Are you leaving on a jet plane?
A long car ride counts too, or that awesome trip by train from NYC to Seattle that one of my pilates clients took recently. Being away from home means not only being away from all your little remedies and fixes you keep on hand, but also your regular route of health food stores, drug stores, and well-supplied grocery stores, and this can lead to lots of discomfort on your trip. Let me share some of my favorite short cuts for staying comfortable when I'm away from home. (The products I talk about here are linked to my Amazon affiliate site.) First, hydration. This is a BIG biggie for me, especially when I fly. I buy the biggest water I can find in the airport, then try to time my drinking it to suit when bathrooms are available. Drink a bunch right away, well before boarding, and as much as I can when I know we'll be landing. Then I have a big bottle to refill when I find a filling station, such as at my hotel. On the plane, my absolute number one tip is this: ask for hot tea. The warm water and steam make such a difference, it's amazing. This little trick has become my standard "All's well" ritual, which looks funny to people who know me because as a rule I'm not a black tea or even a caffeine person. No matter, travel makes everything different. You can bring rehydration salts with you to add to your water. I like the Hibiscus Ginger Coconut Water powder by Pure Planet. Sometimes water alone isn't enough to replenish you, particularly when you are changing environments rapidly like you do between airports. Second, tummy trouble can also happen any time. I always travel with a Chamomile tea bag, because while it's not my favorite flavor, when my digestion needs help this is where I turn. Chamomile helps move digestion along, and it is also relaxing to your whole lower abdomen, which helps with cramping or tension. Also always on me somewhere is a couple Honey Ginger Crystals packets. These little beauties dissolve in hot or cold water, and make a yummy, quick fix if I'm a little nauseous or when I get cold. Plus, Ginger really helps circulation so sipping some on long stretches when you can't get up and move can help things from getting too stagnant. Peppermint relaxes smooth muscle and cools things down, so it can help move along a poor food choice and quell nausea. In a pinch, York Peppermint Patties are made with real Peppermint oil so they're a fine choice when you're uncomfortable. When I'm planning a car trip I bring a box of organic peppermint patties along, though I've found they don't ever hold up well when flying! Third, stress is a huge deal when you're in unfamiliar territories without your usual routine. I have 2 go-to's for this. The first is Magnesium. (Anyone who's heard me give a talk knows I couldn't NOT slip Magnesium into this! Magnesium is your friend.) I like Calm powder, to add to drinks, because then I can dilute it as much or as little as I like. The individual packets travel well, but be prepared because they usually make a white powdery mess which will fizz in contact with water- not the best look! My other favorite stress-buster is a Lavender perfume roller from a local Lavender farm. Not everyone likes Lavender, so pick your own favorite. A familiar scent can be as comforting as the helpful quality of the oils it is made with. I don't favor straight essential oils, and their tiny bottles are easy to damage in travel. So the little roller goes with me all the time. Plus, Lavender has the added benefit of being good for burns, and I've used my perfume on a hot coffee spill. Have a good trip!
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One of my teachers said once, "Balance is a moving target. You don't get to stay there," That's quite a thought. Take it further, and nothing has a fixed point that we get to hold onto- health, happiness, grief, it all shifts. This is actually a good thing, because it lets us experience life. For years now, I've loved a snowfall. The simple act of seeing snow come down so gently and inexorably gave me such a feeling of weighted comfort, like the heaviest, fluffiest winter blanket. I had to sit when I saw snow, and when sitting I very badly wanted to lay down. Just looking at it though a window made me instantly ready for a good nap in bed, not just a quick couch snooze. See, for years I'd been... tired. Exhausted. Worn out. Beat down. About a decade ago I went through one of those things people go through, and I made it to the other side but at the cost of my vitality. Sleep became all important as a healing mechanism. Convalescing took almost as long as the original events did. For the last maybe 3 years I've been rebuilding my strength. There are several parts to the process including nutrition, herbs, acupuncture, meditation, and rest. And I've seen a steady improvement in my stamina, motivation, creativity, and even skin texture. Over all this time I've used recurring events to mark my progress. Remember how last year I didn't go to that thing because I just wasn't up to it? This year was fun, even if I only went for a short time. We just had a late spring snowfall, an "onion snow" as my mom calls it, with big fat slow flakes all morning that coat the grass and cars but not the roads, and is gone by the afternoon. As I stood watching it, part of my mind was on my tasks and goals for the day. Suddenly I realized, I'm not so tired. The snow is pretty, and I'm enjoying it, but for the first time in recent memory it was just snow, not an absolute imperative to fall down with it. Part of the reason I am an herbalist is because we can get better, I've seen it, and there are many many ways to help you do that. I don't want to just feel a little less like I do now, I want to be well and strong and adaptable, with endurance and vigor. Wouldn't that be nice? The state of our health right now, and our ability to envision it better and stronger, is limited by how long it's been since we felt our best and strongest. As you heal, as you improve, the goalposts move and what you expect from yourself becomes ever more tremendous. We're capable of amazing things, given the right circumstances. |
Fun Fact: I'm an herbalist and a movement coach. Not a doctor, or a pharmacist, and not pretending to be one on TV.
This is a public space, so my writing reflects my experiences and I try to stay general enough so it might relate to you. This does not constitute medical advice, and I encourage you to discuss concerns with your doctor. Remember, however, that the final say in your wellness decisions are always yours- you have the power to choose, you are the boss of you. And, some of my posts may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them I'll earn a few cents. Thank you for supporting my work. This website is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical, mental health or healthcare advice. The information presented here is not intended to diagnose, treat, heal, cure or prevent any illness, medical condition or mental or emotional condition. Working with us is not a guarantee of any results. Paula Billig owns all copyrights to the materials presented here unless otherwise noted. Categories
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