Don’t you just hate it when you reach a destination, only to be taken ill? Whether you’re there for work or pleasure, being ill in a foreign land is absolutely no fun.
According to traditional Chinese medicine physician Ang Xiang Ling, from the Eu Yan Sang clinic at Bukit Batok, illness often strikes people who travel overseas for work. There are various reasons that can cause them to fall ill when they reach their destination:
According to Physician Ang, the following three scenarios make one prone to illness:
1. Stagnation of qi
Who gets it: working adults who are under a lot of pressure
Symptoms: irritability, difficulty falling asleep, constipated, depressed, reduced appetite, fatigue, low concentration, slow to react
Causes: emotional stress, lack of sleep, quarrels
Preventions: have sufficient rest before a trip, keep spirits high during the trip, take part in more outdoor activities
2. Deficiency of yang
Who gets it: people who are uncomfortable in humid weather, suffer from insomnia, and who pass hard stools
Symptoms: a sore throat, headache, constipation, insomnia, heat sore
Causes: extreme fatigue, insufficient rest, diet that’s high in heat and spice
Preventions: sufficient rest, avoid staying out late, consume more fresh vegetables and fruits on the trip
3. Deficiency in qi
Who gets it: Those who catch a cold easily and recover slowly, people still frail after a major operation or illness
Symptoms: reduced appetite, fatigue, low energy, prone to motion sickness and nausea
Causes: fatigue, insufficient or excessive rest, lack of nutrients in diet
Preventions: light meals with controlled portions at fixed times, sufficient nutrients and exercise, have fresh ginger handy in case of motion sickness
Should you develop symptoms at your destination, here are some solutions Physician Ang recommends:
Symptoms: headache, dizziness, swollen red eyes, hypertension, acne
Suggested solution: take luohan fruit tea
Symptoms: fever, headache, coughs
Suggested solution: take wolfberry-chrysanthemum tea
Symptoms: insomnia, headache, constipation
Suggested solution: apply tuina on meridian points such as ophryon, inner pass and hegu
This is an adaptation of an article, “Travellers’ Woes”, which first appeared in Issue 10 of NATURA magazine.