7 Supplements for Altitude Sickness (Natural Remedy?)

altitude_sickness_natural_remedy

Is there a natural remedy for Altitude Sickness?

These practices can be considered a natural remedy for altitude sickness:

  • Consuming more carbohydrates
  • Staying hydrated
  • Drinking lemon juice with honey and cinnamon
  • Intaking garlic cloves

Altitude Sickness is a collection of symptoms the body experiences when it reaches high altitudes (>8000 feet) too quickly while climbing or trekking. Most of these symptoms are because the body can’t adapt to the low oxygen levels at high altitudes fast enough.

These symptoms include:

  • Exhaustion 
  • Insomnia
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Tachycardia
  • Difficulty in breathing

What are the best supplements available for Altitude Sickness?

The following are the best supplements available for altitude sickness:

  1. Alpha-lipoic Acid
  2. Magnesium
  3. M-Acetyl Cysteine(NAC)
  4. Rhodiola
  5. L-Arginine
  6. Vitamin C
  7. Vitamin E

What can Chlorophyll drops do for Altitude Sickness?

Research suggests that adding chlorophyll drops into water while climbing or trekking and drinking it, can increase the hemoglobin levels in your blood; This means a higher amount of oxygen can be carried by the blood, countering the effect of oxygen deficiency caused by altitude sickness. 

Chlorophyll is a natural herbal supplement known to reinforce the number of red blood cells; this causes the oxygen levels and energy levels of the body to increase. 

The video below explains how Chloroxygen increases oxygenation in the body and facilitates high altitude acclimation naturally.


This is our recommended Chlorophyll supplement (Amazon’s Choice):

Chlorophyll Liquid Drops – Organic Chlorophyll – Natural Energy Boost – Made in USA – Fast Absorbing Liquid Chlorophyll Supplement – Immune Support & Internal Deodorant – Non GMO Vegan – Detox Liquid

Can Coca leaves be used to relieve the symptoms of Altitude Sickness?

Coca leaves can be used to relieve the symptoms of altitude sickness as they contain alkaloids which, when extracted chemically, are the source of cocaine base. However, the concentration of alkaloids in raw coca leaves is significantly small. A cup of coca tea prepared from one gram of coca leaves contains approximately 4.2 mg of organic coca alkaloid. Due to these alkaloids, coca tea is a mild stimulant; drinking coca tea has the same effect as drinking coffee or tea.

Although a 2010 study concluded that chewing on coca leaves which has the same effect as drinking coca tea, caused little to no change in Oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and pulse rate of climbers.


Is there any Essential Oil for treating Altitude Sickness?

Any essential oil for treating altitude sickness may include:

  • Peppermint Essential oil
  • Thyme essential oil
  • Eucalyptus essential oil
  • Lavender essential oil

After diluting these essential oils in a carrier oil, They can be directly massaged onto the chest and soles of the feet or sniffed directly to relieve the person of muscle aches, headaches, or nausea. 

Although there is little medical research on this practice, a 2012 placebo-controlled study concluded that the inhalation of lavender essential oil might be an effective and safe treatment modality in the acute management of migraine headaches.


Can Altitude Sickness be treated with homeopathy?

Altitude Sickness might be treatable with homeopathy as homeopathic medicines are effective agents in managing symptoms like headache, exhaustion, dizziness, sleeplessness, palpitations, anxiety, and mild difficulty breathing. 

The most commonly used homeopathic medicine suited for managing altitude sickness is Coca, also known as “The mountaineer’s remedy.  However, a recent study concluded that Drinking coca leaf tea for prevention did not decrease the risk of altitude sickness. 

Other commonly used homeopathic medicines include:

  • Calcarea Carbohydrate
  • Gelsemium
  • Belladonna 
  • Conium
  • Arnica

Are Vitamins a safe treatment for Altitude Sickness?

Vitamins are safe for treating altitude sickness. This conclusion is backed by a study that found that lipid-soluble antioxidant vitamins at the prescribed doses are safe and potentially effective in improving the physiological profile of mountaineers at high altitudes.

Commonly used vitamins to treat altitude sickness include:

  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin B complex

These vitamins help the body recuperate from muscle soreness and increase the body’s metabolism, allowing more carbs to metabolize and providing more energy.

A recent study also found that oral vitamin C supplementation can safely reduce the increase of serum uric acid in young men who migrate from low altitude to high altitude safely and at a low cost.


Is there a relationship between Caffeine and Altitude Sickness?

There is a relationship between Caffeine and altitude sickness, as in theory, caffeine leads to dehydration, followed by altitude sickness. 

But there is no evidence to support this hypothesis of dehydration leading an individual to altitude sickness. Individuals should also note that the diuretic effects of coffee and caffeine are often exaggerated. Individuals that are habitual of drinking 12 oz (135 mg caffeine) of coffee are rarely affected by the diuretic effect of the drink.

Physiologic studies suggest that caffeine helps increase ventilation and decreases hypoxia, one of the main factors for altitude sickness in individuals.


Can Herbal remedies be used as an alternate medication for Altitude Sickness?

Herbs like Gingko biloba, Rhodiola rosea, Zinziber officinalis, when taken together, can be used as an alternate medication for altitude sickness as many useful active ingredients such as alkaloids, bitters, and cyanogenic glycosides can be found in herbs that are required to develop medication for this condition. 

A herbal mixture can prove to be more beneficial than a single herb in the handling of altitude sickness.


Can Ginger be used for managing Altitude Sickness?

Yes, ginger can be used for managing altitude sickness as studies have shown it to be an effective anti-vomiting and anti-nausea medication. Ginger is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties that help regulate blood pressure.

It is recommended to chew on ginger while trekking or climbing as this also helps the mouth to salivate, preventing a case of high altitude cough.


What is the relationship between Ginkgo biloba and Altitude Sickness?

Ginkgo biloba and altitude sickness have no noticeable connection, according to a recent study that compared ginkgo Biloba to 3 other drugs, namely Acetazolamide Dexamethasone and Rhodiola. The study concluded that Acetazolamide and dexamethasone could effectively prevent altitude sickness and should be the first choice for related supplementary research in the future. 

Rhodiola improves the SpO2 of people entering high altitudes and reduces the incidence of altitude sickness. Lastly, Ginkgo biloba extract is not as effective as the above three drugs in preventing altitude sickness and should be used depending on clinical situations.

Ginkgo biloba is an herbal product administered orally, and it is recommended to take its dosage before starting a climb.


What is the best drink for Altitude Sickness?

The best drink for altitude sickness is undoubtedly water. It is advised to keep yourself twice as hydrated while climbing or trekking. 

Although plain water is always the best option, drinking liquids with added electrolytes is recommended.

Staying hydrated keeps your mouth from drying out, helps relieve nausea, and prevents vomiting.


What role can intake of Vitamin B6 play for Altitude Sickness?

Intake of vitamin B6 can increase the production of hemoglobin, the protein responsible for carrying red blood cells. Increased production of hemoglobin leads to an increase in oxygen saturation of the blood. This can counter the reduced oxygen levels in the air at high altitudes.

A 2016 animal study concluded that multi-vitamin B Supplementation could reverse the effects of hypoxia, which is one of the main causes of altitude sickness.

In addition to this, vitamin B6 is also responsible for the metabolism of glycogen and amino acids. This metabolism may help reduce the energy deficit while climbing or trekking. 


Can Chocolate be used for preventing Altitude Sickness?

Chewing cocoa in the form of chocolate can be used for preventing altitude sickness

A study found that chocolate resulted in a higher concentration of blood glucose throughout the cycling trial at a higher altitude and lower blood lactate concentration than the placebo. In conclusion, this concluded that indeed provides a metabolic benefit and might help reduce the chances of altitude sickness


What is coq10, and how can it be used for Altitude Sickness?

CoQ10, can be used for altitude sickness as it increases general levels of energy, reduces high blood pressure, lessens the chances of tachycardia occurring, and will allow your heart to pump more efficiently at high altitudes by assisting each cell’s mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell, to burn fats.

CoQ10 also called coenzyme Q, is a nutrient. It is recommended to start taking doses at least five days before departing on your trip.

Although this supplement may seem to be the best way to prevent altitude sickness in theory,  medical studies suggest that Oral Coenzyme Q10 supplementation does not prevent cardiac alterations. 


What can Garlic do for Altitude Sickness?

Garlic is one of the most potent natural remedies for altitude sickness as research suggests garlic helps thin the blood vessels and enhances blood flow in the body. It also helps to lower the feeling of dizziness and nausea, which are two of the most significant synonyms of altitude sickness.


How can Ginseng be helpful for Altitude Sickness?

Ginseng is helpful for altitude sickness, as demonstrated by laboratory hypoxia testing.

Ginseng is the root of plants in the genus Panax. It is believed that herbs have detoxification properties, such as codonopsis, ginseng (and varieties thereof), astragalus, and Ganoderma, which aid oxygen utilization, thus preventing adverse reactions to low oxygen.


What can Rhodiola do for Altitude Sickness?

You can use Rhodiola for altitude sickness because it can improve the SpO2 of people entering high altitudes and reduce the incidence of altitude sickness.

Moreover, research also suggests Rhodiola can improve sports performance by reducing physical and mental fatigue and increasing antioxidant activity. 


How can Nitric Oxide be used for adapting to conditions that cause Altitude Sickness?

Nitric Oxide, when used for altitude sickness may worsen its symptoms, specifically headaches; This was concluded by a study that investigated the effect of nitrate supplementation on altitude sickness and exercise responses.

Dietary nitrate supplementation enhances sea-level performance and may help the body to adapt to hypoxemia, the condition of having low oxygen in the blood at high altitudes. 


How can Glucosamine be used for Altitude Sickness?

Glucosamine can be used for altitude sickness because it can reinforce muscles and joints while climbing or trekking. Glucosamine is an amino sugar used by the body to make chemicals that build tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and surrounding fluid joints.

A placebo-controlled study on glucosamine revealed that a combination of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride was more effective than a placebo in treating KBD. A degenerative condition affects the muscles and joints. 

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Sources

This article uses information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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7 Supplements for Altitude Sickness (Natural Remedy?)
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