BACKGROUND: Motion sickness is a common transportation issue worldwide. Vestibular dysfunction has been reported to be a key etiology of motion sickness. However, there are limited technologies for alleviating motion sickness. METHODS: The most appropriate frequency (Hz) and level (dBZ) of pure tone for modulation of vestibular function were determined by an ex vivo study using murine utricle explants. The preventive effects of the selected pure tone on motion sickness were then confirmed by using a beam balance test in mice. The alleviating effects of pure tone on motion sickness induced by a swing, driving simulator or real car were objectively assessed by using posturography and electrocardiography (ECG) and were subjectively assessed by using the Motion Sickness Assessment Questionnaire (MSAQ) in humans. RESULTS: The effect of short-term (≤5 min) exposure to a pure tone of 80-85 dBZ (= 60.9-65.9 dBA) at 100 Hz on motion sickness was investigated in mice and humans. A mouse study showed a long-lasting (≥120 min) alleviative effect on shaking-mediated exacerbated beam test scores by 5-min exposure to a pure tone of 85 dBZ at 100 Hz, which was ex vivo determined as a sound activating vestibular function, before shaking. Human studies further showed that 1-min exposure to a pure tone of 80-85 dBZ (= 60.9-65.9 dBA) at 100 Hz before shaking improved the increased envelope areas in posturography caused by the shakings of a swing, a driving simulator and a vehicle. Driving simulator-mediated activation of sympathetic nerves assessed by the heart rate variable (HRV) and vehicle-mediated increased scores of the MSAQ were improved by pure tone exposure before the shaking. CONCLUSION: Since the exacerbated results of posturography and HRV reflect shaking-mediated imbalance and autonomic dysfunction, respectively, the results suggest that the imbalance and autonomic dysregulation in motion sickness could be improved by just 1-min exposure to a pure tone with daily exposable sound pressure levels. TRIAL REGISTRATION Registration number: UMIN000022413 (2016/05/23-2023/04/19) and UMIN000053735 (2024/02/29-present).
Motion Sickness/therapy* ; Animals ; Mice ; Humans ; Male ; Adult ; Female ; Sound ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

OBJECTIVETo verify the efficacy of Jianpi-xingniao needling therapy on prevention and treatment of motion sickness.

METHODSSixty volunteers of motion sickness were randomized into an acupuncture group and a delayed acupuncture group, 30 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was given at Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Neiguan (PC 6), Zusanli (ST 36) and Hegu (LI 4). The needles were retained for 20 min. The treatment was given twice a week and 10 treatments were required. In the delayed acupuncture group, acupuncture was postponed, meaning no acupuncture during observation stage. Graybel scale was adopted to observe the score of symptoms and physical signs of the subjects of motion sickness before and after intervention. The efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSTwenty-five cases in the acupuncture group and 22 cases in the delayed acupuncture group were included in the statistical analysis. The score of symptoms and physical signs of motion sickness was reduced significantly after treatment in the acupuncture group as compared with that before treatment (10.12 +/- 3.37 vs 0.92 +/- 0.40, P < 0.05). The score in the acupuncture group was lower apparently than that in the delayed acupuncture group (0.92 +/- 0.40 vs 9.86 +/- 2.53, P < 0.05). The difference was not significant before and after treatment in the self-comparison of the delayed acupuncture group (P > 0.05). The total effective rate was 96.0% (24/25) in the acupuncture group, which was significantly better than 0.0% (0/22) in the delayed acupuncture group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONJianpixingniao needling therapy relieves the symptoms of motion sickness in the patients and achieves a better clinical efficacy.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Motion Sickness ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Acupressure ; Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motion Sickness ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-motion sickness efficacy and influence on the blood level of some hormones of a Chinese prescription composed of 10 herbs such as spina date seed.

METHODSAccording to the report by Cramptom and Lucot, SD rats and Beagle dogs were rotated around a horizontal axis, and the rat behavior of pica for Kaolin and the latency to vomit in dog were observed. In addition, guinea pigs were rotated around a vertical axis, and the nystagmus was recorded. Blood levels of corticosterone, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) in rats were measured with radioimmunoassay. The influences of the extracted mixture of herbs on these variables were simultaneously investigated.

RESULTSCompared with control group, oral administration of the extracted mixture of herbs: (1) significantly inhibited the rat behavior of pica for Kaolin and prolonged the latency to vomit in dog dose-dependently; (2) decreased the frequency of nystagmus and mean slow phase speed in rat; (3) reduced the elevation of corticosterone, ACTH, CRH and AVP in rat blood induced by rotatory stimulation; and (4) these effects of the extracted mixture of herbs were almost identical to dimenhydrinate.

CONCLUSION(1) The extracted mixture of Chinese Medicinal Herbs we used could inhibit motion sickness effectively. (2) This drug could reduce the blood levels of hormones of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis and AVP elevated by provocative rotatory stimulation.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; blood ; Animals ; Arginine Vasopressin ; blood ; Corticosterone ; blood ; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone ; blood ; Dogs ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Motion Sickness ; blood ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effect of orientation taping magnetic granules at auricular points and Neiguan (PC 6) on motion sickness.

METHODSAll 200 cases of motion sickness were divided into a treatment group (n = 102) and a control group (n = 98). The treatment group were treated with orientation taping magnetic granules at auricular points and Neiguan (PC 6), and the control group with oral administration of theohydramine.

RESULTSThere was a significant difference between the two groups in the total effective rate (P < 0.05), and clinical symptoms disappeared more rapidly in the treatment group as compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The therapeutic effect in the mild and moderate patients of the treatment group was better than that of the control group, and there was no significant difference in the therapeutic effect for the severe patients between the two groups. In the treatment group, the therapeutic effect of the mild patient was the best, the moderate patient was next and the severe patient was the worst, with a very significant difference (P < 0.005).

CONCLUSIONOrientation Taping magnetic granules at auricular points and Neiguan (PC 6) has an obvious therapeutic effect on motion sickness, with less adverse reactions.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetics ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motion Sickness ; prevention & control ; therapy