Let’s face it. Touring in a band is not the best, safest, healthiest thing to do. You’re stuck in a van with people and germs abound, you’re probably not getting enough rest, and you might be drinking way too much alcohol every night. At the same time, you’re depending on your good health to have strong vocals, be able to put on a killer show, and make it home in one piece. Here are some touring tips from the East on getting quick recovery:
Sore Throat? Congestion? Use Loquat Syrup!
Loquat Syrup (especially the Nin Jion Pei brand), is the absolute best thing out there in soothing your throat. It has been made especially to help a dry throat, which can be caused by too much drinking or smoking (or just abuse on your vocal chords from singing too much). Everyone in my band swears by it, even our singer who coats the inside of his mouth with it before breathing fire.
You can find it in any Asian supermarket, Whole Foods, or most natural food stores. It’s also known as Pei Pa Koa and should run between $5-$8 per bottle. Way better than any other over the counter medicine out there!
Upset Stomach, Acid Reflex, Ulcers? Try “Po Chai Pills”
Po Chai Pills are an inexpensive remedy for most stomach ales. They’re very popular for tourists and travelers who are get sick because they aren’t used to regional foods and who suffer from indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea, and bloating. A box with 10 vials (5 doses) will run you about $3 or so and it is available at most Asian chain markets, natural herb stores, or on Amazon.com.
In the United States, supplies are from Prince of Peace Enterprises, a reliable and reputable herbal supplement company. Just take two vials with some water when symptoms occur…and next time, try not to eat so much greasy fast food!
These pills have been around for over 1,000 years and are still very popular all over Asia. If you can’t find some when on the road, try using some natural remedies like peppermint or ginger root (you can find candied ginger at Trader Joe’s pretty easily or Canada Dry Ginger Ale just about anywhere).
Balance
The biggest thing you can do is prevention. By focusing on balance: getting enough rest, eating well, drinking plenty of water, etc. you can prevent some of the more common illnesses on the road. I’m not sure if vitamin supplements like Emergen-C or Airborne really work (the FDA won’t approve either), but I’m sure taking a shot of vitamins can’t hurt. Also, be sure to keep your van clean and have people do basics like wash their hands, not share food/drinks, etc. You’ll be surprised at how much these litte things can go a long way.
What are some of your tips for staying healthy – Eastern, Western, or other?
Simon Tam the is owner of Last Stop Booking and author of How to Get Sponsorships and Endorsements. Simon’s writing on music and marketing can be found at www.laststopbooking.com