Do you also get dizzy in a moving vehicle like me? I found out that I don’t need to drink some medicine to prevent “byahilo” (motion sickness) in a car. Wearing tinted sunglasses does the trick!

Similarly, my mom used to always complain about byahilo and even mistook it as a sign for hypertension — so she used to drink anti-hypertension medicines and/or pineapple juice that can lower high blood pressure in addition to her daily maintenance medicines for high blood whenever she traveled. She even used to vomit a lot and get chills and feverish. But ever since I gave a pair of Burberry glasses with transition or color-adaptive lens, she has been traveling more and more because she has been experiencing less and less byahilo. 

My theory is that sunglasses help our eyes focus at the center, which was what my doctor prescribed for me to do whenever I’d experience vertigo. Also, the tint in the glasses diffuse strong lights on the streets — including lasers, headlights and the sun’s ultraviolet rays — that are actually the ones that make my head ache and make me dizzy while on the road. Apart from preventing me from getting byahilo, sunglasses or “sunnies” also help me fall asleep and steal some rest.

Apart from providing sun protection, sunnies or “shades” reduce the risks of anything from eyestrain and headaches from glare, to getting cataracts, macular degeneration and eye cancer. These help migraine sufferers while also providing anti-aging benefits by shielding the sensitive eye skin area from sun damage. These block wind or debris from entering your peepers. 

Wearing quality sunglasses with 100 percent UVA/UVB (ultraviolet rays A and B) protection is crucial for long-term vision and eye health, said US optometric company Eye Care Center. Benefits such as these make sunglasses a must-have in tropical countries like the Philippines, not only during the upcoming summer. 

Besides sunnies, here are some fashion statement pieces that have been proven to aid in healing both the body and mind.

Fabrics with Rx

In 2003, scientist Dr. Heidi Yellen used Bioenergetics, a branch of Biochemistry studying energy flow, among others, to study the frequencies of both natural and synthetic fabrics, using a digital instrument called the Ag-Environ Machine. Based on her research, organic cotton has the same frequency as the human body: 100 mHz. Linen, silk and wool, on the other hand, all have around 5,000 mHz. According to her studies, the more a material’s frequency is, the better its healing properties.

As such, cotton and linen, in particular, are being used even in hospitals — from cleaning and dressing wounds, to beddings, patients’ gowns and medical workers’ uniforms — as these are not only lightweight, affordable and comfortable, but are also sanitary and aid in faster wound healing, bacterial growth prevention and infection control through wicking moisture.

Cotton and linen are breathable, hypoallergenic and antibacterial, making them suitable for sensitive skin. Linen, however, is strong and so absorbent and dries faster than cotton. Linen beddings regulate temperature and provide a gentle massaging effect, therefore promoting better blood circulation, reduced skin irritation and overall skin, comfort and health.

Raw wool, says medical journals like Science Direct, is widely used as orthopedic padding, in sheepskins to prevent bedsores, in specialized wool socks for improved blood circulation, and in wound-healing, orthopedic and skincare products such as lanolin creams. When used in winter coats, Merino wool provides odor resistance through its anti-bacterial and natural temperature regulation properties.

Although also natural, with high frequency and lightweight, silk is not traditionally used in Medicine as its processing entails chemical use, which lowers its sanitary value and frequency. It is highly recommended still for being hypoallergenic and gentle on skin, making it a preferred status fabric especially among royals. 

According to Yellen’s research, the lower the frequency, like those of synthetic fabrics like rayon that scored only 15 mHz, the lower its healing properties. Other synthetic fibers like polyester, acrylic, spandex, Lycra, viscose and nylon scored zero.  Synthetic fabrics burn into the skin in case of fire

Surprisingly, though a natural material, bamboo also scored zero. Bamboo charcoal fabric, on the other hand, is being used for hypoallergenic medical textiles, odor-resistant sportswear, thermal-regulating beddings and moisture-wicking underwear as its key benefits include high porosity for superior moisture absorption, anti-bacterial properties and far-infrared emission or the ability to improve blood circulation, relieve pain and boost metabolism.