Does chewing gum help motion sickness?
Verdict: Probably
Probably yes, with the best evidence for screen- and VR-induced sickness. Chewing gum cut peak sickness scores by about two points on a 20-point scale in a 77-person study — a moderate effect for something that costs almost nothing.
What it's claimed to do
A folk fix that turns out to have a recent, reasonably well-designed trial behind it — and one of the very few remedies tested specifically against sickness caused by screens rather than by vehicles.
- YesTested for motion sickness and it held up.
- Probablythis remedyReal trial support, but modest or from a single study.
- MixedTrials disagree — some found an effect, better-designed ones did not.
- UntestedNo one has tested this for motion sickness. It may still be sensible.
- NoTested for motion sickness and it did not beat a placebo.
Levels describe the state of the published research on motion sickness specifically — not on nausea in general, and not how well something worked for any individual. “Untested” means no trial has looked; it is not the same as a remedy having been tested and failed.
What the research actually says
Kaufeld and colleagues at Mainz put 77 people through a 15-minute virtual helicopter flight in a VR headset, split between peppermint gum, ginger gum and no gum. Both gum groups did better: peak scores on the Fast Motion Sickness Scale fell by 2.05 points against the control group, an effect size of d = 0.65, which is moderate by the standards of this field. Notably, the ginger gum was no better than the peppermint gum, which argues the benefit came from chewing and taste rather than from ginger as a drug. The authors were careful about what they could not conclude. Without a flavorless-gum arm they could not separate the act of chewing from the pleasantness of the taste, and they found that a pleasant taste specifically was associated with less sickness — which links this result to the music findings, where enjoyment predicted the benefit. Two limits worth knowing: the sickness induced was relatively mild, and it was visually induced sickness in a headset, not the vestibular sickness of a real vehicle. Whether it transfers to a ferry crossing is untested.
The studies, in full
Experimental Brain Research 240(2):651-663 · PMID 34997261
Participants: 77 adults (peppermint gum 27, ginger gum 23, control 27)
Peak Fast Motion Sickness Scale scores were reduced by 2.05 points (SE 0.76) in the chewing gum groups versus control, d = 0.65, p < 0.01, after a 15-minute VR helicopter flight. Ginger gum was not superior to peppermint gum. Pleasant taste was associated with less sickness.
Read the source →Safety & what to watch for
- The trial used visually induced sickness in a VR headset with relatively mild symptoms. It has not been shown to transfer to a car, boat or plane.
- Sugar-free gums are usually sweetened with polyols such as sorbitol or xylitol, which cause bloating and diarrhea in some people at higher intakes — not what you want on a long journey.
- Xylitol is toxic to dogs. Keep the packet away from a pet traveling with you.
- If you have jaw problems such as TMJ disorder, sustained chewing may not be a good idea — ask your dentist or doctor.
If you want to try it
- Pick a flavor you actually enjoy — the study found pleasant taste tracked with less sickness, and there was no advantage to ginger gum specifically.
- Start chewing before the rough part or before you put the headset on, rather than once you already feel ill.
- It combines well with everything else here: chewing does not stop you looking at the horizon or breathing slowly.
- It is a particularly practical option for children, who often cannot take medication and can generally manage gum.
Looking for something drug-free?
Try Dizzout Free
We make a free, drug-free app that plays calibrated sound through headphones you already own. We hold it to the same standard as everything on this page: it is not a medication, it will not suit everyone, and if a forward view and slow breathing are enough for you, use those first.
Frequently asked questions
Does ginger gum work better than ordinary gum?+
Not in the trial that tested it. Ginger gum and peppermint gum performed similarly, which suggests the benefit came from chewing and from a pleasant taste rather than from ginger acting as a drug at that dose.
Why would chewing help at all?+
The authors were explicit that the mechanism is not settled. The leading candidates are that jaw movement interferes with the sensory conflict signal, that a pleasant taste is distracting and mildly pleasurable, and that chewing promotes swallowing and normal gastric activity. Because the study had no flavorless-gum group, it could not separate these.
Is gum any good for VR sickness specifically?+
That is the setting it was actually tested in, so it has better support there than for car or sea sickness. If you get sick in a headset, it is one of the cheapest things to try.
Check another remedy
Sources
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When it isn't motion sickness. Severe or lasting dizziness, a spinning sensation at rest, hearing loss, ringing in one ear, double vision, a bad headache, chest pain, fainting, or vomiting you cannot stop are not motion sickness. Seek medical care rather than a travel remedy.
Dizzout is not a medical provider and nothing here is medical advice. These pages summarize published research so you can weigh it — they cannot account for your health, your medicines or your pregnancy. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before starting any supplement or medication, especially if you take other drugs, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are buying for a child. Evidence summaries reflect the published literature as of July 2026 and describe findings in groups of people, which cannot predict your individual response. Product and brand names are trademarks of their respective owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.