim then? :} :}

[Farmer 1]

Of course. Is there another type, then?

[Ghostie31]

I despite what Ghostie31 said

I didnt say they don't work, all i meant is that with some psychological strength you can have the same affect, without spending the money!

[Farmer 1]

A wristband to help air sickness?
It works in exactly the same way as those little white things that hold rugby players nostrils open. i.e. it doesn't,...
I didnt say they don't workBet you've never been accused of consistency, Ghostie.

[Genghis the Engineer]

For anybody interested, they are claimed to act upon a point referred to in Traditional Chinese Medicine as Pericardium 6.

The point is on the underside of the wrist, the length of your front thumb joint from the centre of the lowest crease in the wrist towards the elbow - if you feel that point, you should feel that it is slightly more tender than anywhere else on the inside of the wrist.

It does tie your hands up somewhat, but you can just massage it with a finger or thumb from the other hand (I get airsick passengers to do this, and have never yet had one throw up in the aircraft, so if nothing else, it's not presumably making them any worse).

To see the point, look at the diagram here (http://www.yinyanghouse.com/acupuncturepoints/pericardium_meridian_graphic).

G

(Hobby interest in shaitsu, and I do think it works, although would struggle to explain why, even in the most mystical terminology I know - it just does!).

[Ghostie31]

Farmer,

I can see what you mean, but I meant that its not the wristband that helps with the air sickness, its the psychological factor of it.

[Whirlybird]

Ghostie,

I do wish you wouldn't state your personal opinion as though it were proven fact.

There's quite a lot of evidence that these wristbands work, and not just for psychological reasons. You could be right...but having strong opinions doesn't prove that you are. Anyway, who cares? The thread starter asked about getting hold of the bands and if anyone had any experience of them. You have no knowledge of either, do you?

[Ghostie31]

You could be right...but having strong opinions doesn't prove that you are. Anyway, who cares?

Um, Dont most of the threads on pprune depend on peoples opinions?

The thread starter asked about getting hold of the bands and if anyone had any experience of them. You have no knowledge of either, do you?

Actually I do, hence why I was advising him/her to keep clear and save money.

Just my humble opinion though.

[Unusual Attitude]

You can get a wee battery powered job for about £80 called the Relief Band which I bough the missus as she gets terribly ill in GA types. It basically has 5 different power levels and gives out a small electric current which interrupts the signals to the brain from your vestibular apparatus and stops you feeling queasy....or something along those lines....

So far its worked very well, she normally sticks it on number 2 or 3 and has been fine so far though did have it up at 5 on a rather bumpy day!
I'm going to try her in the JP next and throw a loop or roll or two at her and see how she copes.

Perhaps thats a bit much to ask of it but regardless its been a dramatic improvement so far....

[Cricket23]

Thanks all for your replies. As usual a mixed bag!

What I need them for is aeros as after a few loops and rolls my stomach says that's enough. I know that after a while you're supposed to get used to it, but it does get a bit frustrating having to cut every lesson short.

I've tried the ones that Boots supply for £5 (or whatever), and they don't make a difference. In a strange perverse logic that one applies to these things at times, I was hoping that £80 would actually pay itself back in terms of lost time etc.

Interesting to hear that UA's wife had a positive experience, whether they'll work with aeros of course is another matter! I'll let you know.

Cheers,

C23

[Whirlybird]

A wristband to help air sickness?
It works in exactly the same way as those little white things that hold rugby players nostrils open. i.e. it doesn't,...
Its all psychological!!

Nowhere do I see a word about having tried them, keeping clear, or saving money. I guess I'd better look harder.

[Ghostie31]

Im not getting drawn in to an argument. It seems on this site that every little word you write gets scrutinised by people with far to much time on their hands.

Nuffsaid

P.s. Cricket23, I too had problems with aeros at the start, but that was because I was being flown and not PIC. As soon as I was flying I had too much to concentrate on to worry about feeling ill! Hope it doesn't ruin the enjoyment of flying for you! It almost did with me.
Not sure if your in the same situation but good luck with it anyway! (Hope my opinion on this doesn't create any tension!)

Ghostie31

[wsmempson]

http://magellans.co.uk/store/Games___Gifts___Gifts_Under__100IF121?Args=
I bought one of these as my dad and my daughter both suffer from airsickness and this has completely dealt with the problem. Now whether this is by dint of the placebo effect or whether they actually work, who can tell.

As Deng Shiow Ping once said when asked about Hong Kong and the capitalist culture there, "who cares what colour the cat is, just so long as it catches mice....".

[Flyin'Dutch']

Thanks all for your replies. As usual a mixed bag!
What I need them for is aeros as after a few loops and rolls my stomach says that's enough. I know that after a while you're supposed to get used to it, but it does get a bit frustrating having to cut every lesson short.
I've tried the ones that Boots supply for £5 (or whatever), and they don't make a difference. In a strange perverse logic that one applies to these things at times, I was hoping that £80 would actually pay itself back in terms of lost time etc.
Interesting to hear that UA's wife had a positive experience, whether they'll work with aeros of course is another matter! I'll let you know.
Cheers,
C23

As Ghostie says; with continued, limited exposure you will get used to aeros.

Make sure that you are relaxed before you set off avoiding a heavy meal and an empty stomach.

As time goes on and you have 'learned' that you are not going to be sick (so make sure you are back on the deck) it will get better.

We don't know why people get motion sick. The difference between what your body senses (balance organ in your inner ears); feels (small recpetors in your joints and muscles) and sees (eyes) makes that the computer (your nod) gets confused and that stimulates your nausea control centre.

There is good evidence that there is an element of psychological overlay. That explains why some people always get sick on a boat and never in an aeroplane (me!)

What helps?

Relax
Experience (positive ones at that)
Medication (disallowed if you are the driver of the aeroplane but can help a lot if you are not P1 and by the FAA allowed for students flying with a CFI)
Wristbands (for some people; certainly not for all)

Why do wristbands work? Because they stimulate something? Dunno, nothing proven as yet.

As with most things were there is a psychological component to it, it may very well be the placebo effect.

Maybe the dearer ones are therefore better!

In th meantime persevere, likelihood is that you will get over it!

:ok:

FD

[Cricket23]

Thanks FD for the advice. From the experience of others,I'm sure I'll get over it - eventually. Being a little impatient I was trying to shorten the process.

wsmempson - yes these were the ones that I was on about. I've seen them advertised for 80 dollars on the net, but can't yet find a way of getting them into the UK! (and they don't list 'phone numbers)

Regards,

Cricket

[Avionyx]

Hi there Cricket,

Sorry to jump in late here!

On that American 'science' show mythbusters =, they tried lots of cures for motion sickness, the one that came out tops was natural ginger root pills (available from Holland and Barratt)

Must admit I tried them as I get sick on my boat alot over summer while fishing (never happened before!) but have neve got sick in GA.

Anyway I found the Ginger pills worked so much better than a pulse wristband and certainly a lot cheaper. Might be worth giving it a go?

All the best,

Avionyx

[Cricket23]

Thanks Avionyx, I'll give them a go. Nothing ventured and all that.

C23