Traveling can challenge your body in many ways. Unfamiliar environments, difficult schedules and exotic foods often cause physical and emotional stress while traveling. Below is a list of the most common health ailments associated with traveling and some natural therapies to help make your next journey a healthy one.
Aches and pains
Whether you're driving long hours in a car, flying in an airplane or walking while sight seeing, homeopathic arnica is a great solution for fighting the physical discomfort involved with traveling. Arnica is available in both internal and external preparations and is safe to use for all ages. Arnica gel may be applied externally by rubbing into the affected area as needed. Arnica in a 30c potency, may be taken internally every four hours until symptoms resolve or up to three days.
Anxiety
To help calm you down during anxious travel moments, I suggest using Rescue Remedy by Bach. Rescue Remedy is being used by people around the world to assist in relaxing your body during demanding times. Whether it's before boarding an airplane or sitting in a traffic jam, place four drops directly under your tongue during times of stress. Some people prefer adding 10 drops to their water bottle and sip while traveling.
Colds and flus
Many factors contribute to making travelers vulnerable to respiratory infections, including stress and lack of sleep. On airplanes, the dry air and crowded conditions are notorious for contributing to the spread of cold and flu viruses. Taking extra Vitamin C is a great way to help protect your system from the stress of traveling. Studies have shown that taking 1,000 milligrams of Vitamin C can boost a person's immune system within five hours. Preventatively, I suggest adults take 1,000-2,000 milligrams each day while traveling.
Constipation
For those prone to constipation while traveling, being conscious of your water intake (consume half your body weight in ounces of water per day) and eating high-fiber foods such as apples, carrots and whole grains every day can assist in preventing constipation.
Diarrhea
Contaminated food or water can cause traveler's diarrhea. The homeopathic remedy arsenicum album, aids in relieving diarrhea and indigestion associated with eating bad food. Recommended adult dosage is three pellets of a 30c potency every two hours until symptoms resolve or up to three days. For children, I suggest one pellet of a 30c potency every two hours until symptoms resolve or up to two days. To prevent dehydration from diarrhea, drink plenty of fluids and eat easily digestible foods, like rice, applesauce and toast. If you experience fever, blood in the stool or if the diarrhea continues for more than a few days, consult a doctor.
Headaches
Peppermint essential oil may be utilized to ease throbbing tension headaches while traveling. I suggest applying a few drops of the oil directly to your temples at the first sign of a headache.
Jet lag
The irritability and insomnia characteristic of jet lag are caused by your body trying to reset its internal biological clock to a different schedule. The hormone melatonin may be helpful for combating jet lag. I suggest taking half a milligram to 1 milligram one hour before you want to go to sleep for several days upon your destination arrival. Combination formulas containing sedative herbs may also be useful. Examples of sedative herbs are as follows: Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), Chamomile (Matricaria recutita), Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) or Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora). Caution to those taking conventional medications, drug-herb interactions may occur.
Motion sickness
Fennel seeds are a must have for any travel kit. Whether it's to ease nausea from motion sickness or to calm spasms from eating irritating foods, chewing on a handful of seeds will help with many digestive ailments, and they taste good too. If traveling with children, candied ginger is also a nice digestive aid for motion sickness or tummy aches.
Amanda Fey is a naturopathic doctor working at The Center in Auburn. To learn more about naturopathic medicine, visit www.thecenterforwellness.com
Whether you're driving long hours in a car, flying in an airplane or walking while sight seeing, homeopathic arnica is a great solution for fighting the physical discomfort involved with traveling. Arnica is available in both internal and external preparations and is safe to use for all ages. Arnica gel may be applied externally by rubbing into the affected area as needed. Arnica in a 30c potency, may be taken internally every four hours until symptoms resolve or up to three days.
Anxiety
To help calm you down during anxious travel moments, I suggest using Rescue Remedy by Bach. Rescue Remedy is being used by people around the world to assist in relaxing your body during demanding times. Whether it's before boarding an airplane or sitting in a traffic jam, place four drops directly under your tongue during times of stress. Some people prefer adding 10 drops to their water bottle and sip while traveling.
Colds and flus
Many factors contribute to making travelers vulnerable to respiratory infections, including stress and lack of sleep. On airplanes, the dry air and crowded conditions are notorious for contributing to the spread of cold and flu viruses. Taking extra Vitamin C is a great way to help protect your system from the stress of traveling. Studies have shown that taking 1,000 milligrams of Vitamin C can boost a person's immune system within five hours. Preventatively, I suggest adults take 1,000-2,000 milligrams each day while traveling.
Constipation
For those prone to constipation while traveling, being conscious of your water intake (consume half your body weight in ounces of water per day) and eating high-fiber foods such as apples, carrots and whole grains every day can assist in preventing constipation.
Diarrhea
Contaminated food or water can cause traveler's diarrhea. The homeopathic remedy arsenicum album, aids in relieving diarrhea and indigestion associated with eating bad food. Recommended adult dosage is three pellets of a 30c potency every two hours until symptoms resolve or up to three days. For children, I suggest one pellet of a 30c potency every two hours until symptoms resolve or up to two days. To prevent dehydration from diarrhea, drink plenty of fluids and eat easily digestible foods, like rice, applesauce and toast. If you experience fever, blood in the stool or if the diarrhea continues for more than a few days, consult a doctor.
Headaches
Peppermint essential oil may be utilized to ease throbbing tension headaches while traveling. I suggest applying a few drops of the oil directly to your temples at the first sign of a headache.
Jet lag
The irritability and insomnia characteristic of jet lag are caused by your body trying to reset its internal biological clock to a different schedule. The hormone melatonin may be helpful for combating jet lag. I suggest taking half a milligram to 1 milligram one hour before you want to go to sleep for several days upon your destination arrival. Combination formulas containing sedative herbs may also be useful. Examples of sedative herbs are as follows: Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), Chamomile (Matricaria recutita), Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) or Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora). Caution to those taking conventional medications, drug-herb interactions may occur.
Motion sickness
Fennel seeds are a must have for any travel kit. Whether it's to ease nausea from motion sickness or to calm spasms from eating irritating foods, chewing on a handful of seeds will help with many digestive ailments, and they taste good too. If traveling with children, candied ginger is also a nice digestive aid for motion sickness or tummy aches.
Amanda Fey is a naturopathic doctor working at The Center in Auburn. To learn more about naturopathic medicine, visit www.thecenterforwellness.com
