Motion sickness in ancient China: Seasickness and cart-sickness

Area of Science:

• Historical Medicine
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Medical History

Background:

• Exploration of historical Chinese medical literature to identify descriptions of motion sickness.
• Utilized databases and dictionaries to search for terms related to seasickness and travel sickness.
• Analyzed full-text databases for relevant passages from approximately the 3rd to 19th centuries AD.

Observation:

• Ancient Chinese differentiated between cart-sickness (northern China) and ship-illness (southern China) as early as 300 AD.
• A third form, "litter-influence," affected individuals transported in litters during the Middle Ages.
• Recognized children's particular susceptibility to motion sickness.

Findings:

• Historical Chinese texts detail various forms of motion sickness, each with unique terminology.
• Pathophysiology was explained through the medicine of correspondences, involving bodily imbalances and external pathogens.
• The concept of motion as a sickness trigger was linked to ancient beliefs about warding off negative influences.

Implications:

• Provides a historical perspective on the understanding and classification of motion sickness.
• Highlights the early recognition of distinct motion sickness types and susceptible populations.
• Offers insights into traditional therapeutic approaches and the conceptualization of illness in ancient China.