The open road calls to my adventurous spirit—but for me, true travel joy goes hand in hand with prioritizing my health, honoring my body, and staying rooted in God’s design for healing. I believe in embracing the wild while nurturing both body and soul with nature’s bounty. After all, what good are breathtaking landscapes if you don’t feel well enough to explore them?
As someone deeply passionate about natural health, beauty, and living intentionally, I’m excited to share the wellness practices that travel with me wherever I roam. From foraging food and medicinal plants to building a simple, effective natural beauty routine, these are the habits that help me thrive on the road.
🌿 Foraging for Food & Medicine on the Road
My journey into natural healing truly began under the guidance of the incredible herbalist Barbara O’Neill, whose teachings opened my eyes to the power God placed in plants and the importance of stewarding the land responsibly.
While foraging does require proper education and plant identification (never guess!), even beginners can learn to recognize abundant, accessible wild edibles, such as:
Dandelion greens (great for liver support)
Stinging nettles (a powerhouse source of iron and minerals)
Wild berries (when correctly identified)
Plantain, a common “weed” I use to make a natural Neosporin-style salve (blog post coming soon!)
Foraging not only saves space in your backpack—it reconnects you to the land in a deeply grounding and meaningful way. It reminds us that God has already provided so much of what we need. Check out Wild Harvest Guide: The Reliable Guide to Safely Identify Edible, Medicinal, and Toxic Plants! I use it to identify everything I forage. If you're a mushroom lover and forager, check out Go Forth and Forage: A Guide to Foraging Over 50 of the Most Common Edible & Medicinal North American Mushrooms. Another favorite of mine that I can't help but add is The Beekeeper's Apothecary: A Foundational Guide For Becoming Your Own Herbalist. I just love watching (and supporting these ladies on their socials)!
👉 Stay tuned for upcoming foraging guides and identification posts—I’ll be sharing everything I learn along the way.
🛢 Castor Oil: My Do-It-All Natural Remedy
If I had to choose one single natural remedy to travel with, it would be castor oil—hands down.
Castor oil has been part of my natural wellness routine for years, and I use it for:
Fungal & detox issues (especially on feet)
Cysts & tumors
Gut discomfort & tummy aches
Menstrual discomfort
Skin care, anti-aging & wrinkles
Eczema & dry skin
Supporting eye-area health
…and so much more.
The best part? Most uses are external, making it incredibly versatile and travel-friendly.
👉 I’ll be sharing a full castor oil deep-dive soon to spare alllll the details.
How to Choose the Right Castor Oil
This part matters.
✔ Always choose castor oil in a brown glass bottle — it’s light-sensitive and loses potency in sunlight
✔ Look for cold-pressed or hexane-free castor oil
✔ Cold pressing removes hexane (the toxic portion of the plant), leaving the healing oil intact
💛 The Goodbye Company Castor Oil is the one I personally use and recommend
I also add myrrh and frankincense essential oils for additional benefits and use it as my daily face and body lotion.
✨ Why Natural Wellness Matters to Me (and Why I Share This)
My commitment to natural healing isn’t just a lifestyle—it’s personal. Walking through cancer alongside someone I loved completely changed how I view health, medicine, and faith.
👉 You can read that full testimony here:
Walking Through Cancer, Faith & Healing Outside the System: A 60 Day Reset
That experience reinforced my belief that our bodies are designed to heal when given the right conditions, and that food, rest, faith, and nature all play vital roles in that process.
🚐 Simple Travel Wellness Tips
Here are a few small habits that make a big difference on the road:
Use a glass water bottle whenever possible
Avoid plastic and stainless steel bottles when possible (plastics leach microplastics, and stainless steel can harbor bacteria if not cleaned properly)
Carry a small herbal kit for travel. Here's a perfect guide on how to DYI it up and create your own because the natural way is the best way to heal yourself (and herbs are actually easy to find and most are fairly common weeds you can find in the woods or in your yard (just make sure the area isn't sprayed with pesticides!).
Pack castor oil packs for overnight support
Choose natural skincare with minimal ingredients. Castor oil with a little frankincense & myrrh is the perfect anti-aging regimen. Check out YouTube videos about it! You'll find a plethora of info on it and especially read the comments for testimonies!
🌎 Join Me on This Journey
Join me as I continue exploring the art of natural travel wellness—foraging food and medicine, crafting simple beauty routines, and uncovering hidden gems in the world of natural remedies.
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just beginning your journey, there’s something here for you. So pack your sense of adventure, a healthy dose of curiosity, and a willingness to learn. With a little knowledge and a connection to nature, you truly can explore the world feeling your absolute best.
✨ Grace, adventure, and faith along the journey
Sharla – Sharla’s Wanderlust Adventures
Don’t forget — go somewhere new, heal the way God designed, and glorify Him in the journey.
My Challenge to YOU: Go somewhere new, heal the way God designed, and give Him all the glory in all you do.

About Sharla
Hi, I'm Sharla—a veteran, traveler, empty nester, dog mom to Buster, and follower of Jesus. Through Sharla's Wanderlust Adventures, I share faith-filled travel experiences, Christian retreats, natural wellness, Bible studies, and the lessons God teaches me along the journey.
Affiliate Disclosure:
Sharla’s Wanderlust Adventures is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on this site, I may earn a small affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. I only share tools, resources, and products I’ve personally used, researched, or believe genuinely support healing.