Health Notes, June 15th 2008, by Sarah Stacey

Liz Earle’s tips on low stress travelling

Even if you don’t have to endure Terminal 5, air travel can take its toll on you.  Skincare expert Liz Earle travels continually for work,  researching botanical ingredients for her products.  Here are her tips on making the journey as stress free as possible.

‘To help me sleep on board, I choose a window seat (so I can lean my head on the side) and take a mini feather pillow with a cotton cover to support my neck, plus a cashmere or cotton shawl, which doubles as a blanket, or padding for an economy seat.
 
I always put a small metal vanity case inside my cabin bag to use as a footrest. Raising your feet helps prevent swollen ankles and makes it more comfortable to curl up and sleep on a night flight. (Find a similar one, the St Tropez Medium beauty box, £40 inc VAT, from bagsdirect.com)
 
Inside my vanity case I keep a stash of travel essentials : a thick eye mask, children’s silicone swimming ear plugs (which block almost all noise and are comfortable to sleep in), calming Rescue Remedy and homeopathic Arnica 30 (take two pills on take-off, mid-flight and landing), antiseptic hand cleaner, tissues, toothbrush and small pack of wipes, plus B-complex vitamins to combat the stress of long-haul (widely available, or at Victoria Health, see below) and extra still water.  I also take flight socks to prevent DVT (Mediven Travel Stockings £19.85 per pair from Victoria Health),  plus a travel size pot of my own Superbalm to hydrate lips and cheeks (£4.25 for 5g, tel: 01983 813913, www.lizearle.com).
(Liz Earle Travel Essentials Kit is available from www.victoriahealth.com, and as single items.  See below for more details.)

Air travel often makes me feel queasy so I carry small cubes of crystallised ginger (from any supermarket) – it works for children too.
 
Having endured the chaos of Terminal Five, I now carry a spare mobile phone charger plus foreign adapter (sockets are dotted around the airport where cleaners plug in) so I don’t run out of battery during a travel emergency.
 
I carry a laminated card with my name, blood group, GP details, phone numbers of husband, parents and work contacts, also out-of-hours numbers of helpful organisations, eg travel insurance company, RAC (for motoring), and friendly local travel agent.  I make them for my teenage children too.
 
To help overcome jetlag, I change my watch the minute I board the plane, and I always change my alarm clock to local destination time before packing – nothing worse than un-packing in daylight and being reminded it’s really 3am BST.’

Liz Earle’s Travel Essentials Kit:

Jet Rest Eye Mask £9.95, black blue or leopard.
Macks waterproof pillow soft Earplugs, £4.49 for 2 pairs
Rescue Remedy, £4.75 for 10 ml
Arnica 30 by Nelsons, £4.90 for 84 tablets
Organic Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer by Bentley Organics, £2.99 for 50 ml
Preserve Adult Toothbrush, £2.99
3-in-One Facial Wipes by Faith in Nature, £3.49 for 25 wipes
Vitamin B50 by LifeTime Vitamins £7.50 for 60 capsules
These items are available, from Victoria Health, singly at the prices shown, or as a kit for £37.  Just click here.

Homeopathy rules - okay?

I’m a longterm devotee of homeopathy as are many doctors and vets I know. It’s gentle, non-addictive, has virtually no risks, and can be extraordinarily effective.  There is a stack of evidence to support it (some by former opponents).   You can find a homeopathic doctor on the Faculty of Homeopathy, www.trusthomeopathy.org;  for a free downloadable guide to using remedies yourself, visit www.healthroughhomeopathy.com.

Baby sleeping bag

Experts say babies’ heads should not be covered by bedclothes while sleeping, to help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. New research shows this could prevent a quarter of SIDS fatalities.  A baby sleeping bag is a safe option, they add. A colleague recommends Grobag baby sleeping bag in organic cotton, from £34.50 at Bebeco, tel: 0845 057 9383, www.bebeco.co.uk.

Website of the week: www.changingfaces.org

Research suggests that 90 per cent of people have an unconscious prejudice against people with facial disfigurement.  The Face Equality campaign, launched by Changing Faces, one of my favourite charities, aims to get 100,000 people to ‘lend their faces’ by uploading their photo on the site.  It’s supported by celebrities including Jemma Kidd, Joanna Lumley and Barbara Windsor.  I’m going to do it: please join in.