Preparations Before Travel
You may want to consider some or all of the following options, depending on your destination and length of stay.
- Ensure your immune system is healthy; visit a professional homeopath and get constitutional treatment - don't leave it to the last minute, then you can fight off illness more easily while travelling; GOOD HEALTH IS THE BEST PREVENTATIVE TO ANY ILLNESS.
- Take Echinacea as a tincture or herbal remedy 3 weeks before travel then 10 days on and 10 days off during your time away from home to boost immunity.
- Consider taking pro-biotics for 2 or 3 weeks before travel, in order to develop a healthy gut (especially if you have taken antibiotics in the previous year).
- If travelling to a high Malaria risk area, consider taking a spleen-strengthening remedy before you leave, e.g. Ceanothus 6x daily for 2-3 weeks.
- Ask your GP or homeopath about your fitness to travel if you are in any doubt.
- Make sure you know your blood group, in case of emergency.
- Find out as much as you can regarding recommended vaccines and alternatives: immunisation is only part of the health advice for travellers - the disease risk for individual travellers needs to be assessed when determining the need for vaccines or homeopathic prophylaxis.
- Many health issues facing travellers are not vaccine-preventable e.g. food and water hygiene; safe sex and protection against insects are also important.
- Business travellers and people staying in hygienic air-conditioned premises or first class hotels do not run the same risks as those travelling to rural areas where the potential for infection is greater and there are fewer facilities for medical treatment.
- Aconite 30c and Arg Nit 30c are good homeopathic remedies to take before travel if you have a fear of flying.
- Take Cocculus 30c for travel sickness; or Tabacum 30c for sea sickness.
Prepare Your Own First Aid Kit for Travellers
- Health insurance is recommended for travel to any part of the world.
- Sterile wound dressings, gauze and bandages.
- HyperCal® tincture - an antiseptic and wound healer: dilute a few drops in cooled boiled water to bathe a sore (see notes on Tetanus and wounds); also an excellent mouthwash for sore mouths or gargle for sore throats.
- Rehydration tablets to treat diarrhoea and loss of body fluids.
- Homeopathic First Aid or Travellers' Kits (both 36 remedies); or make your own kit based on individual needs [NB: Kits and remedies can be bought from Helios Pharmacy (01892-537254) or Ainsworth's Pharmacy (020-7935-5330)].
- Tea tree oil is a good antiseptic for cuts and sores; also for fungal infections of the skin. It can be applied neat.
- Aloe vera gel is great for sunburn - try to get 95% strength.
- Pyrethrum spray - first aid treatment for insect bites and stings.
- Travel essence - an Australian Bush Flower remedy. Use during and after air/sea travel to help counter jet lag, exhaustion, sickness, earache and body clock disturbances. Take 7 drops under the tongue or dilute in water and sip every 2 hours on the journey.
- To minimize the risk from DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) on a long flight, take one dose of Bothrops 30c before travel, and ensure you keep moving as much as possible during the flight. Elastic stockings can also help, as also will increasing your water intake.
- Emergency essence - another Australian Bush Flower remedy: use to treat shock, fear, panic (7 drops under tongue; or dilute and sip as required).
- Support and strengthen your liver with Chelidonium tincture or 6x tablets (available from Helios Pharmacy) during your travel. Many of the diseases you may encounter (e.g. Hepatitis, Typhoid, Yellow Fever) affect the liver. Avoid paracetamol as a pain killer as it generally weakens the liver.
- Take a mosquito net and a natural insect repellent (such as Citronella) if travelling where Malaria is endemic.
- Sunburn protection: Sol 30c is a good homeopathic remedy for protection against the effects of too much sun. One dose a week at 30c potency is usually sufficient. Mulla Mulla is an Australian Bush Flower remedy known to help with sunburn - the best protection is to avoid the midday sun (11am to 2pm) and use suntan protection cream as needed.
[TRAVPREP] © Liz Bevan-Jones SRN LCH RSHom: updated August 2007