Airplane Flights

Dear Dr. Dean,

I get cellulitis on long haul flights and read that I should take gotu kola and Ginkgo to help prevent this. How long before I fly should I start taking these supplements or should I take them on a regular basis anyway?

Ms. R.

Dear Ms. R.,

I am a former military flight surgeon and never heard of long flights causing cellulitis nor preventing cellulitis by using gotu kola and Ginkgo. Commercial airlines are pressurized to an altitude of about 8,000 feet. Consequently, most folks on these flights become borderline hypoxic (low oxygen levels in the blood) due to the thin air. Also passengers tend to become dehydrated. To prevent dehydration be sure to consume plenty of fluids during the flight. Also, to counter the effects of hypoxia on the brain (that’s the reason people fall asleep so easily on airplanes–their brains are oxygen starved) consider Ginkgo (as you suggested) and Vinpocetine. Both of these substances improve the brain’s utilization of glucose and oxygen. Also to prevent the tendency of the blood to clot, which may trigger a heart attack or stroke, be sure to get up and walk around periodically and to contract the leg and stomach muscles every few minutes when seated. Turmeric and Oral ChelatoRx will also reduce any blood clotting tendencies.

Sincerely,

Ward Dean, MD