Traveling is great, but it also often brings a lot of stress and tension. Your whole life is turned upside down for a few days or weeks. You have to deal with changes: different food, a strange environment, different people and maybe even a completely different climate. In this blog, we give you a few Ayurvedic tips that can help support the body and mind when you are traveling.
What travel does to you: Vata upset
Whether you are a true globetrotter or only travel occasionally, everyone knows that traveling can have quite an effect on your body. The trip can be stressful because of delays, unforeseen complications may arise and you will find yourself in a completely unfamiliar environment.
According to traditional Ayurvedic insights, a millennia-old health doctrine from India, travel unbalances the so-called Vata dosha. There is currently no scientific evidence for the existence of doshas, but many people find this explanation helpful in better understanding and dealing with their symptoms.
Within Ayurveda, there are three doshas. These are a kind of characteristics of body and mind. Retrieved from Healthline is explained in the article What Are the Ayurveda Doshas? Vata, Kapha, and Pitta Explained, what these doshas are. Vata is all about energy, movement and change. Pitta is fiery and represents passion. Last is Kapha, the dosha of structure and firmness. So when you travel, Vata becomes unbalanced. When balanced, Vata helps us feel enthusiasm and be social and creative. But when traveling, Vata can become disturbed (there is then too much or too little of it) and that can lead to physical and emotional symptoms.
These are the most common Vata complaints heard while traveling:
- Emotional turmoil
- Fear
- Fatigue
- Dry skin and mucous membranes
Fortunately, you can do something yourself about these symptoms that stem from Vata disturbance during your journey, with some helpful Ayurvedic tips.
Ayurvedic tips for traveling
1. Pay attention to your nutrition
If you go to another country, you will also often have to adapt to a different way of eating. That can be what you eat, but also the times you eat (sometimes because of the time difference, but sometimes because of cultural differences). So you need some time to adjust to this. It is important to listen to your body and when you feel hungry. Slowly try to adjust to the new rhythm until your natural circadian rhythm matches the new time zone.
Within Ayurveda, it is believed that hot, cooked meals balance Vata. Although this theory is not scientifically supported, hot meals do align with general dietary recommendations for people with digestive problems, such as avoiding raw foods in sensitive guts
Although these recommendations are not scientifically proven, many people experience them as soothing to the digestive system. Scientific research also suggests that easily digestible foods can be beneficial in cases of stress or disrupted bowel function, which frequently occurs during travel.
It is wise not to immediately go for the most interesting and stimulating foods, and also try to hold back on sweets, which can over stimulate Vata. Feed your body as much as possible at regular times (three meals a day). The more irregularly you eat, the more Vata gets upset.
Research confirms that the digestive system is greatly affected by stress, and that easily digestible, hot foods are often beneficial for a sensitive gut:
Source:
Mayer, E.A., et al. (2015). Gut/brain axis and the microbiota. Journal of Clinical Investigation.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25844600/
2. A good night’s sleep
One of the most important Ayurvedic tips for traveling has to do with sleep. Vata is responsible for the cycles that regulate sleep, energy and digestion. Travel can throw our internal clock upside down, disrupting your normal rhythm of when you are tired or just alert. Normally it is recommended to take a day to adjust per time zone you pass, if you are going east. And 2/3 of a day per time zone if you go west.
Of course, this is only possible in an ideal situation. You are on vacation and want to have fun. Most people do not take or have the time to adjust quietly. It is advisable to pay close attention to the day and night cycles at your new destination. Expose your body and eyes to the blue-yellow light at sunrise for a while every morning. This can help your body adjust levels of stress hormones, allowing your own cycle to adjust a little faster. Try to do what you want to do the first few days, but be sure to take time for rest as well.
For more rest and better sleep, you can also take supplements. For example, consider valerian or CBD tea.
A 2019 case study showed that CBD may help improve sleep quality and reduce anxiety, although larger RCTs are needed:
Source:
Shannon, S., et al. (2019). Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30624194/
That doshas exist has not yet been scientifically established. Still, research has been done on the possible influence of doshas on sleep. This study from 2015 was featured on PubMed. The premise of the study was that according to Ayurveda, sleep results from increased Kapha and insomnia from increased Vata or Pitta. The study involved 995 people who attended a week-long yoga program in India.
Multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine which dosha acted as a predictor of sleep quality and quantity. Vata scores were found to largely predict how much time it took to fall asleep and how rested people were in the morning. Higher Vata scores were associated with longer time to fall asleep and feeling less rested in the morning. So it seems quite possible that calming Vata can contribute to better sleep, even while traveling.
According to a study published on PubMed, a higher Vata score was associated with poorer sleep quality and longer sleep-in time:
Source:
Sengupta, P., et al. (2015). Influence of Ayurveda body-mind types on sleep quality in a sample of yoga practitioners in India.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26049785/
3. Ayurvedic tips for travel: Support your digestion
Your digestion could also use some love while traveling. Stress often contributes to digestive complaints (both constipation and diarrhea). So try to pay attention to your diet and ways to reduce stress. With the following herbal remedies, you can provide a little more rest:
Herbs such as ginger, fennel, mint and chamomile can be used to make tea. Drink them instead of coffee, which contributes to dehydration and stimulates your nervous system. It is believed that these herbs can support digestion and help you relax.
Take a small container with a mix of coriander, fennel and cumin seeds. Fennel may possibly help relieve symptoms such as abdominal pain and nausea. This is what it has traditionally been used for, but no scientific evidence has yet been found for this.
Ayurvedic remedies in your first aid kit
Travel is often an unforgettable experience. You will be introduced to new cultures and challenge yourself to push your limits. But that also creates tensions. You can use Ayurvedic remedies and the above tips to support yourself naturally.
However, be careful when composing Ayurvedic herbs and remedies. Check for side effects or drug interactions. Get advice from your doctor if necessary, especially if you have pre-existing symptoms.
This text is intended only as a source of information; it is not medical advice.
