Back when I was younger without any children, traveling seemed to be such a breeze. I didn’t get sick while traveling, the food never seemed to bother me even if I ate out every meal and sleep was never an issue because I could just push through it.
As I get older and gain a little bit more awareness of what affects my body and in which way, traveling takes a little bit of planning ahead in order to really enjoy it.
As we head into summer, many will be traveling either by car or plane which can cause potential illnesses or gut problems and I wanted to give you some herbal and lifestyle suggestions which you could look into to support your needs if you plan on traveling.
Sleep
Fun fact, 1 of 3 adults in the US say that they do not get enough sleep every day .( 1) If getting sleep while we are home is an issue, what about when we travel?
Not surprisingly, sleep affects our mood as well as immune system. (2) While we travel it might be tempting to skip the sleep, or maybe it is hard getting to sleep because of all the exciting things that have been happening in the day or maybe jet lag sets in, either way, herbs are a powerful ally for natural relief.
Tinctures are the best for working with sleep and luckily they are fairly easy to travel with.
Some of my favorite sleep herbs include:
– lemon balm
– valerian
– skullcap
– hops
– California poppy
If you’ve never worked with these herbs, I don’t recommend traveling being your first time trying a sleep herb simply because you don’t know how your body will react.
If one herb appeals to you then try it before going on a trip so you know how your body feels the next morning and how it reacts.
When I work with women with sleep issues I usually make a blend with two or three of the herbs I mentioned but also talk to them about their bedtime routines.
I know it sounds like children might only need routine, but adults also need to wind down and let their body know it’s time for rest.
While traveling this may look different obviously because of space and time differences, but ask yourself what are your non-negotiables?
Maybe it’s not being on your screen for 30 min before, or saying your prayers that’s a non negotiable for you.
Bring that rhythm into your traveling as well.
Hydration
While traveling, hydration might go out the window but it’s an important one to keep in mind.
If you are also consuming alcohol while visiting a new place, hydration is even more important.
During the summer months dehydration can creep in and if we are busy going around and seeing people and places, we forget to drink water putting ourselves at risk of heat illness.
So since “heat and dehydration are strongly inter-connected,” (3) what is the best way to keep water going while traveling?
A few things that help are:
– coconut water
– celery juice
– thermos
The first two you can buy in any store if you are in the US and a thermos you can pack in your suitcase and fill with water of your choice.
My personal favorite herbs are:
– lemon balm
– peppermint
– coriander seeds
I usually buy coriander seeds at the store wherever we go or bring my own. Then when we get to our location I boil enough water to fill my thermos and let the coriander steep overnight. The next day I just strain and fill the thermos with the cooler water so I do not overheat.
Food
This section might not be a big deal to some of you or a very big hindrance to others depending on where you are on your journey.
Some of you might be dealing with autoimmune conditions.
Some might have food sensitivity.
Some might only need to be eating an anti inflammatory diet because they have PCOS.
Whichever boat you are in, I want to encourage you in the possibility of making good food choices while traveling.
Most of the time it is a mindset shift that needs to happen. Some women I talk to say it’s hard to eat healthy when they travel because they feel like it’s their “cheat time” of eating what they try to avoid so it takes a bit of tweaking to see how they feel after consuming the foods they try to avoid and if that is worth it.
For people that deal with chronic pain for example, it might potentially ruin their travel and vacation plans if they start eating dairy.
But then for women with PCOS, it’s not that big of a deal if they eat some inflammatory foods unless they really dislike the flare ups that might happen.
For plane travel, prepackaged foods you make are usually acceptable to bring with you.
For eating out, that’s where it gets tricky.
Herbs are also useful to have on hand for things like this to help aid digestion such as:
– peppermint
– ginger
– marshmallow root
– slippery elm
Most places would have peppermint tea or ginger tea even if the quality is not top notch it’s better than nothing and you can always pack your own to be on the safe side.
When I travel, my goal is usually to prepare my snacks ahead of time and eat out once and cook the rest of the meals at the place we stay at. If we are at a hotel, I am personally that much more cautious of the type of foods I eat and definitely use a digestive aid as well as probiotic.
Do the best you can and always notice which foods affect you the most. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t get it perfectly down but you also don’t want to ruin your vacation plans.
There’s a healthy balance to be found in this area.
Exercise
Do you have an exercise program at home you enjoy?
Maybe you enjoy hiking or walking or being out in nature?
Wherever you travel to, you can always bring it with you in order to get the same benefits while you travel.
“Traveling can be incredibly stressful, whether it’d be preparing for the trip or simply adjusting to a foreign environment. Working out can help you release some of that stress and tension, allowing you to relax and enjoy your vacation.” (4)
Sometimes we have to get creative.
I once brought resistance bands with me while we were traveling cross country because I knew we wouldn’t be in one place for long.
Another time I made sure we incorporated more walking and did wall Pilates at the hotel because there was no gym.
Some women I talk to say they look for places to stay at that have their desired physical settings so they can continue their workouts.
What is it for you and how can you incorporate it into your travel?
It will help keep your cortisol levels at bay and have you dealing with whichever circumstances come your way with more calm.
Illnesses
Unfortunately, illness does not take vacations. While traveling you might be exposed to different viruses and bacteria that your body might not be used to fighting. Then there are allergies that you also might be dealing with if you have sensitivity to new environments.
My husband once had an allergic reaction to grass because of the chemical they used on it. Who knows what can hit us at times right?
The key is to be prepared with your herbal allies.
If you are eating fairly well, then it will be easier for your body to fight off any bugs but which herbs should you look for to bring or buy?
My personal favorite are ones that have antiviral and antibacterial properties.
The top three I always have are:
– usnea
– elderberry extract
– stinging nettles
I make mine myself but luckily, these can be found in most health food stores.
Usnea is a great antibacterial tincture to use if you know there’s a bacteria present. If a sore throat is coming on then I usually spray usnea in my throat or gargle with the tincture.
Elderberry is a popular antiviral which can be pricey if you buy it that’s why I make it myself with wild harvested elderberries. It keeps the virus at bay if I feel something coming on.
Stinging nettle has many benefits but I use it for its fight against allergies as it is an anti inflammatory herb. It helps if there are any irritants or any inflammation I am dealing with.
Final thoughts
Traveling can be stressful but it doesn’t have to be with proper planning. In order to enjoy your travel experience you will need to take your own specific circumstances and health into consideration.
Ask yourself what your non negotiables are and if you need to stay flexible in order to leave room for life to just be life.
If you are dealing with chronic issues and need more support or guidance on how to best support your wellness while traveling, do not hesitate to schedule your free consultation and reach out.
Hope this helped your traveling journey!
Much love,
Krystina
