Healthy Travel
Have you ever been on a trip ready for the
time of your life and then suffered through
an awful cold or stomach bug instead of
getting to relax and have fun?
Plan ahead so you can be healthy. There are
many things to consider when traveling and
here we’ll start with two main health
issues.
Immune
System
You step on the plane, sit shoulder to
shoulder with your fellow passengers, the
doors close, and now the fears start. No,
not fears of flying. You worry, are you
going to get sick before your trip even
starts? That recycled air, the closed
quarters, the coughing, sneezing, sniffling
passengers.
 You’ve
been told it before and I’ll say it again.
Wash your hands and don’t touch your face.
Being on a plane can really dehydrate you
and render you more susceptible to catching
a cold, so drink lots of water and limit
your alcohol intake. I like to add a vitamin
C mix to my water to further boost my immune
system. You may also want to bring a small
spray bottle with filtered water and a few
drops of tea tree oil and lavender to spray
into your face as you inhale to help ward
off viruses. Bringing along a small bottle
of your favourite natural cold remedy is
also a good idea.
Digestive
System
It might be known as Montezuma's Revenge,
but Mexico isn't the only place where one
might get food poisoning. When you’re
traveling, there’s a balance you have to
find between being adventurous and playing
it safe with your food choices.
Once again, you know the basics. If you are
somewhere where the water is not safe, don’t
have drinks with ice in them. You may even
want to avoid salads and fruit or other
non-heated foods that would have been washed
in water. I like to take some grapefruit
seed extract or other natural fruit and
veggie cleaner with me so that I can clean
those foods myself because I definitely
don’t want to miss out on the fresh tropical
fruit! If the water is really unsafe, you
should also use bottled water to brush your
teeth. I’ve been told to simply sip a small
amount of the local water daily, gradually
increasing the amount so that my body can
get used to it. However, if you are only
traveling for a few weeks and not several
months, do you really want to risk it?
Nobody wants to bring home an unwanted
friend in the form of a parasite.
Other ways to avoid parasites (and viruses
and bacteria) is to take a small bottle of
oil of oregano with you. A few drops daily
will help kill them off. Make sure to wrap
that bottle in a tightly sealed plastic bag
just in case it leaks, or you’ll end up
smelling like a super strong pizza for your
whole trip and the oil is hard to remove.
If you’ve got the space in your luggage, I
also recommend taking a temperature-stable
probiotic. Acidophilus is one of the most
commonly recognized probiotics and it, along
with some of its other good bacteria
friends, can help strengthen your digestive
system and relieve symptoms of diarrhea or
constipation.
Be
Prepared
Too often we get sick as soon as we are able
to relax because our bodies have been
holding the fort and then finally relax. For
that reason, many of my patients also
prepare themselves before they go on their
trip by coming in for an acupuncture session
or two before they go away to help calm
their nervous systems, boost their immune
systems, improve their digestive systems,
and just generally strengthen their bodies.
Some patients also opt for a homeopathic
biopuncture injection of something to
further support their bodies.
 When
I pack my suitcase or backpack for any trip
I always make space for some natural health
remedies. I understand that luggage real
estate is prime, especially when you have to
pay for all baggage on flights, but if
you’re sick when you’re traveling, will that
extra pair of shoes really matter?
Are you traveling soon and need to ensure
you stay healthy? Do you also need to
consider motion sickness, jet lag, altitude
sickness, allergies, or other travel-related
health matter? Contact me for more tips and
suggestions on how to do so.
drcarr@activetcm.com
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