Description
Description
Part 2 of 3: Common Health Issues and their Herbal Allies associated with extensive travel
Welcome to part two of the Master Herbalist Guide to International Travel Series, a valuable resource for all travelers.
If you have not yet delved into part one, you're missing out on a wealth of great information. Go here to review part one:
As we discussed in part one, long-distance travel can pose potential health risks, making this series an essential read for all adventurers.
Whether you are new to long-distance travel or an experienced traveler like myself, some of these issues may affect you at some point. There is a good reason experienced travelers brag about having X number of miles on them:
They earned them, and those miles take their toll.
While many factors may contribute to these potential issues, such as an individual’s age or current health status, some of them occur because of the nature of long-distance travel, the adverse environment in which we are when flying, and neglecting good habits.
It's important to acknowledge these challenges, as it validates the experiences of travelers and helps us understand the need for proactive health measures.
In today’s article, I will discuss some of these common health issues associated with long-distance travel, as well as essential habits that should not be slacked on if you want to avoid these potential pitfalls. Furthermore, I will teach you some simple and inexpensive tricks of the trade for healthy travel.
As you read this article, you may become concerned about taking future journeys to faraway places because of the potential risks of flying. However, don't worry because these are easy to avoid.
Unless you know of a better way, getting from your home state to Japan, Vietnam, Greece, or Italy, you still need to fly. If you love travel as much as I do, you won’t let these minor issues stop you from going on your exciting journeys. Therefore, I am only providing you with this information so you can
- stay healthy,
- avoid potential pitfalls, and
- enjoy many exciting adventures for years to come.
Remember, your health during travel is in your hands, and by following these steps, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable journey.
So, let’s begin.
Anyone who has flown a long distance for an exciting journey knows that for the first 24 hours after that flight, your body doesn’t seem “quite right”.
For most people, these effects resolve themselves within 24 hours. The most common things affected by these long journeys are as follows:
- Dehydration
- Immune system
- Sleep patterns issues
- Bowel and urination inconsistency
- Blood clots
- Fatigue
- Uptick in pain syndromes
Human adaptation, or the process by which we adjust to our environment to survive and thrive, is a key concept in understanding the body's response to travel. This process, also known as human biological plasticity, is exemplified by neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to change and adapt due to experiences.
Western herbalism believes that adaptation happens from appropriate and healthy responses through our master systems: The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis and the Sympatho-Adrenal system.
- HPA Axis (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis) is a complex system of neuroendocrine pathways and feedback loops that maintains and supports homeostasis in response to chronic stress. The HPA axis interfaces the endocrine, nervous, immune, digestive, reproductive, and cardiovascular systems.
- SAS (Sympatho Adrenal system, aka fight or flight) is a complex system that connects the sympathetic nervous system to the adrenal medulla. In simple terms, it is our fight-or-flight response. A triggered response floods our system with adrenaline and releases hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine from the adrenal medulla. This response increases blood pressure, blood sugar, and heart rate and suppresses digestion. This release of hormones and redistribution of blood allows the mind and body to respond and survive.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) defines adaptation by the following aspects.
- Yin and Yang: Maintaining balance through opposing yet complementary forces.
- Harmonizing and ensuring the smooth flow of Qi, aka the vital life force that flows through our meridians.
- Adjusting to environmental changes involves aligning with the rhythms of nature through shifts in diet and lifestyle.
It may surprise you to learn that many of the issues I listed above are directly connected to the actual flying portion of your journey.
The Inconducive Environment of Air Travel
Flying (especially for long distances) can create less than favorable conditions for overall health. In fact, it is one of the primary factors for creating the perfect storm known as jet lag.
Jet lag is a temporary disruption in our sleep patterns or circadian rhythm, which is influenced by light and darkness. This issue is caused by traveling across multiple time zones and being out of sync with the local time at your destination.
This misalignment results in fatigue, sleep disturbances, impaired cognitive function, and other symptoms as your body adjusts to the new time zone. It is believed that eastward travel (for example, USA to Europe) is more disruptive than westward travel because the required phase advance or shift in the sleep-wake cycle is more difficult for the body to adjust to. When going eastward, that phase advancement means going to sleep and waking up earlier.
A perfect example is the aspect of dehydration when flying. If you look at two simple facts that you can’t control, like reduced air pressure and low cabin humidity, you end up with a perfect environment to suck the fluids out of your body.
While everyone is different, it seems the average humidity level for good health is 40-50%. On airplanes, the humidity is on average 10%. Here are some fun facts about dehydration:
- You only need 1% dehydration to potentially experience a 5% decrease in cognitive function.
- Prolonged dehydration causes brain cells to shrink, and even a 2% decrease in brain water content can result in short-term memory loss.
Also, consider other factors, such as:
- Insufficient water intake,
- Overconsumption of alcohol and caffeine
- Pre-existing medical conditions.
It's no surprise that we are as dry as the Sahara Desert when we get off the airplane. Is it really a surprise that your bowel and urinary habits are off for a few days after a long flight?
Let’s not forget those poor bastards who have a condition known as a " shy colon,” who may not have a bowel movement for days, from the combination of flying and being in an unusual environment. This is a horrible situation. However, it does have a resolution.
Even if you are a seasoned traveler, the stress and anxiety of unknown travel issues like cancelled or delayed flights can take their toll on your overall health. Even the most experienced travelers may not deal well with the unknown, and that alone can trigger an anxiety attack.
The entire process leading up to the moment you get on the airplane can be extremely overwhelming and stressful. Here are just a few examples:
- Packing and making sure you don’t forget anything
- Getting all your paperwork and travel documents in order
- Getting to the airport with plenty of time to check your bag, get through security, and get to the gate.
However, these are all just normal occurrences and events that, if you plan correctly and leave yourself plenty of time, should go smoothly.
Next, while flying is not the most conducive environment for sleep and relaxation, it does tend to support laziness and unhealthy habits. Again, these bad habits create the perfect storm for the potential undesirable effects from flying. For example,
- Change in eating habits
- Not drinking enough water
- Reduced physical activity. Not getting up and moving around to promote circulation and blood flow.
- Sitting with a full bladder or holding in a bowel movement.
Can you see why getting lazy with these things can potentially cause issues?
Finally, here is something to think about. The average person has at least two of these four bad habits in their everyday life, especially those who sit at a desk. When you are flying, there are many physical changes your body has to deal with to maintain a level of balance.
Therefore, doing the following simple things can be total game changers:
- Pack your food so you don’t eat any potential allergens. Some people recommend having your last meal about an hour before boarding the plane and increasing your consumption of fluids during the flight to maintain hydration.
- Get up and walk around every hour to promote circulation. If there is a line, just get up, stand in place, and step up and down.
- Wear compression socks for flights longer than five hours.
- Drink plenty of water; not only will it keep you hydrated and promote urination and bowel movement, but it will also encourage you to get up and walk to the bathroom.
- Don’t sit and hold a full bladder, and don't force a bowel movement when flying. The combination of altitude and increased pressure from those habits is not ideal.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol consumption, as they can be dehydrating. Trust me, you will have plenty of time to drink excellent coffee and taste incredible wine when you arrive at your destination if you choose.
I realize that this sounds like an awful lot, but these are good, smart health habits we should be practicing daily anyway. Remember, international travel journeys are fun, exciting, and a fantastic way to create unforgettable memories. So, please don’t let this article steer you away from your adventures. As stated above, these pitfalls are simple to overcome by applying everyday health habits.
Stay tuned for part three of this series, where I discuss my personal travel protocol and all the various herbal allies you can incorporate into your pre-travel, travel, and post-travel to help overcome or avoid the potential health pitfalls of travel.
To promote good hydration, while at home or while traveling, you are encouraged to review our Organic Freeze Dried Coconut Water Powder. For more information about our Organic Freeze Dried Coconut Water Powder, go here:
Organic Freeze Dried Coconut Water Powder
The Author’s Bio
Michael Stuchiner is a Master Herbalist and proud graduate of The School of Natural Healing, with over 25 years of experience in various aspects of the field. He is a retired elite-level powerlifter who competed for 27 years. As an avid international traveler, he is passionate about the use of medicinal and tonic herbs, as well as foods traditionally found in local markets in the 35 countries he has visited. Michael shares his years of experience as a Master Herbalist, traveler, and athlete through the hundreds of articles he has written and his YouTube channel, "A Master Herbalist Perspective." He is considered a true educator in this field. For more articles written by Mike, go here: Master Herbalist.
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