Common health disturbances needn’t ruin your fun. Pack these natural remedies to mitigate any malady. Remember, this information is not intended as medical advice.
Constipation
- Psyllium – These seed husks help cleanse the intestines and move bowels.
- Fruits & Veggies – Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, which contain fiber. Prunes or prune juice serve as a laxative.
Diarrhea
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- Lactobacillus Acidophilus – This beneficial bacteria fights foreign bacteria that cause diarrhea. It must be refrigerated, although there are now heat-resistant types for travelers. Recommended for preventing vaginal yeast infections.
- Grapefruit Seed Extract – Disinfects drinking water by killing E. coli, strep, salmonella and staph. Mix 1 to 5 drops into water or juice.
Exhaustion
- Ginseng – An adaptogenic herb that helps your body adjust to stress. It can help boost energy levels when you’re feeling run-down.
- Lavender Oil – Add essential oil of lavender to a warm bath to relieve muscular tension. A drop or two on your pillow at night can help you sleep better.
- Kali Phosphoricum – A homeopathic remedy for nervous exhaustion after long travel. Good if you’re easily irritated, excessively sensitive and can’t sleep.
Insect Bites & Stings
- Homeopathic Formula for Insect Stings – Includes apis for bee stings and ledium for mosquito bites, which reduce puffiness and pain.
- Chamomile Poultice – Soothes skin and relieves inflammation.
Jet Lag
- Melatonin – Take 3 mg daily. If westbound, take melatonin at bedtime after arriving and for the next four nights. If eastbound, take it late afternoon three days before departure. Then take it at bedtime for four days after arrival. Note: Pregnant and nursing women, women trying to consieve and persons suffereng from severe allergies or autoimmune diseases should not take melatonin.
- Homeopathic Jet Lag Formula – Take the remedy every two hours while you fly.
Motion Sickness
- Ginger – Helps quell nausea. Extracts or tablets are most convenient, but you can also drink ginger tea or nibble on raw ginger.
- Activated Charcoal Tablets – Take before onset of nausea to help soak up stomach acid.
Poison Ivy, Poison Oak
- Oatmeal – Apply oats to the rash area to neutralize poisons.
- Plantain – Fresh leaves of this common plant will help draw poisons from skin.
- Calendula Cream – This byproduct of marigold soothes rashes and skin irritation.
Sunburn
- Aloe Vera Gel – Use topically to moisturize and soothe burning and inflammation.
- Vitamin C and E – These antioxidants help skin heal more quickly and fight free-radical damage caused by minor burns.
Sources: Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine (Prima) by Michael Murray, N.D., and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D.; Healthy Healing: A Guide to Self-Healing for Everyone (Healthy Healing Publications) by Linda Rector Page, N.D., Ph.D., Family Homeopathy: A Practical Handbook for Home Treatment (Keats) by Paul Callinan.
