Help With Altitude Sickness

PRINTABLE VERSION   Peru? What about the Altitude??? A shortness of breath is the most common side effect of high altitude and this can be minimized by taking it easy the first couple days. The possibility of altitude sickness was my biggest hesitation in visiting Peru. I had what I believed to be altitude sickness in Mexico City twice, and would not want to repeat the experience. When I finally decided that Peru needed to be on my list of places to visit, I had to materialize a strategy and the best thing I could think of was the standard Diamox in that I got from my doctor. I did take the substance but I cannot say what practical use it had for me. I remember not feeling so great and I met someone there who told me not to take it, that it was, in fact, not recommended by any of the doctors in Peru. The woman I was speaking to told me that the athletes training for high altitudes use ginseng as a way to eliminate altitude sickness. High altitudes can cause symptoms like headache, nausea, weakness and trouble sleeping. None of these were too attractive to me and I certainly didn’t want to take the chance of being sick on my trip At higher altitudes the amount of oxygen mixed into the air is less. This drop in the amount of available oxygen can affect the heart, muscles, lungs and nervous system. It can affect anyone, even those in fantastic physical condition. After one to five days the body will begin to adjust and altitude sickness will subside. In Cuzco, I went out for a walk in the evening and immediately noticed that I would have to move more slowly. This was particularly interesting over the next few days as I adjusted to the altitude. I could walk a few blocks and then I might have to stop at a café or, sit down, or linger in a shop looking at the wonderful items – rather than walking. I was drinking plenty of water and I am sure that that helped. The only altitude experience I had was one of lack of oxygen and it slowed me down, everything went slower. The slowness was not a bad thing; in fact it was quite enjoyable. You simply will not be able to go at the same pace that you might be accustomed to. It was recommended to me never to drink alcohol at high altitude. On my last night there I made an executive decision to enjoy a glass of wine (something I do about 4-6 times a year) and it kept me up most of the night for lack of oxygen. Don’t do it. It’s not worth it. Just forget it. Everything I learned in Peru inspired me to go the route of herbal supplementation. There are herbs we can take to help prevent altitude sickness as well as to support the effects of less oxygen. As with all medical matters, consult your physician about the best approach for you. What I have to say is a recommendation to be discussed with your physician, naturopath or herbologist….after all; even though it was not ideal for me, diamox or some other substance may be perfect for you. It is recommended that a program including herbs be started a week before reaching the higher altitude. This would probably ensure a very easy transition into the new terrain without any problems. Below are the recommended herbs – consult a doctor, naturopath, or herbalist for dosages and the types or...