Buzz
Seasickness occurs when the body has difficulty adjusting to a boat's movements, leading to feelings of instability and nausea. Land sickness, on the other hand, is the opposite: the body becomes accustomed to the boat's motion, and when solid ground is reached, it struggles to regain balance. This can result in a person swaying or rocking even after disembarking, and in some cases, they may even feel ill.
What exactly is land sickness?
The earliest known reference to land sickness can be traced back to 1796, when Erasmus Darwin wrote:
“Those, who have been upon the water in a boat or ship so long, that they have acquired the necessary habits of motion upon that unstable element, at their return on land frequently think in their reveries, or between sleeping and waking, that they observe the room, they sit in, or some of its furniture, to librate like the motion of the vessel. This I have experienced myself, and have been told, that after long voyages, it is some time before these ideas entirely vanish.”
As Darwin’s description illustrates, land sickness usually occurs after a prolonged time at sea, although the length of time spent on the water doesn't necessarily affect the intensity of the symptoms. It's not only boats that can trigger this condition—airplanes and trains can also induce this sense of unsteadiness and discomfort.
Some estimates suggest that between 43 and 73 percent of people experience land sickness. While it can affect anyone, women aged 30 to 60 are more prone to it, as are individuals who experience migraines.
What triggers land sickness?
The exact cause of land sickness is still unclear. One of the leading theories is that constant motion disrupts the vestibular system, which is responsible for maintaining balance and keeping track of the body's position in space. This system is located in the inner ear.
After spending an extended period exposed to a wave-like motion, the body typically adjusts to the continuous rocking sensation. However, when that motion ceases, the brain may still interpret the environment as if the waves are ongoing. This conflicting sensory input creates confusion within the body, disrupting the vestibular system, and leaving the person feeling nauseous, unbalanced, and generally unwell.
Land sickness usually fades after a few days on solid ground, but there have been documented cases where the symptoms persist for months or even years.
