Traveling Light
Taking care of my brain whilst traveling.
For the next several months, I’ll be travelling (on and off) with my son before he starts college next fall. If you’d like to follow my travels, I’ve started a travelogue called You’re a Trip and you can subscribe to it (for free) at atrip.substack.com.
With only two suitcases, I had to make some hard decisions about what things to bring to maintain my brain health and provide support if and when I needed it.
My kit includes the following:
Lumebox
I shine this portable red light therapy device on my cervical spine, my face, my skull, and my joints. If I feel like I’m coming down with something, I’ll put it on my chest. It’s a powerful device that’s easy to travel with.
Vielight Neuro Gamma
A brain-specific photobiomodulation device.
Walking
People say they walk “to clear their head” and I can feel my brain literally clearing. A few weeks ago, I bumped my head, and I turned up the dial on walking multiple times a day. Works every time.
Wim Hof App
I use this almost every day to do three rounds of breathing, usually mid-morning. Indispensable.
Supplements
In the morning, I take Seed probiotics, dopa mucuna, Rhodiola, and creatine. An hour or so before bedtime, I take Thorne’s Magnesium Citrimate, L-theanine, and 5-HTP (which I would not take if I were taking an antidepressant because combining them can be life-threatening).
Neorhythm
I’m bringing this because it can help me and, perhaps more importantly, it can help my wife and son should they get a migraine (it has a pain reduction mode). I don’t use it often, but I might use it to reduce jet lag by inducing sleep. It can also help ADD with its Focus mode.
Per my previous post, I’m also getting more regular sun exposure. And I’m drinking spring water more regularly and getting my feet into the sand on the beach more often.
While I’m in Europe, I might seek out the atlas treatment from AtlantoVib. To be determined.
There was a time when I might have been quite anxious about doing this extended travel. Fear of sensory overwhelm. Not knowing who or where to turn if things got bad. Not having a quiet place to retreat to. Etc. So it’s another opportunity to appreciate what’s possible.
If you’d like to follow my travels, subscribe (for free) to You’re a Trip.
Brainwave is a newsletter about brain health, a personal blog about my own journey, and an informational resource for people whose symptoms haven’t resolved after a concussion or mTBI. I aim to present this information clearly and concisely, spelling out what’s backed by science and what remains unknown. Nothing here is meant as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. I am not a physician or a healthcare practitioner of any kind; I’ve had a lot of sports-related head trauma and had to learn this stuff the hard way. If you found this information helpful or know someone who might benefit from it, please share and subscribe to Brainwave.