MythBusters Episode 43: Sea-sickness – Kill or Cure?
Air Date: November 18, 2005
Seasickness can be cured by using a cinnamon-flavored tongue spray.
busted
The spray had no effect on Adam or Grant.
Seasickness can be cured by taking a ginger pill.
confirmed
Both Adam and Grant made it through their spin-chair sessions without feeling ill.
Seasickness can be cured by using magnetized arm bands.
busted
The arm bands had no effect on Adam or Grant. Some celebrities like Barry Manilow claim they work; they nonetheless do not operate on any valid scientific principles.
Seasickness can be cured by using an electro-shock wrist band.
busted
The shocks made Adam and Grant feel mildly uncomfortable and they still got sick.
Seasickness can be cured by using a placebo, like a vitamin or a sugar pill.
plausible
While Adam didn’t fall for it, Grant was successfully tricked into thinking he had taken a store-bought sea-sickness medication and did not throw up. Unfortunately, by falling for the placebo all his test results had to be thrown out on the grounds of psychosomatic influence.
It is more fuel efficient to drive your pick-up truck with its tailgate down, rather than up.
busted
Driving with the tailgate down actually increased drag on the pick-up and caused it to consume fuel faster than the identical truck driven with the tailgate up. It was later revealed that the closed tailgate creates a locked vortex flow that created a smoother flow of air over the truck. With the tailgate down the trapped vortex was dissipated and the drag increased.
(This myth was revisited in episode 64 and re-busted. However, it was found that mesh tailgates are the most efficient configuration.)
A shotgun plugged by a human finger will backfire and explode injuring or killing the shooter instead of the intended victim.
busted
Both test hands (composed of ballistics gel of varying firmness) were completely obliterated by the shotgun blast. Neither had the volume or strength needed to plug the barrel to create enough pressure to cause it to explode. Even under ridiculous circumstances like having the barrel clogged with dirt, being sealed off by a 4 inch spike welded into the barrel and by being blocked by a simulated squib load, the gun still didn’t explode. The best results seen were minor deformations in the gun barrel.
(This myth was revisited in episode 75 and it was re-busted.)
Newer: Episode 44: Paper Crossbow
Older: Episode 42: Steel Toe-Cap Amputation, Bottle Rocket Blast-off
As much as I love Mythbusters, this episode had me screaming at the TV! In the segment “Seasickness can be cured by placebo” they gave the guys Vitamin B as a “placebo” and then threw out Grant’s results because the “placebo” worked for him. Ask any pregnant woman who’s suffered from morning sickness, she has probably had a doctor or pharmacist suggest that she take a dose of Vitamin B6! It has long been used to treat nausea.
Here’s a few links:
http://www.healingwithnutrition.com/vitamin.html
http://www.morningsicknesshelp.com/b-natal.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vitamin-b6/NS_patient-b6
faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/herbal/1998041519004507.html
Just Google “vitamin B, nausea” There are thousands of pages out there supporting its use!
June 29, 2007 at 10:06 AMconcerning tailgates and fuel efficiency, if a mesh tailgate is most efficient than what about the louvered type that are made for towing 5th wheels, would a standard tailgate that was perforated like a slab of swiss cheese be as fuel efficient as the mesh type?
July 20, 2007 at 2:26 PMLiz,
I had the exact same thought! While I was pregnant (and violently ill and nauseous), I was actually presecribed ‘Diclectin’ (available in Canada) which is a vit b complex with antihistamine!! (diclectin.com)
September 23, 2007 at 6:10 PMLiz and Erin,
Sorry to say this but…..morning sickness and motion sickness are two different feelings!
December 1, 2007 at 10:39 AMJust watching this episode have you tryed putting the barrel underwater not entire gun just barrel as if shooting fish i have seen the result of this which is the peeling you where looking for
April 21, 2008 at 5:31 AMwhat kind/strength ginger pills were used for the test? I can’t lay on a raft in a pool without getting sick—loved the episode but was left wanting specifics on those magic pills!
July 20, 2009 at 2:38 PMHave just been searching for this episode. Did they make any attempt to control for preceeding responses?
If you keep getting on a chair that makes you sick, how sick are you before the chair even starts to spin?
Can you assume you are in the same state prior to each test?
Also Eliza I think a proper placebo wouldn’t have included any substance linked in anyway with elevating naseau in general.
August 6, 2009 at 5:25 PMIf anyone knows what ginger pills were used on the sea sickness episode, reply,
November 1, 2009 at 3:31 PMI am so prone to motion sickness that just looking at boats or being on a city bus can make me sick. I have tried ginger pills after this episode aired, and they work like a charm. It doesn’t matter the brand or the dose. If you just go to any store with dietary supplements, just look for the bottle that says “ginger pills” as the dietary supplement and take the recommended does on the bottle. It warms your whole head within 10 minutes if you are currently sick and all of the sudden you’re good to go!
November 8, 2009 at 12:01 AMOh, and as far as which bottle, just look at the ingredients and get the purest stuff possible (i.e., no additives).
November 8, 2009 at 12:02 AMdoes a guinea pigs squeak come from the voice box?
January 21, 2010 at 11:46 PM