Nausea and Floating - Why does it happen sometimes?

Float therapy, also known as sensory deprivation is one of the most accessible and relaxing methods for pain and anxiety relief available today.  Floating, for the majority of those who first try it, is a wonderful, safe and effective tool for navigating our modern society. But for a few, the float experience can evoke a temporary sense of motion sickness or nausea, which can limit its relaxing feeling and other potential benefits.

Forget the rollercoaster. Motion sickness can occur not only during physical motion, but visual and virtual motion - all three of which can happen while floating in a float tank - especially due to variations in weightlessness and postural control of the head and neck muscles while floating effortlessly in a face up position.  

Movements of the head and torso can alter reflexes of the eyes and inner ear, affecting equilibrium - especially if you are in complete darkness. Even small movements can create proportionally disruptive waves within the tank. Those who are generally sensitive to motion sickness may also find similar sensitivity with floating.

Ever get that “pit” in your stomach? That gut feeling we get in times of high anxiety or emergency situations is triggered by one of our cranial nerves, the vagus nerve, which directly communicates to and from our organs and brain, including the stomach and intestines. This can be fueled by chronic stress, stimulating cortisol production from the adrenal gland which can lead to increased heart rate, fatigue, headache and nausea.

Defying gravity in skin temperature water can create a paradoxical effect where the body gets so relaxed that the mind turns inward and temporarily magnifies internal sensations and thoughts, including those of anxiety or stress. While rare, this can be perceived as a feeling of motion sickness and is often seen with TBI (traumatic brain injury) or concussion, where an auditory or visual trigger will bring on nausea.

Stress and anxiety are not the only causes of nausea. Sometimes, what and when you last ate or drank may be the reason. Dehydration is a common reason for nausea while floating, especially during the heat of the summer months. Further, floating stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system - our “rest and digest” vs. our “fight or flight” pathway – which explains why the associated state of deep relaxation that accompanies floating also stimulates digestion. This is why gurgling sounds are often heard, why some emerge hungry after the float, and why some sometimes feel nauseous when we are actually hungry. Of course you can also feel nauseous if you ate three greasy cheeseburgers shortly before floating, too.

Another reason could be environmental.  The temperature of the float tank should be between 93.5º and 95º at all times.  There should be some air flow into the tank so it does not get too stuffy.  Sometimes, the water and air temperature creates high humidity in the tank which can have a negative effect possibly resulting in nausea.  While this is a common reason for nausea, many times the same sensations can be chalked up to anxiety, as anxiety disorders both mild and severe can magnify reactions in our body.

Some people have actual physiologic disorders, such as postural orthostatic postural hypertension (“POTS”) or a condition where going from a lying to standing can cause blood pressure variations. POTS is often be associated with motion sickness. Others have medical conditions requiring medications such as blood pressure, statins, and antibiotics that can cause nausea. Intense physical or generalized chronic pain while floating can be such a sudden change of physical sensation that it can affect your “gut reaction” in the same ways as described above.

Overall, floating for most people provides a sense of pain relief and relaxation that is unparalleled. If you try it once and find that you are stomach or motion sensitive, it’s worth trying a second time, as it might be a simple fix such as hydrating, eating a small bite before floating, or requesting a temperature adjustment with the water or air temperature. And for a select few, floating may just not be for you.

Most importantly, if you tend towards motion sickness, there are ways to minimize or eliminate the reaction. You can leave the overhead light on or dim the light, while simultaneously cracking the lid of the pod to be able to see the “horizon”. Optionally, the light within the tank can also be left on.

Using a headrest which is usually within the tank or within reach of the tank, can help to stabilize the head and to keep in a slightly flexed position, which also minimizes reactions to movement and sensation while floating. Further, outstretching the arms and stabilizing your body, with a focus on minimal and slow movements will also reduce wavelike motions in the tank that tend to be triggers. Keeping the pod lid cracked or entirely open will also ensure steady air flow.

If you do experience nausea while floating, you can always get out of the tank. You do not need to stay in for the full session. Afterwards, a pinch of Celtic or Himalayan sea salt or some fresh or encapsulated ginger tablets can remedy that uneasy feeling.

So. despite the rare instance that you may experience nausea with floating, there are easy solutions to mitigate the issue both during and afterwards. Enjoy your float!

Author Dr. David Berv can be contacted at david@myfloatzone.com