How Travel Transforms Your Health & Well Being

The Science-Backed Benefits of Taking Vacations

If you tend to skip vacations to avoid an overflowing inbox and piles of backlogged work when you return, this is a mistake. Why? Because you are missing out on a range of health perks and a boost in happiness. Research has also shown that not only do vacations have immediate impacts on your well-being, but also long-lasting benefits. So the next time you are tempted to skip time off and plow through your workload, consider the following science-backed reasons why taking a vacation is good for you.

Heart Disease, Longevity, & Metabolic Syndrome

When you don’t take regular vacations, you put yourself at higher risk for coronary heart disease and early death. A longitudinal study involving 12,000 men spanning nine years found that those who took a vacation every year lowered their overall risk of death by around 20% and heart disease by an impressive 30%.²

Another study discovered a direct correlation between the frequency of vacations and lowered rates of metabolic syndrome — a rising health concern that involves high blood pressure, high blood sugar, large waist circumference, low HDL “good” cholesterol, and high triglycerides. This in turn increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, and diabetes. Interestingly, each additional vacation the participants took decreased their risk of metabolic syndrome by an impressive 25%.³

Vacations are also linked with lower stress levels and depression, along with boosting overall well-being and happiness.^4,5,6 What’s more, taking time off for even just a few days can profoundly impact creativity, focus, sleep, and inflammation due to lower cortisol levels.^7,8

If taking a vacation still seems daunting, experts point out that it need not be a big expensive trip.

“A vacation could consist of a few days spent off work taking time to do something that you enjoy,” says Bryce Hruska, PhD, an assistant professor of public health in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics at Syracuse University.¹

Time spent in nature camping or staying in a rustic cabin, exploring a new city, or visiting family and friends all support the health and psychological benefits that vacations bring to boost creativity, lower stress, and encourage healthy relationships.

Post-Pandemic Concerns

Many have avoided travel and vacations during and after the pandemic due to the fear of contagious disease that could cause serious consequences. However, with a little help from herbal remedies, we can avoid trip-destroying illness and reap all the perks of taking regular vacations. Here’s how.

Elderberry — One of my favorite herbs for avoiding contagious illness and supporting the body’s ability to respond, elderberry tincture is considered safe for those with an autoimmune disorder. Additionally, it is outstanding for respiratory issues and helps to lessen the recovery time of colds and influenza. A study published in the medical journal Autoimmunity Reviews states that “the use of elderberry supplements should be considered at an early course of the [severe acute respiratory] disease”.⁹

Usnea Throat Spray — This is my number one go-to herb for keeping healthy during the cold and flu season and when I am traveling or in crowds. Usnea is an exceptional herb that can be sprayed onto the back of the throat to help avoid contagious illness. It can also be used topically to promote healing for fungal infections.

All-Purpose (First Aid) Salve — My secret weapon against picking up the latest bug making the rounds, I apply this antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal salve on the inside of the nose and use it on my hands as a layer of protection.

COLD & FLU-FREE — KEEPS US HEALTHY!
“My wife and I own a bookstore with the town post office in the store, And we are the post masters, so I deal with people coming and going all day long 6 days a week. When all this C0VlD stuff started I started using Nicole’s Elderberry Tincture-Usnea Tincture Spray and the First Aid Salve. I have not had a cold sore throat or anything. I stand behind Nicole’s herbal remedies 100%.” -Matt M.

Each powerful remedy is available individually or in our convenient Travel Pack. These all-natural herbal medicines are essential for keeping you and your family healthy during vacations and beyond. I personally never leave home without my travel pack! Visit my apothecary today to learn more about this powerful trio and other helpful herbal extracts.

Let the summer adventures begin!

Nicole Apelian

Nicole’s Apothecary Products in this Post

References

1. Kawamoto, Y., Ueno, Y., Nakahashi, E., Obayashi, M., Sugihara, K., Qiao, S., Iida, M., Kumasaka, M. Y., Yajima, I., Goto, Y., Ohgami, N., Kato, M., & Takeda, K. (2016). Prevention of allergic rhinitis by ginger and the molecular basis of immunosuppression by 6-gingerol through T cell inactivation. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry, 27, 112–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2015.08.025. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26403321/
2. Ishikawa, Y., Tokura, T., Nakano, N., Hara, M., Niyonsaba, F., Ushio, H., Yamamoto, Y., Tadokoro, T., Okumura, K., & Ogawa, H. (2008). Inhibitory effect of honeybee-collected pollen on mast cell degranulation in vivo and in vitro. Journal of medicinal food, 11(1), 14–20. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2006.163. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18361733/
3. Mlcek, J., Jurikova, T., Skrovankova, S., & Sochor, J. (2016). Quercetin and Its Anti-Allergic Immune Response. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 21(5), 623. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21050623. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27187333/