Talk about lemon help.
Dr. Karan Rangarajan, also known as Dr. Karan Raj, is sharing why bringing a lemon on a trip – and smelling it – can help ease motion sickness.
“The Olfactory System [in the nose] get those citrus scents,” Rangarajan started a trending TikTok last week that has attracted 406,700 views.
“The olfactory system is also closely related to the limbic system, which regulates nausea, so inhaling the scent of lemon stimulates the limbic system to help relieve nausea,” he added.
Rangarajan, a surgeon in the United Kingdom, further explained that the scent of lemon increases saliva production and stomach emptying, which means fewer symptoms of nausea.
The strong citrus scent also provides a sensory distraction that shifts the brain’s attention away from the nausea, Rangarajan said.
“This may not work for everyone, but using ginger, peppermint oil, or any citrus fruit are low-cost and relatively risk-free interventions for nausea that do not require medication,” he advised.
This isn’t the first time lemons have stolen the spotlight on TikTok.
Last fall, influencer Darcy McQueeny shared a short video of herself sniffing half a lemon and declaring, “I literally never get on a train without a lemon again.”
Dr. Joseph Salhab, a Florida-based gastroenterologist, said at the time that there is “some truth” to the lemon nausea trick.
“It doesn’t have to be a lemon specifically. It could just be the act of deep breathing,” Salhab said. “Every time you take a deep breath or inhale a scent, signals are sent to your brain and that can cause a relaxation or a calming effect on your stomach.”
Salhab suggests breathing in slowly through your nose and holding your breath for about three seconds before slowly breathing out through your mouth.
Commenters on Salhab’s clip also recommended blotting with alcohol wipes, rubbing alcohol, an orange or ginger-scented stick.
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Image Source : nypost.com