I Won't Get On A Plane Without These 4 Items


As the health editor at mindbodygreen and a pretty frequent traveler (my family lives all over the United States, and we can't seem to decide on a coast and stick to it), I think a lot about wellness on-the-go. As great as it is, travel can really throw your body out of whack and leave you stressed, sleep-deprived, sore, and achy. All this can leave you particularly vulnerable to germs, especially this time of year.
In a perfect world, I would be able to maintain my at-home level of health and well-being, regardless of how often I'm going through TSA Pre-Check. These products have helped me on my way to that goal, and you might want to consider bringing them with you on your holiday travels this year, too.
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1. Travel-size magnesium oil.
I'm obsessed with magnesium, and Epsom salt baths are one of my all-time favorite self-care rituals. That said, it's kinda hard to bring a 10-pound bag of Epsom salts on the plane with you. Cue: this travel-size Pure Magnesium Oil from Life-flo ($5.99), which accompanies me on pretty much every flight—but particularly red-eyes. I rub this oil on my lower back to fight off pain and stiffness or the insides of my forearms to help me de-stress and get to sleep. In fact, I've been known to fall asleep before takeoff and wake up only when the plane hits the ground.
2. A ginger herbal tincture.
Ginger is one of my secret weapons. When I'm sick, I make homemade ginger tea (which is WAY better than from a tea bag), and I use ground ginger in basically every recipe possible. That's why, when I discovered this Certified Organic Ginger Root Tincture from Gaia Herbs ($14.99), I knew it would become a permanent part of my travel routine. It kicks any plane/train/car sickness in the butt and helps relieve indigestion after a big meal, but it also tastes amazing, especially in seltzer water. It's basically a ginger ale, minus all the sugar. They should sell these in airports all over the world.
3. Mushrooms—times seven.
Mushrooms are my absolute favorite immune-boosting tool, and I pretty much take a supplement with mushrooms and other immune-system-supporting nutrients all winter long. When I travel, I go double duty by bringing this supplement, Myco-Immune by Thorne ($38), with me. It contains a blend of seven different mushroom extracts (think reishi, shiitake, turkey tail, and caterpillar—just to name a few) that have been tested clinically and demonstrated an ability to provide "significant benefits to immune function." The best part is that like the ginger herbal tincture, it's in an easy dropper that doesn't take up much room in a suitcase and is super easy to add to a glass of water.
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4. A germ-fighting essential oil.
Luckily, Saje Naturals came out with this Fortify Remedy ($22.95), which I apply to my neck and under my nose (just like in this video) before a flight. It smells good enough to make sitting on a stinky plane for hours feel manageable, but it's not so strong that it disturbs the person next to me. Essential oils are another one of my favorite wellness tools, and I like that this one is pre-diluted because you don't have to worry about spills, a mess, or bringing a carrier oil with you. It's beautifully simple. These products have become staples in my travel routine, and in fact, I just keep them in my suitcase all the time so I never forget them. So whether you're taking a train, plane, bus—or you're just driving a few minutes in your car this week, make sure you have some of the products you need to feel your best.
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Gretchen Lidicker is an mbg health contributor, content strategist, and the author of CBD Oil Everyday Secrets: A Lifestyle Guide to Hemp-Derived Health and Wellness and Magnesium Everyday Secrets: A Lifestyle Guide to Epsom Salts, Magnesium Oil, and Nature's Relaxation Mineral. She holds a B.S. in biology and earned her master’s degree in physiology with a concentration in complementary and alternative medicine from Georgetown University.