When you’re heading out into the world on an adventure and ready to experience the bliss of new places, cultures, and experiences, the last thing you want to think about is exhaustion from jet lag, a nasty cold from the flight, or digestive issues from exotic food. While a traditional first-aid kit with bandaids and antibiotics may be necessary for emergencies, we recommend creating a trusty herbal first aid kit chock-full of preventative, proactive remedies

The foundation of health and wellness is a balanced, nutrient-rich diet, but as food and nutrition have gotten increasingly trendy, the concept of eating well has gotten increasingly complex: Which diet to try, which supplement to buy, which label to trust, which vitamins to absorb, and which ingredients to avoid all contribute to an overwhelming jumble of information that can make decisions about eating well feel as organic as a bag of Doritos. “HEALTHY” OR

To say the political chaos, social unrest, and environmental wake-up calls of the past few years have been stressful would be an understatement. As an antidote to our collective sense of overwhelm, we look to global service projects that are working to restore justice and balance on micro and macro levels. Barefoot College is a NGO with a catchy name that’s pioneering change worldwide by harnessing the power of women, education, and the sun. Through their holistic curriculum

By now we’ve all seen pictures of athletes and celebrities with big, red circles on their backs, the tell-tale sign of a cupping session. Cupping, a Traditional Chinese Medicine technique that’s been around longer than TMZ, is a close cousin to moxibustion, a form of heat therapy designed to energize the flow of qi in the body. While cupping stimulates blood and qi flow through suction, moxibustion uses heat and herbs to get things moving. MOXA

Happy Autumnal Equinox! Here at Five Pillars we hold the Intention to move through life in synch with the seasons. Listening to the messages and even advice each has to share with us and going with the flow or counterbalancing where beneficial – letting the pillars of Right Movement, Nutrition, Breathing, and Relaxation support and inform our choices. According to Ayurveda—an ancient traditional system of medicine in India that’s been called Yoga’s sister science—Fall is

Mitochondria are the internal generators that keep us moving. Present in almost every cell in our body, they metabolize carbohydrates, amino acids, and fatty acids into Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a high-energy molecule that biologists consider the energy currency of life. In other words, mitochondria are essential. Here are a few of their responsibilities: Power our neurons Make our muscles move Allow for the absorption of nutrients from our food Keep our hearts pumping A healthy

It’s nearly impossible to go anywhere without a tether tying us to our work or other obligations. Digital distraction is a challenge for the vast majority of us—whether it’s our desire to check email or a need to see what’s new on Instagram—and the tools that keep us connected in day-to-day life can hinder us from truly being present when we travel. GO DEEPER: SUPPORT YOUR DIGITAL DETOX WITH A CELLULAR CLEANSE Travel presents the opportunity

The problem of waste can feel overwhelming, but we can and should take action to reduce our impact on the planet. Our daily shifts don’t have to be drastic. We’re in the middle of Plastic Free July, a worldwide movement encouraging people to be mindful of their plastic consumption and make lasting changes in their routines. One of their top tips? Invest in reusable containers and #ChooseToRefuse shopping bags, straws, takeaway containers and coffee cups