I like routine. I like fresh air. I don’t like crowds. And I have an autoimmune disease that is exacerbated by stress and chemicals.
As a result, traveling in general requires some hefty preparation. But traveling across the country in a plane is a really big to-do. The last time I was on a plane was three years ago, when my family moved from our home near Seattle to Virginia. Since then, my family has returned to Seattle every summer but my health has not been stable enough to risk the travel stress. Now, I am in a stable situation with my health and so I battened down the hatches and braved the long plane rides across the country.
Guess what? I survived 🙂 And I probably would have survived without all my preparation, but these following essentials made my trip healthier and safer. (Here is the disclosure for the Amazon links in the post… you know the drill).
1. Bach Rescue Remedy and Flower Remedies
Rescue Remedy is a chill pill in a bottle. I take four drops under my tongue whenever I feel the tightening grip of stress. It helps to relieve panic and worry. And yes, it is a homeopathic tincture based in alcohol but you literally need only a few drops at a time… it is truly a minute amount of alcohol.
I have other Bach Flower Remedies in my home “first aid kit” but I only brought Larch along for my travel. According to Dr. Bach, Larch is “For those who do not consider themselves as good or capable as those around them, who expect failure, who feel that they will never be a success, and so do not venture or make a strong enough attempt to succeed (source).”
I find that it gives me stillness and poise in busy, rushed crowds when I tend to get self-conscious and nervous.
2. CleanWell Hand Sanitizer
Did you know regular hand sanitizer contains triclosan, a toxin to our environment and you? Instead, I bring my CleanWell Hand Sanitizer which is based on safe and natural thyme oil to kill germs. I try not to be a germaphobe, but I do use this sanitizer when I won’t have a chance to wash my hands before I eat.
3. Cell Food Skin Gel
My skin gives a full-blown revolt during plane rides, and I’m sure I’m not alone. The chemical-laden, recycled air gives me breakouts and flaky patches. I take a travel-sized container of Cell Food Gel which contains healing enzymes, dissolved oxygen and amino acids. I apply it during the flight to keep my skin moisturized.
I also have a travel-sized bottle of my DIY facial oil to help moisturize and prevent in-flight breakouts.
4. Relaxing Essential Oil Blend
I applied Chill Pill essential oil blend (Balance essential oil blend would also be great) to my wrists and temples when tension or fatigue crept up during the trip. It immediately helps to melt away the stress. As a bonus, its anti-stress qualities affect anyone who is near enough to smell you!
5. Matcha
Matcha, a powdered green tea supplement, contains a potent dose of powerful antioxidants. It also provides a natural energy boost and aids in detoxifying.
I highly recommend Matcha DNA, which is certified organic and the most pleasant-tasting matcha I’ve tried. It is mellow and rich, never bitter. It also comes in individual packets, perfect for traveling.
On the plane, I empty a packet into a water bottle, shake, and sip. I believe it helps my body handle the toxic burden of plane rides, keeps my hydrated and gives me a needed energy boost.
6. Probiotics
This is in addition to my supplements which I packed for the trip. At home, I eat tons of fermented foods like raw milk yogurt and beet kvass for probiotics. When traveling, I use BioKult probiotics to support my digestion and immune system. Stress and toxins demolish healthy gut flora, so it is necessary to replenish with probiotics supplements or naturally-fermented foods.
7. Epsom salt and baking soda bath for radiation detox
Did you know flights are a source of dangerous radiation? And it’s not only from the body scanners (which I avoid). Health expert Dr. Mercola explains:
Screening at an airport X-ray scanner produces .02 microsieverts of radiation. But remember, you are only getting them because you are going on a flight. Nearly everyone forgets that when you fly, there is also ionizing radiation exposure. In fact, on a typical transcontinental flight at 30,000 feet you will be exposed to 20 microsieverts of radiation. That is 1,000 times the dose you receive from the scanner. Source
When I completed my flight, I got in a hot bath with 1 pound of epsom salts and 1 pound of baking soda as soon as possible. This helps clear the body’s energetic system and helps detox radiation from the body.
I also wrote a whole post about other methods to combat in-flight radiation.
8. Breathing meditation
I use a Buddify app on my phone!
How do you stay healthy on a plane ride? Do you have any tips for safe air travel?
People need to be careful when trying out Epsom salts though. I’ve always been healthy (haven’t even been sick aside from cold/allergy stuff for over ten years), but I have been improving my diet a lot to try to get rid of my acne and lose weight. I tried taking Epsom salt baths since most people don’t get enough magnesium, and it seems like everyone on the internet thinks that it’s completely safe. A little bit after I took my first one, I noticed my heart rate was a bit high, but I wasn’t sure it was from the bath since I was already out when I noticed it. I took another one a couple days later, and it raised my heart rate again, and it was a bit scary that time. I searched all over the internet and finally found someone else who had a similar reaction. It’s been a month or so since I read it, but I believe she said it can lower blood pressure, and that that was what happened to her. I know that my blood pressure is at the low end of the good range, so I think there could be something to that.
I agree but this situation could’ve came from a mixture of things, it could be the company and their methods of processing and or preserve the Epsom salt, this could’ve came from the amount you intaked the type of water you used (specifically the ph level) and the surrounding chemicals the Epsom salt’s components could’ve reacted with, or you can just be overall allergic to Epsom salt and may require a similar working alternative most suitable for your uniquely created body????. Just because the body reacts different to a substance it doesn’t necessarily mean that the substance is posotively effective or ineffective. For example I can have 6 bottles of liquor today , vomit tomorrow and go to work the next day while my friend could have 3-6 bottles and die from a negative internal chemical reaction, our bodies reacted differently to the same amount of substance, but that amount of controllable substance is not good for either of us. Or even take healthy natural fruits(no pesticides +prayed over) into example strawberries may help me to get rid of cancerous toxins but my friend is allergic to them so they can kill or hospitalize her, but because God is omniscient and Love, God made multiple fruits, plants, etc suitable for every individual with multiple health benefits, so instead of strawberries my friend has multiple back ups she can choose from. We are individuals we are uniquely created and we may change internally,so why aren’t these factors being included in traditional treatment options? This is why so many people are becoming there own doctors discovering what God has openly placed in our rich surrounding! I love you and everyone else who comes across this , I love you all because God first loves us, God is Love !