When embarking on an adventure, the last thing you want to worry about is whether illness, digestive troubles, or anxiety will get in the way of your fun. Enter: Herbs and mushrooms for travel wellness. Keep comfortable travels on the horizon with herbs and mushrooms that fortify immunity, keep your tummy happy, and promote deep rest.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your health care practitioner before adding any new herbs to your wellness routine.

Fortify Immunity

Echinacea

Echinacea is shown to shorten the duration and severity of the common cold and flu when taken at the onset of symptoms (1). Several studies indicate that this herbal ally stimulates the immune system and promotes the function of white blood cells (2).

Astragalus

Astragalus' antibacterial and antiviral properties make it a top preventative choice for colds and respiratory infections. This herb is known to stimulate macrophages, natural killer cells, lymphocytes, and many other cells that support immune function (3).

Find both Echinacea and Astragalus in our Immune Depth Tincture Blend.

Chaga

Packed with antioxidants that act as a defense system, this functional mushroom works both restore optimal immune health. Polysaccharides and beta-glucans within Chaga modulate the immune system, reduce inflammation, and help ward off infection (4). 

Our Chaga Mushroom Capsules make it easy to take your mushroom medicine on the go.

Support Digestion

Fennel Seed

Fennel seed has components that relax the smooth muscle in the digestive tract, easing gas, bloating, indigestion, and abdominal pain. The essential oils within this herb aid in stimulating gastric juices to help the body digest and absorb valuable nutrients (5).

Ginger Root

Ginger is a powerful herbal ally that is known to provide relief from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gas, and bloating by increasing digestive enzyme production (6). When taken before travel, it can prevent nausea and discomfort associated with motion sickness (7).

Meadowsweet

Meadowsweet soothes the stomach lining and protects the digestive tract from acidity (8). This herb is commonly used to treat upset stomach, heartburn, and ulcers, and known to ease heartburn, diarrhea, stomach pain, and nausea (9). 

Find all of the herbs above in our Digestive Harmony Tincture Blend.

Turkey Tail

Turkey Tail is packed with PSP, which is a prebiotic that supports increased levels of beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome (10). The polysaccharides in Turkey Tail work to reduce gut inflammation and support a healthy ecosystem for quality bacterial communities to thrive in (11).

Our Turkey Tail Mushroom Capsules make it easy to take your mushroom medicine on the go.

Ease Stress & Promote Sleep

Hops

Herbalists often describe Hops as a plant to counter intense personalities and nervous exhaustion. Hops encourage the nervous system to rest, easing the body and mind into an easygoing state. This herbal ally relaxes the body into letting go, supporting deep sleep (12).

Passionflower

Passionflower promotes better sleep through its action on the cerebral cortex. This is the area of the brain responsible for reasoning, thought, and perception. By helping to soothe an overactive brain, Passionflower nurtures feelings of calm, allowing the body to find rest (13).

Skullcap

Skullcap is a potent herb that can be used for both short-term and long-term sleep troubles. It promotes a calm mind, and acts on the entire nervous system. Skullcap relaxes tense muscles, settles an overstimulated sensory system, and eases irritated mental states (14).

Find all of the herbs above in our Feel Calm Tincture Blend.

Reishi

This mushroom is an adaptogen that works effortlessly to calm the spirit, restore balance and enhance resilience. Known as “The Mushroom of Spiritual Potency,” Reishi boosts physical well-being and can help combat stress and anxiety (15). 

Our Reishi Mushroom Capsules make it easy to take your mushroom medicine on the go. 

Carry-On Friendly Wellness

Our Tincture Blends and Mushroom Capsules are formulated by Clinical Herbalists with 100% natural ingredients. The best part? Both products are carry-on friendly if you don’t plan on checking your luggage or if you want to have them easily accessible.

Focus on having fun and making memories during your next adventure with our Tincture Blends and Mushroom Capsules.

References

1. Block, K. I., & Mead, M. N. (2003). Immune System Effects of Echinacea, Ginseng, and Astragalus: A Review. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 2(3), 247–267. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735403256419
2. Kumar, K. M., & Ramaiah, S. (2011). Pharmacological Importance of Echinacea Purpurea. International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences, 2(4).
3. Li, C., Liu, Y., Zhang, Y., Li, J., & Lai, J. (2022). Astragalus polysaccharide: a review of its immunomodulatory effect. Archives of Pharmacal Research, 45(6), 367–389. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12272-022-01393-3
4. Seo, Hye-Kyung, and Seung-Cheol Lee. “Antioxidant Activity of Subcritical Water Extracts from Chaga Mushroom (Inonotus Obliquus).” Separation Science and Technology, vol. 45, no. 2, 21 Jan. 2010, pp. 198–203., doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/01496390903423899.
5. Saddiqi, H. A., & Iqbal, Z. (2011). Usage and significance of fennel (foeniculum vulgare mill.) seeds in eastern medicine. Nuts and Seeds in Health and Disease Prevention. Doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-375688-6.10055-6 
6. Bodagh, M. N., Maleki, I., Hekmatdoost, A. (2018). Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders: A systemic review of clinical trials. Food Science & Nutrition, 7(1), 96-108. doi:10.1002/fsn3.807
7. Zadeh, J. B., & Kor, N. M. (2014). Physiological and pharmaceutical effects of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) as a valuable medicinal plant. European Journal of Experimental Biology, 4(1). http://pelagiaresearchlibrary.com/european-journal-of-experimental-biology/vol4-iss1/EJEB-2014-4-1-87-90.pdf
8. Haslam, E. (1996). Natural polyphenols (vegetable tanins) as drugs: Possible modes of action. Journal of Natural Products, 59(2), 205-215. doi:10.1021/np960040.2b
9. McLean, W. (2018). Herbal and nutritional solutions for upper digestive complaints. Journal of the Australian Traditional-medicine Society, 24(4), 264. https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=079829353686715;res=IELHEA
10. Pallav, Kumar, Scot E Dowd, Javier Villafuerte, Xiaotong Yang, Toufic Kabbani, Joshua Hansen, Melinda Dennis, Daniel A Leffler, David S Newburg, and Ciarán P Kelly. “Effects of Polysaccharopeptide From Trametes Versicolor and Amoxicillin on the Gut Microbiome of Healthy Volunteers.” Gut Microbes 5, no. 4 (2014): 458–67.
11. Yu, Zhuo-Teng, Bo Liu, Purna Mukherjee, and David S. Newburg. “Trametes Versicolor Extract Modifies Human Fecal Microbiota Composition In Vitro.” Plant Foods for Human Nutrition 68, no. 2 (2013): 107–12.
12. Effects of a hops (Humulus lupulus L.) dry extract supplement on self-reported depression, anxiety and stress levels in apparently healthy young adults: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover pilot study. (2017, July 24). HORMONES. https://doi.org/10.14310/horm.2002.1738
13. Lee, J., Jung, H. Y., Lee, S. I., Choi, J. H., & Kim, S. G. (2020). Effects of Passiflora incarnata Linnaeus on polysomnographic sleep parameters in subjects with insomnia disorder. International Clinical Psychopharmacology, 35(1), 29–35. https://doi.org/10.1097/yic.0000000000000291
14. Awad, R., Arnason, J., Trudeau, V., Bergeron, C., Budzinski, J., Foster, B., & Merali, Z. (2003, January). Phytochemical and biological analysis of Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora L.): A medicinal plant with anxiolytic properties. Phytomedicine, 10(8), 640–649. https://doi.org/10.1078/0944-7113-00374 
15. Zhao, H., Zhang, Q., Zhao, L., Huang, X., Wang, J., & Kang, X. (2012). Spore Powder of Ganoderma lucidum Improves Cancer-Related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Endocrine Therapy: A Pilot Clinical Trial. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012, 1–8. doi: 10.1155/2012/809614