Travel With Your Health Practices

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This is a crossover post, also shared on my other blog, Cindy Goes Beyond. The topic fit both blogs well!

Often when we travel, we do so with a sense of joyful abandonment. No rules, no schedules, no work to slow us down. It’s exhilarating. However,  that freedom from our “regular” life sometimes includes ditching our established health routines too.

I discovered quickly that maintaining my health while traveling is essential to my wellbeing. If I eat poorly, or stop the supplements, I can quickly feel bad. And that’s not the way I want to spend my trip…feeling bad or experiencing pain.

I carry specific health related items with me when I travel. And I only travel with a carry on, so I’ve pared down what I take with me to the most important to keep my health and energy at optimal levels.

Check out how to travel with your health practices, using these tips that can see you through the days of travel.

 

Travel With Your Health Practices

Create your own travel kit, personalized for your health needs.

First though, it’s important to ask yourself these questions:

Am I traveling solo? Who is traveling with me? Are children traveling with me too?

Here is a broad list of possible items to consider for a travel medical kit:

• pain relievers such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin, tension relief
• sleep aids, eye mask, melatonin gummies
• CBD products
• essential oils
• herbal supplements, multi-vitamin, Voke Superfoods
• prescription meds
• over the counter meds – sinus meds, allergy meds, UTI meds, decongestant, eyedrops, cough drops, cough relief, menstrual cramp relief, salves
• sunscreen, sunburn relief
• insect repellent, bug bite ointment, anti-itch ointment
• bandaids, bandages
• antibacterial ointments
• hand sanitizer
• sanitizing wipes
• face masks
• tweezers, small scissors, nail clippers
• digital thermometer, blood pressure cuff, blood glucose monitor
• antacids, heartburn relief, diarrhea meds, motion sickness tabs, upset stomach meds
• rubbing alcohol, Witch Hazel, peroxide
• cotton balls, cotton swabs
• soothing lotions – eczema cream, diaper rash lotion, rash relief

Create a Travel Medical Kit That Meets Your Needs

Of course, you probably don’t need to pack all of the above items. Choose what is most important to maintain your health and the health of everyone traveling with you. Everyone’s needs are different.

I travel light. Currently, I don’t take any prescription meds. A friend of mine, however, travels with two suitcases. One carries her clothing and the other, all of her meds and supplements. That’s what works best for her.

Depending on suitcase space and your health needs, choose the items that are essential. I don’t group my essentials together in a separate bag or container. Instead, I tuck items among my clothes, into shoes and alongside toiletries. Whether I’m traveling through Italy for 12 days or spending a long weekend somewhere, my essential health items go with me.

My Travel Medical Kit

Here are the items that I consider essential for my health and wellbeing. These items accompany me on all trips.

Pain Relief

• ibuprofen
• acetaminophen
• Hilma Tension Relief
• Hilma Indoor/Outdoor Relief

I carry travel sized ibuprofen and acetaminophen in my purse. I occasionally have severe headaches. Years ago, my dentist gave me a valuable tip. For moderate to severe pain, take a combination of three ibuprofen and two acetaminophen. The combo works like a pain pill for me, but without the drowsiness or side effects.

And I love the Hilma products. They provide natural relief, for tight muscles or tension headaches. And the indoor/outdoor relief is wonderful for natural sinus congestion and allergen relief. Click links above to order Hilma.

Supplements

• Cat’s Claw
• MSM
• Magnesium
• Comfort Guard
• GLOW Complex

I take more supplements than these when at home. These though support joint and muscles health. After many years of chronic sciatica, I can still experience stiff, tight muscles in my legs, especially when walking for hours. The first four supplements listed above keep my legs working well and keep them comfortable. The Comfort Guard is THE best supplement for reducing pain and inflammation. I love the combination of turmeric, ginger and boswellia.

And GLOW Complex is an amazing plant based collagen builder that also supplies a host of essential vitamins and minerals including B12, which is so important to keep my energy up.

Order Comfort Guard and GLOW in the links at end of post.

Over the Counter

• Witch Hazel (carried in a small TSA approved bottle)
• bandaids
• antibiotic cream
• Prid (a soothing drawing salve)
• sunscreen
• cotton balls and cotton swabs

Witch Hazel makes an ideal soother for scrapes, insect bites and cuts. Plus I use it for a toner after washing my face.

Prid is a drawing salve that I don’t like to be without. It relieves bug bites, spider bites, boils and ingrown hairs.

Protection

• face masks
• SkinShield2 hand sanitizing lotion

I’m fully vaccinated. Otherwise I wouldn’t be traveling at all. I still take cloth masks wherever I go. And in addition to social distancing and washing my hands frequently, I use SkinShield2, a protective antibacterial skin barrier lotion. A small amount of lotion kills germs, viruses and bacteria on contact and protects my hands for hours. Click link above to order yours.

Miscellaneous

• peppermint tea bags
• Incrediwear knee sleeve

My favorite tea goes with me. I tuck a few tea bags in my purse and more in my carry on. Peppermints soothes the whole digestive system and boosts spirits and mood.

The Incrediwear knee sleeve is a “just in case” item. Occasionally I twist my left knee and it reacts immediately with pain, swelling and inflammation.

Incrediwear products work by increasing blood flow to the injured joint, to reduce inflammation and swelling. They also relieve pain and accelerate recovery. Rather than using compression, Incrediwear products incorporate semiconductor elements within the fabric that release negative ions when stimulated by body heat. Read more about this amazing sleeve HERE.

Continue Your Usual Health Practices

I think the most important items to “pack” on any trip are your usual health practices.

Do you follow a specific diet? Stay on it so you don’t throw off your body or create digestive disorders. I follow a plant based lifestyle wherever I go, with no issues.

Do you walk, do yoga, stretch, workout? As much as possible, continue these health practices as well. Traveling often involves sitting for hours in a car or airplane. Stretch periodically, do yoga in your seat, walk for a few minutes. Many hotels have an onsite gym for workouts. And walking or hiking is a great way to explore a city or spend time in nature.

Also follow sleep and waking patterns, when you can, to keep energy up. Definitely take prescribed meds. And always, stay hydrated by drinking enough water.

What health items and practices are essential for you? Share them in the comments!

 

Want to Know How I Pack a Carry On?

Check out this post on Cindy Goes Beyond, for my packing tips to travel light.

Traveling Essentials from Amazon:

 

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