3 days ago
Natural Health: What can I take to ease my travel sickness?
I get nausea and vomit nearly every time I fly. I usually don't eat on the day I fly, which helps. Is there anything else I can do?
It is likely that your nausea and vomiting are related to motion sickness, but may also be due to anxiety around flying. Not eating on the day is a helpful workaround, since this will reduce the likelihood of vomiting due to the lack of digestive stimulation.
While this can help in the short term, if you are on a long-haul flight, you may feel a little dizzy or weak if you are fasting. In this case, ginger lozenges or chews are often recommended for travel sickness. However, they don't work for everybody – in which case peppermint or spearmint lozenges or sweets can help to settle your stomach. If you cannot tolerate a lozenge or sweet, then try a little spearmint or peppermint essential oil on a tissue and inhale it to help keep the nausea and vomiting at bay.
Ginger improves circulation, which makes it helpful in preventing DVT (deep-vein thrombosis) in long-haul flights – particularly when taken with pycnogenol (a powerful antioxidant derived from French maritime pine bark). Taking ginger capsules (or a combination of ginger and pycnogenol if you are at risk of DVT) a few days before your flight may help prepare your body and settle your stomach, eliminating the need for additional medication on the day you fly.
Motion sickness is in part due to the brain receiving conflicting signals from the eyes, inner ear, and body.
Where you sit on the plane can make a difference, with the seats next to the wings of the aeroplane typically being the best for reducing the conflicting sensations of motion.
Avoid sugary drinks, alcohol, and coffee while flying. Instead, have a bottle of water and take small sips throughout the flight – you may find that sparkling water eases your nausea more than still water, so it is worth trying both to find out which is best for you.
I suffer from asthma, which, over the last two years, seems to have increased the phlegm building up in my chest and my sinuses, leading to a vicious cycle of antibiotics and steroids and long periods of feeling not quite right despite a mostly healthy eating and exercising lifestyle. Are there any herbal or homoeopathic remedies I can take that would prevent this phlegm build-up?
I can imagine that this cycle would leave you feeling quite miserable, especially as you are making dietary and lifestyle choices that should have you feeling your best.
Two herbal remedies from the traditional Ayurvedic system of healing are worth trying. The first is Amla (Emblica officinalis), which is a highly effective antioxidant and immune system remedy, and the second is a blend of three spices called Trikatu.
Amla berries are clinically proven to boost immune function when taken as a long-term remedy. Ayurvedic practitioners often prescribe Amla to help prevent winter coughs and colds.
Trikatu is a combination of ginger, long pepper (pippali), and black pepper. It has a natural affinity for the lungs and ears, nose and mouth, which makes it ideal for clearing mucous, coughs, and breathing difficulties, as well as being used to treat asthma symptoms.
Ginger supports the circulatory system, digestion, and is an excellent expectorant for the lungs. Long pepper helps to support the respiratory system, stimulates metabolism, supports the liver, and aids digestion. Black pepper is commonly used to help activate other ingredients in Ayurvedic remedies, as it enhances bioavailability, promotes the flow of oxygen to the brain, and has cleansing and antioxidant benefits.
When using these two remedies, first take Trikatu to help clear the phlegm, and follow with Amla once the congestion feels as if it has cleared to rebuild your immune system.
NOTE: The information contained in this column is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a doctor.
