Airline travel can be both stressful and exhausting for some people. When preparing for a flight, whether it be only a couple hours or all day, there are a few preventative measures to ensure healthier, safer, happier, and less stressful travels.
1. Hydration. Making sure you have adequate water is essential to feeling good. Taking your own water bottle is also a nice way to plan ahead. You can fill up once you pass the security check and refill at most water fountains.
2. Food. Preparing healthy snacks can prevent unhealthy, last minute choices at the airport and can help balance out hunger cravings in the event of possible delays.
3. Melatonin or Eleuthero are two supplements that help prevent jet lag. Crossing time zones can be stressful and hard on the body. Prevent exhaustion by using one of them.
4. Anxious about flying? Rescue Remedy by Bach can help take that edge off. This flower remedy is available in drop form, spray, pastilles, gum, and sublingual pearls. Containing five flower essences this formula is used to alleviate terror and panic, mollify irritation and impatience, combat inattentiveness, ease shock, and calm irrational thoughts. Look for Rescue Remedy at your local health food store.
You can also try acupressure on certain ear points. Pre-flight ear seeds from your acupuncturist will provide pressure to key ear points and will help alleviate anxiety and help your body deal with stress.
5. Don’t forget hand sanitizer should you need to clean your hands in a pinch.
6. Remember a pillow. Bring a small carry-on pillow for a little extra neck comfort and support.
7. Keep entertained. Download books or have reading material to keep your mind occupied during tedious hours in the air.
8. Wrap up. A scarf is essential to protect the neck from the cold blasts of air that alternate with the stifling heat of airline/airport heating and cooling systems.
9. Bolster your immune system. Gan Mao Ling is a Chinese remedy that boosts the immune system and can also be taken as a preventative to protect against pathogens that can cause illness.
10. Deep breaths. Deep breaths inhaled to the count of four, held for the count of four, and exhaled to the count of four will calm the nerves and revitalize the body.
– Christina Morris is the founder of Element Natural Healing Arts, acupuncturist, herbalist, Maya abdominal practitioner, and reflexologist. “The articles that I write are to educate and provide a further understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine can aid in the treatment of a variety of health conditions and work well in complimenting other medical approaches.”