By Christine Cheng, R.Ph.
Warmer weather means more outdoor activities and travels. A properly assembled First Aid Kit is pertinent in case of an accident. Other than the usual “Band-Aid” and antiseptics, there are a few extra items that may come in handy.
With children running about, there are bound to be many “boo-boo’s” to heal. For bumps and bruises, keep some ARNICARE Cream or Gel on hand to help with pain and swelling. For minor scrapes, CALENDULA COMPLEX CREAM has mild antiseptic action while helping to soothe soreness and redness.
DAPIS GEL is a homeopathic product that is applied topically to help relieve the itch and sting associated with insect bites. Being in a gel base adds to its soothing effects and makes it a great natural alternative to calamine lotion. The same active ingredient in Dapis Gel is available in oral format: keeping Apis Mellifica 6ch in your first aid kit is a great complement to the topical gel. It also complements and can safely be used as the same time as conventional antihistamines (e.g., Benadryl ®) because in addition to reducing swelling and itchiness, it can help with the pain of the sting or bite.
Going traveling? COCCULINE® is a homeopathic mixture that can be taken by both children and adults. It contains remedies to help with the dizziness and nausea that may be symptoms of motion sickness. If you are traveling into another time zone and jetlag is a concern, then our JETLAG COMPLEX can be tried. It is best taken starting a few days before traveling and continued for a few days into your stay in the new time zone. MELATONIN is another useful natural product for those traveling across multiple time zones to help adjust the sleep-wake cycle. As with any sleep aid, it should only be used for a few days at a time as the safety of long-term supplementation with melatonin is not yet known.
Staying properly hydrated is important as we face the summer heat. Those who are very active can benefit from products that combine branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) with electrolytes such as those from TRUME Whole Health. This line of hydration boosters comes in a variety of flavours, is gluten-free, calorie-free and free of artificial colours and flavours. Another tasty option is SISU’s ENERGY BOOST. With it’s inclusion of the patented ESTER-C source of Vitamin C, zinc, and B-vitamins, this is an ideal option for those going traveling who could really benefit from the immune support.
Come talk to us about how to best prepare for your warm weather travel and activities. Enjoy your summer!
Christine is a registered pharmacist with training in Natural Health Products and a passion for Integrative Medicine. She works alongside her brother, Fred at their unique family-owned and operated Pharmasave in Downtown Cloverdale, BC. They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use.
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