I’m a huge fan of doing things as naturally as possible. A first aid kit is an absolute must have for holiday, only mine is a little different to the usual paracetamol and plasters. This list has been honed after years of experience travelling with family and truly can make the difference to having a great time whilst away.
Upset tummies - the key to great health and a good immune system is good gut flora, and never more so than when on holiday. Different water and food, and exposure to unfamiliar germs and bacteria can really put your immune system to the test. The best way to prevent tummy upsets is to establish good gut flora before you go via a good probiotic. We take it a week before we go, whilst we are away and for a few days after we get back. Look for a probiotic containing saccharomyces boulardii, which in studies has been shown to significantly reduce occurrences of travellers’ diarrhoea and to shorten any episodes.
Constipation - on the other end of the scale we have irregular, sluggish bowel movements and constipation. If, like me, even the change in drinking water whilst abroad affects your daily toilet habits, then linseeds could be your saviour too. Golden linseeds (or flaxseeds as they are otherwise known) are a great soother and lubricator to the whole of the digestive system. That perfect mix of omega 3 fatty acids and water will help keep you perfectly hydrated and most importantly regular.
Simply soak 2 tablespoons of linseeds overnight in a glass of water and drink first thing in the morning. Keeping regular should not be underestimated in keeping you well on holiday. When you stop eliminating you are holding on to a lot of harmful, toxic crap, literally.
If you are familiar with doing enemas or are prepared to give it a go then this is absolutely the best way to help with sluggish bowels and has the added bonus of rehydrating you very, very quickly, which is always a great idea after a very dehydrating flight and very likely the reason that bowels can slow so much whilst away.
Sunburn - feeling a bit pink and tender at the end of the day? If so, then aloe vera gel and essential lavender oil are great for calming the skin down. Aloe vera gel is the best for cooling and healing inflammation. The homeopathic remedies belladonna, if it’s throbbing red sunburn or sunstroke, and cantharis for more severe sunburn with pain and blistering, are also great to have on hand.
Heat rash or hives - if you are prone to getting a rash after spending time in the sun then firstly I would make sure you are using as natural a sun cream as possible, without nasty chemicals. Some sun creams can cause heat rash. If you are careful about what products you put on your skin and still suffer then aloe vera gel is also good for calming down the heat and itching too.
Insect bites - if you want to help prevent the little nibblers you can help by upping your levels of vitamin B well before you go away and by steering clear of all perfumed toiletries. If you do get bitten, then a simple dab of lavender, tea tree essential oil or aloe vera gel can all help. These 3 homeopathic remedies can also be a great help, but be sure to match the symptom to the remedy:
Apis is for red, swollen, inflamed insect bites with stinging or burning pain that feel better with a cold application.
Ledum is the most common remedy needed for bee, wasp, mosquito or spider bites. The stinging or itching for these bites is also relieved by a cold application.
Staphysagria is the remedy most likely needed when the bite becomes excessively itchy or forms a large welt.
There are many more homeopathic remedies that can be bought in a specific travel kit for all sorts of ailments that can happen on holiday, including many of those listed here. It might be worth investing in a kit. I never travel without mine and it has saved the day many a time for one member of the family or another.
Knocks, Cuts and Bruises - arnica cream is a definite must have for any first aid kit, at home or abroad. Apply topically to the bruised or injured area (but never on broken skin). Increase the effectiveness of arnica’s healing properties by doubling it up with some arnica 30c tablets too. For healing cuts and grazes use calendula cream instead. It will speed up healing and reduce the chance of infection.
Infections - colloidal silver can be bought in a handy mini spray and is a highly effective antimicrobial agent and a powerful natural antibiotic. Apply to the skin to ward of any infection or to speed up healing if an infection has started. Also good for anywhere on the body where there is a bacterial or fungal component.
Stress & anxiety - Rescue Remedy drops are a godsend. This lovely mix of 5 flower remedies is simply dropped under the tongue and has an instant calming effect in any stressful situation. Don’t forget if your kids need it, then chances are you do too. Also works a treat for my husband who is not keen on flying.
Headaches - first and foremost make sure you have had enough water. Also bear in mind flying is right up there in terms of activities that dehydrate the body, and of course in warmer climates your water intake needs to be increased by quite a bit. Make sure your blood sugar levels are okay as headaches are often a sign this has become imbalanced, in which case avoid sugary foods and carbohydrates for a few hours and eat fresh fruit and vegetables and protein to help stabilize. Peppermint oil is also a good headache reliever.
Good Quality Sleep- earplugs and a sleep mask might seem out of place in this kit, but good quality sleep has a lot to do with your level of wellness and ability to fend off any potential illness. You can never predict how dark your room is going to be or how noisy, so I always take ear plugs and a sleep mask with me.
Now you have a full list of natural health essentials to have a great holiday.
If you want to get yourself in tip top shape before going away, then start with my FREE 'Cleanse Your Liver' Web-class. Just click on the link to get started: