A Natural First Aid Kit

Natural First Aid Kit

A travelling medecine kit should be compact, non-encombrant and most importantly person specific. Before setting off on your travels, spend some time assessing your general health. What ailments are you particularly prone to in your daily life? Do you suffer from any recurrent conditions that may become acacerbated by travelling or changing your everyday routine? Once you have correctly ascertained your needs you can incorporate the correct remedy in to you carry-all kit. It is also important to consider your destination and type of voyage. Do you need insect repellent or added sun protection?. If you are planning long hikes you may need to consider muscle and joint soothing components.

Packing "multi-tasking" basics will keep your medicine chest as portable as possible while allowing you to treat a range of minor complaints .

Herbal Teas for Infusions and Compresses. Make sure you buy medicinal strength herbal teas otherwise the dosage may be too weak. Tea bags are easy to transport and don't take up too much space. Travelling with loose leaf herbs on public transport can be difficult and cause you to be pulled over at security checks to explain what it is and why you have it.

Ginger. (Fr – gingembre, Sp – jenjibre, Ger – ingwer, It- zenzero) (Infusion) Anti-spasmodic and combats bloating. Helps relieve motion sickness.

Chamomile (Latin-Matricaria recutila, Fr- Camomile, Sp-Manzanilla, Ger-Kamil) (Infusion)

Relaxing, sleep-inducing, anti-spasmodic. A cooled tea can be used to wash irritated eyes. If you are allergic to ragweed you may want to avoid chamomile.

Peppermint (Latin- Mentha piperita, Fr-menthe poivrée, Ger-Pfefferminze, Sp-menta piperina) Infusion. Settles the stomach and clears sinuses.

A General tonic.

A tonic has adaptogenic properties i.e it helps maintain the homeostasis of the whole body system in a biodirectional manner. Put in another way it has the ability to increase and decrease processes in the body when required. This is invaluable when travelling as a new routine, unfamiliar surroundings and diet can throw our system off balance and tonics are an aid to re-asserting equilibrium. There are numerous adaptogenic herbs, a common one being Echinacea. Ginseng and Gingko also belong in this category. My prefered tonic is Lapacho, sometimes called Pau d'arco.It has great immune strengthening properties and a toning effect on the GI tract. For convenience sake buy in sachets and make an infusion to drink once a day while travelling.

Essential Oils.

Lavender Oil (Lat-Lavandula angustifolia,Fr- lavande, Ger-Lavendel, Sp- Lavandula)

Can be applied neat, safe for children. Dab on bites and stings, bathe burns with honey and lavender oil, calms upset children. Rub on temples for headaches.

Citronella Oil (Lat- Cymbopogon,Fr-citronnelle,Ger – Zitronengras,Sp-Caña de limón).

A natural insect repellent. Must be mixed with a base oil such as Almond oil or Olive oil (any vegetable oil will do) if applied to the skin as it may cause skin irritations when used neat. A couple of drops in 3 tablespoons of base oil. Not to be used on the skin of children under three. A couple of drops on a piece of cotton wool can be placed in a room to keep mozzies at bay.

Tea Tree Oil (lat- Melaleuca alternifolia, Ger – Teebaumöl, Fr- arbre à thé but is also known as Tea Tree, Sp- Arbol del Té)

Strong anti-fungal properties therefore good for nail and skin infections, dandruff and acne.

Salves and Washes

Arnica (Arnica Montana, Fr-Arnica, Sp-Arnica, Ger-Arnika) for bruises and sprains.

Calendula Salve – (Lat-Calendula Officinalis, Sp-caléndulas, Fr-soucis ou Calendula, Ger-Ringelblumen)

All purpose salve that speeds healing and soothes inflamed tissue.

Distilled Witch Hazel – (Lat-Hamamelis, Fr-Teinture d’hamamélis, Ger- Zaubernuss, Sp-Hamamelis or Avellano de Bruja)
Astringent for burns, cuts and grazes, soothes sunburn, haemorrhoids, insect bites and nosebleeds. Gentle skin toner and cleanser.

Raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar (in a small spray bottle) Externally spray on scalp to alleviate dandruff. Applied to skin will alleviate skin rashes and sunburn. Soothes eczema and contact dermatitis. Internally, 2 teaspoons in a glass of water will restore PH balance in the body and hence stop indigestion and heartburn as well as alleviating sore joints. Its anti-microbial action will kill off minor tummy upsets. Gargled in water will soothe sore throats.
Aloe Vera Gel (Fr-Sp- Aloe, Ger- Echte Aloe). Soothes sunburn.

Other useful treatments

Goldenseal (lat-Hydrastis Canadensis, Fr-Sceau d’or, Sp-Sello de oro, Ger-goldsiegel)

Treats a range of ailments including indigestion, sinus infections, constipation, diarrhoea, sore throat, gingivitis, Candida and E.cola, mild conjunctivitis, colds, flu, and earaches. Research suggests that it has an anti-bacterial effect on parasites such as giardia and tapeworms.

Capsules are the easiest way to pack them for a journey and the recommended daily dose is around 250-500mg. You may prefer goldenseal in liquid form (2-4ml) for gargles to treat mouth sores and throat infections which normally is taken three times each day.
The powder can be placed on wounds to stop bleeding and speed healing.
Usage of more than three weeks is not advised. Pregnant women and people with high blood pressure should avoid Goldenseal

Psyllium Husks – A gentle remedy for regulating bowel movements. 5 grams a day in water.

Astragulus or Milkvetch (Lat-Astragulus propinquus, Ch-Huang Chi, Fr-Astragale, Sp-Astragulus). Immune Booster.

Your travel kit should also include tweezers, cotton pads, gauze, plasters and bandages.