By Dr. Henry Cheng
This continuous sunny weather is inviting many travellers to pack up and leave home. On your way, health accidents may happen and it would be nice if you have something on you that can help you out. Let’s talk about some of the possible medical problems that you may encounter. Read through the following paragraphs and mark down the remedies that you would like to bring along. Go to a natural pharmacy and get the staff to help you assemble your personal First Aid Travel Kit. I never leave home without mine.
If you are flying to another part of the world, you may experience jet-lag. Cocculus Indicus is a classical remedy to prevent or treat jet-lag. One dose daily for 3 days before the flight, to be continued for 4 days after landing usually helps the body to adapt better. Alternatively you can use a mixture that I have designed called Jet Lag Mix to get even better results. Some people suffer from barotraumas and experience earaches during take off or landing. These people should take a dose of homeopathic decongestant such as Sinus Tablets, Sabalia®, or Luffeel®. These products are labelled for head colds and sinus problems but they are good and safe decongestants. In you still experience earache then take a dose of Borax 30CH to adapt to the barotraumas. I have clients who are afraid of flight and height. I advise them to take Argentum nitricum to eliminate their fears. I also have patients who as a rule can’t sleep the night before vacation due to anticipation anxiety. These people usually get help from Gelsemium or a mixture called Stage Fright Complex. Many countries require you to be vaccinated against various diseases and some of you may be sceptical of the side effects of vaccination, especially when multiple injections are received. A dose of homeopathic Sulfur 30CH before and after vaccination usually minimizes undesirable effects.
When you eat in a foreign country, there may be foods that you are not accustomed to. If you have eaten foods that your bowel does not accept, take a dose of Nux vomica. If you had actual food poisoning, then Arsenicum album would help eliminate the toxins. A mixture called GI Mix is especially good for all kinds of stomach and intestinal symptom including dyspepsia, gas, cramps, diarrhoea, and vomiting, especially when you are tired and stressed. Travelling can be very exhaustive. To get a kick of your energy, try a daily dose of Alfalfa Tonic or a daily dose of Phosphoric Acid 30C.
In hot countries you may get heat stroke very easily if you don’t pay attention to hydration. In case you get sick with the heat, try a dose of Belladonna. When you are engaged in physical activities, injuries unfortunately is a possibility. Arnica Montana is a universal remedy for any injury. If you pulled a tendon Ruta graveolens should be taken in addition to Arnica. If you injured a bone, add Symphytum. If you stepped on a nail, then Ledum pallister would be the best choice. Insect bites are common in the tropics. If you were bitten by insects, the swelling, itch, and pain may be reduced with a few doses of Apis Melliffica. Apis Gel and Calendula Complex cream are good topical agents to relieve the nuisance caused by insect bites. If you are going to high altitudes, mountaineers’ disease can catch you off guard, in which case you may experience difficulty of breathing, palpitation, dizziness, headache, sweating, and exhaustion, which can be fairly scary. The homeopathic medicine Coca 30C is known to help both prevention and treatment. Bringing along common cold remedies is always a good idea as you never know when you will catch a bug. Coryzalia® is the most versatile cough and cold remedy that is effective for headache, fever, malaise, runny nose, sore throat and cough. Well, there you go. Bon Voyage!
Henry Cheng is a medical graduate of the University of London, England, and is now a Certified Natural Products Advisor at Pharmasave Downtown Cloverdale.
