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Vitamin Glossary

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While Traveling

Herbs can be of real help when traveling. Traveling is stressful and dangerous, even when it is fun. Exposure to new climatic conditions, to new microbes, to different food, and to different time zones, all lead to the possibility of sickness or jet lag. A lot of things can ruin your trip. Chinese herbs can be very energizing and protective. For this reason many people have discovered how important it is to take herbs with you when you travel.  More information...

To build a complete three treasures program pick one product from each of the first three categories. You can then optionally add a protective formula and any number of the 'add-on' formulas. Click on a product name to get detailed product information.

Formulations for Those Who Travel

Traveling requires energy, adaptability and a strong immune system. Chinese tonic herbalism is loaded with formulas that provide all that.

To make sure that you do not run out of energy, consume a strong Jing tonic like Imperial Garden, Strength Builder or Inner Power. Adaptability is critical. Many people become mal-adjusted or ill simply because they cannot adapt to the new surroundings or the new time zone. An adaptogenic formula is a critical component of a traveler’s kit. Either Adaptogen Energizer or Super Adaptogen will provide the adaptive energy required to enjoy a great trip.

Protection is perhaps the most important quality you can derive from a tonic program while traveling. Supreme Protector provides real immune support. Four Kings (100 Caps) $36.00 Formula is a powerful blend of four mushrooms that have strong antimicrobial action. It is wise to take this with you too.

To help with jet lag, take Poria Five Combination during the flight.

You should never leave home with Yunnan Baiyao. If an accident were to occur, this powder could be very, very important.

Discussion

When a person travels rapidly across multiple time zones, as occurs when taking a transcontinental or Trans-oceanic flight, the circadian rhythms do not shift at the same rates or in a synchronized manner. This results in poor synchronicity among various body functions and rhythms, resulting in a constellation of symptoms commonly referred to as "jet lag." The symptoms of jet lag commonly include insomnia, diminished day-time alertness, fatigue, headache, disorientation, moodiness, diminished cognitive skills and gastrointestinal distress, including irregularity of bowel movements.

Re-synchronization takes place over a number of days, the number of days depending upon the number of Trans-meridian time zones crossed. Re-synchronization generally takes place more quickly after traveling in a westward direction than in an eastward direction. The time of departure and arrival do not have much influence on the circadian rhythms, but the amount of sleep you get while on the plane and directly after arrival does matter. If you sleep poorly on the flight, the sleep depravation contributes strongly to the disorientation and fatigue associated with jet lag. It has been demonstrated that exposure to afternoon light after a westward flight hastens re-synchronization and exposure to early morning sunlight hastens re-synchronization after an eastward flight.


Herbal Jet Lag Program

A formulation known as Poria Five Combination has been found to be extremely useful for jet lag. By taking this formula every three or four hours starting an hour before flight and then throughout the flight, jet lag seems to be minimized. You must drink as much good quality water as possible before, during and after the flight. This regimen is very good for your health and does not have any side effects.

It is essential that while you are traveling you consume a steady diet of adaptogens such as Ginseng, Gynostemma, Schizandra, Reishi and Astragalus. Ginseng and Gynostemma provide Qi and adaptability to handle the stresses associated with the changing environment. They provide endurance and help re-establish natural biorhythms quickly. Super Adaptogen, which contains all of these adaptogenic herbs, is perfect formulas for traveling.

I have found that keeping a liquid extract of high quality Ginseng or Gynostemma with me at all times while traveling can make all the difference in the world. When fatigue starts to set in for no obvious reason, a few squirts of one of these saponin-rich extracts will rekindle your ability to go on. Gynostemma and Schizandra are both energizing and highly protective. In a new environment, you will be exposed to elements that your body may not be familiar with, including allergens, microbes, toxins, dust, fumes, etc. Start and finish your day by taking a good dose of protective and self-cleansing herbs like Reishi, Schizandra and Gynostemma. I would recommend an average adult taking about 1500 milligrams of each (3 typical capsules) both before breakfast and again in the evening. When I am in a dangerous place where there is more chance of becoming poisoned or infected, I personally double this dose. Take this precaution whenever you enter poor areas of third world countries, whether it be slum areas or farm country. Obviously, if you visit hospitals or other such areas of possible exposure to dangerous entities, take an extra dose of protective tonic herbs when you get home and for several days following. There are parasites everywhere and it is best to protect yourself to the best of your ability.

Astragalus, Reishi and Cordyceps are your three primary immune protective herbs. For this reason, Supreme Protector, which is composed of these three herbs, is my choice of protective formulas for traveling. While traveling, never miss a dose. Take extra when your instincts tell you to. In addition, you may want to take an immune tonic which contains such herbs as Agaricus and Maitake. Four Kings (100 Caps) $36.00 Formula provides these incredibly protective herbs.

If your trip is extensive, be sure to take more Jing tonics than usual. Traveling can be very stressful, whether it is fun or not. Whether you are on a ski trip in France or on a mercy mission in Central Africa, the body and mind require more Jing, Qi, and Shen when you are traveling. If your traveling rates as an "adventure," then you need more tonic herbs in general, for sustenance and for protection.

Depletion is the cause of a bad ending to a lot of otherwise great trips. Under all circumstances, replenish yourself daily with Yin tonics. Take extra Yin herbs like Polygonum, Lycium, Rehmannia, Dendrobium and Polygonatum, etc. And you will probably do well to take a little bit more Yang tonics as well to provide the deep energy to do whatever you are doing on this trip. You do not want to exhaust yourself simply because you’re having too good a time. You want to come home refreshed and younger from your vacation.


Herbal Protection

I always take a couple of mild "medicinal" formulas along with me on trips to exotic places. I usually take Minor Bupleurum Formula with me. It is effective at the first stage of many common infections and is quite prophylactic. In a foreign country, far from your doctor, it is wise to have some protection with you at all times. Another formula known as Pueraria Combination is worth obtaining from your herbalist before you leave. It is really an excellent formula for the first stages of colds, flus and bronchitis---diseases people commonly catch while traveling to foreign countries.

Also, you might take with you an Isatis-based formula called Isatis Supreme. This is a powerful anti-microbial formula. It is medicinal, so I won’t go into its details here. Just suffice it to say that Isatis is a powerful anti-microbial herb and a formula based on it is worth having with you in case you get a bad infection and you can't find a good doctor.

If you are traveling to outback types of places, a Chinese patent formula known as Yunnan Baiyao is mandatory. Don’t leave home without it. It is for emergencies that leave you bleeding or with internal injuries. Keep some with you at all times, in your purse or in your pocket. A cut in the countryside in Central America can easily become a serious wound if not treated properly immediately. Use standard means whenever possible, but you may use Yunnan Baiyao as an adjunct. It is quite amazing stuff. It is an powder that is applied externally to wounds. It is used to stop bleeding and as a disinfectant.