6 Best Natural Remedies For Altitude Sickness
Discover the power of natural remedies from around the world for altitude sickness. Acute mountain sickness (AMS), can put a damper on your travel plans and outdoor adventures. As a company with years of high altitude experience, we'll reveal our six best natural remedies for altitude sickness.
Natural Remedies For Altitude Sickness
The higher we climb, the greater the risk of altitude sickness. With proven herbs, extracts, and plants from around the world — you can embrace nature's healing touch with natural remedies for altitude sickness.
We'll help you explore the realm of natural remedies by identifying the best solutions for altitude sickness from many different cultures. Many of these have historical and traditional use that has stood the test of time for decades and even centuries.
Unveiling the Causes of Altitude Sickness
Exploring in the thin air lies a formidable foe — altitude sickness. The major cause of altitude sickness is oxygen deprivation, also known as hypoxia.
It addition to lack of oxygen other factors can play a role including rapid ascending, dehydration, and physical fitness. The combination leads to symptoms of altitude sickness including headaches, fatigue and nausea.
Common symptoms of altitude sickness:
- headache
- nausea or vomiting
- loss of appetite
- extreme fatigue
- dizziness
- difficulty breathing
- trouble sleeping
- feeling ill
Whether high altitude exposure from traveling, vacationing, skiing, or even airplane flight — these symptoms can typically develop within 6-24 hours. Learn about the natural remedies below that may able to help you with altitude sickness.
6 Best Natural Remedies For Altitude Sickness
If you're ready to embark on a breathtaking journey to the mountains, whether vacation or exploring and hiking, don't let the high altitudes put a damper on your trip.
As a supplement company that has years of high-altitude experience, we'll share our research on the best natural remedies for altitude sickness.
Here's 6 Best Natural Remedies For Altitude Sickness:
1. Glutathione
Glutathione, often referred to as the "body's master antioxidant," is key in protecting our cells from free radical damage.
It has been found that high altitudes not only cause oxidative damage, it can deplete glutathione by up to 45%. Supplementing glutathione can restore your healthy levels and aid in fighting oxidative stress.
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Fight Oxidative Stress - Antioxidant supplementation was found to be necessary step decrease oxidative stress at high altitudes.¹
-
Restore Glutathione Levels - India research found glutathione to deplete in high altitude conditions.²
As one of the best natural remedies for altitude sickness, put glutathione in your arsenal for high altitude journeys.
2. Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba, derived from one of the oldest tree species on Earth, has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and found to help improving blood circulation and oxygen delivery.
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Increase Oxygen Saturation - Research in Chile found an increase in oxygen saturation from taking Ginkgo Biloba in high altitudes.
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Lower Altitude Sickness Incidence - At Pikes Peak in Colorado, Ginkgo Biloba showed a reduction in incidence of altitude sickness.³
Ginkgo Biloba is another important natural remedy for altitude sickness that has been quoted for a long history of use.
3. DHM
DHM, short for dihydromyricetin, is a natural compound extracted from the japanese raisin tree. It's been used as a health tonic for centuries and modern research has shown benefits in high altitudes.
One study showed reduced fatigue in high altitudes due to its potent antioxidant properties.
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Improve High-Altitude Performance - Research from 2013 discovered DHM to improve physical performance in high altitude conditions.
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Decrease Fatigue - DHM was found to decrease fatigue by three (3x) times due to boosting cellular antioxidant capacity.
By incorporating
DHM supplements into your high altitude regimen, you can potentially enhance your overall well-being and make your high-altitude experience more enjoyable.
4. Coca
Coca is a traditional herbal remedy used for centuries by the indigenous people of the Andes for altitude sickness.
The leaves of the coca plant contain alkaloids that have been shown to increase high altitude energy and performance, and even believed to suppress pain and hunger.
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Confirmed High Altitude Remedy - A Medical University in New York research the medicinal purposes of Coca as a "high altitude remedy of the ancient Incas."[⁹]
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Enhance Altitude Performance - Research out of Peru proved that Andean Indians, which have used coca leaves for centuries for high altitudes, were right about it enhancing high altitude performance.⁸
It's important to note that the use of coca leaves is subject to legal restrictions in most countries like the USA, but it can be purchased as
tea, candy and supplements to use in native countries like Peru.
5. Ginger
Ginger, a well-known natural remedy for various ailments, has been believed to provide relief and promote a more comfortable experience at high altitudes.
While no studies specifically on altitude sickness, ginger has been found to contain compounds that restore balance in the body to help upset stomachs and nausea.[¹⁰][¹¹]
- Fight Oxidative Stress - With rich phytochemistry ─ including gingerols, shogaols, paradols, and zingerone ─ ginger is shown to have powerful antioxidant properties that could help with high altitude oxidative stress.¹²
- Nausea And Vomiting - A study in Thailand showed ginger to have benefits in nausea and vomiting.¹² This was not an altitude sickness related study, but symptoms of altitude sickness are similar.
Whether you choose to consume ginger tea, ginger candies, or ginger capsules, this natural remedy might provide your body help at high altitudes.
6. Oxygen
Oxygen, as a vital element in the body, becomes even more critical with lower oxygen levels at high altitudes.
Supplemental oxygen might aid altitude sickness by increasing the oxygen concentration in your body.
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Noteworthy Effect At High Altitudes - It was discovered at the University of Pennsylvania a noteworthy effect of supplemental oxygen at high altitudes.¹³
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Improve Oxygenation - Research on those with altitude sickness showed supplemental oxygen to improve symptoms and increase oxygenation.¹³
It's important to note that these observations and studies were done on supplemental oxygen, also known as
oxygen tanks, which is not
canned oxygen like
boost oxygen. More research needs to be done if oxygen canisters provide enough oxygen to get the touted benefits.
If you're looking for what helps with altitude sickness naturally, in our research these conclude the best natural remedies for altitude sickness ─ including Glutathione, Ginkgo Biloba, DHM, Coca, Ginger, and Oxygen. Maximize your next mountain journey experience by supplementing one, or many, of these natural remedies for altitude sickness!
What Herbs Help With Altitude?
Out of these natural remedies for altitude sickness, the ones considered herbs are DHM (from Japanese Raisin), Ginkgo Biloba, and Ginger.
Our Secret Weapon For Altitude
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SOURCES:
1. Effect of high altitude (7,620 m) exposure on glutathione
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11320641/
2. High Altitude and Free Radicals
https://www.jssm.org/hf.php?id=jssm-03-64.xml
3. Ginkgo biloba reduces incidence and severity of acute mountain sickness.
http://www.everestnews.com/stories024/peterh.htm
4. Ginkgo biloba decreases acute mountain sickness in people ascending to high altitude at Ollagüe (3696 m) in northern Chile
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18076292/
5. Ginkgo biloba for the prevention of severe acute mountain sickness (AMS) starting one day before rapid ascent
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12006162/
6. Supplements And Natural Remedies For High Altitude Hiking - Ginkgo Biloba
https://www.summitstrength.com.au/blog/preventing-altitude-sickness-supplements
7. Dihydromyricetin Improves Physical Performance under Simulated High Altitude
https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/fulltext/2014/11000/Dihydromyricetin_Improves_Physical_Performance.6.aspx
8. Does Chewing Coca Leaves Influence Physiology at High Altitude?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3001837/
9. Coca: High Altitude Remedy of the Ancient Incas
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26507611/
10. The Many Health Benefits of Ginger
https://tamaratcm.com/health-benefits-of-ginger/
11. A randomized comparison of ginger and dimenhydrinate in the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17957907/
12. Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ginger in Health and Physical Activity: Review of Current Evidence
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3665023/
13. Supplemental oxygen and hyperbaric treatment at high altitude: cardiac and respiratory response
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17571664/
