The natural first aid kit for the traveler

The first aid kit is a basic resource that every traveler should take into account and carry a natural medicine cabinet it can be an excellent option. Discover how we can put together a natural medicine cabinet.

Natural first aid kit for heavy digestion, gas, diarrhea and constipation

The dietary changes inherent in all travel often lead to digestive disorders that can be very uncomfortable for the traveler.

• When digestions become heavy a infusion of chamomile and fennel or anise, after meals can facilitate and activate digestion. If the problem is due to the difficulty in digesting foods with fat content, or in case of slow digestions with bitterness of the mouth and dirty tongue, accompanied or not by constipation, the infusions or capsules of boldo, or milk thistle will be indicated. These plants should not be used in case of gallbladder obstruction.
• If the problem is simply gas, you can use capsules or infusions of anise, fennel, cumin or coriander or a mixture of some of these plants. There are also preparations in capsules that contain some of these plants in combination with chamomile, which is very comfortable to take on a trip and solves both the problem of heavy digestions and gas, whether they are presented together or separately.
• In case of diarrhea, agrimony and / or infused white nettle, three or four large cups a day, accompanied by a soft diet based on rice, carrots, boiled white fish, boiled skinless chicken and grated apple with lemon or baked apple. Do not forget to rehydrate with lemon water and regenerate the intestinal flora with symbiotic products (those that have probiotics and prebiotics together).
• In the case of, flax, psyllium or ispágula (Plantago ovata) seeds will provide the fiber necessary to aid intestinal emptying. People prone to constipation should take these seeds every day during the trip with plenty of water to make up for any possible fiber deficit in their diet. A tablespoon accompanied by a good glass of water, morning and night. In the case of specific constipation, the so-called traveler's constipation, an infusion (or a tablet or capsule) of senna at night is a quick and convenient solution as it acts after six or eight hours, causing emptying in the morning. However, it should be noted that it should not be used for more than five days in a row to avoid possible intestinal irritations.

Bumps, bruises, insect bites

Arnica is the plant indicated to resolve inflammation, pain and bruising caused by blows. Therefore, an arnica cream or gel is an essential element in the natural medicine cabinet of the traveler. In addition, a good massage with arnica calms the pain of sores and prepares the muscle for the subsequent effort. It is also advisable to have a calendula cream or gel on hand, since it is a plant that quickly resolves skin irritations, minor sunburns and calms the burning and itching caused by insect bites. Creams based on gotu kola also solve these problems.

Small wounds

In the case of small wounds and if you do not have another antiseptic on hand, after washing the wound with plenty of soap and water and rinsing well, you can use lemon juice to disinfect. In addition, it has a healing effect. It will also be useful to apply a calendula cream, or gotu kola or echinacea afterwards. St. John's wort oil also has an antiseptic and healing effect and can be very useful on all kinds of minor wounds, scrapes, blisters and to soothe muscle aches from walking.

Irritated and tired eyes

Witch hazel eye drops are helpful in decongesting the eyes and soothing irritation. Eye drops are effective against allergic conjunctivitis. There are single-dose presentations for both eye drops that are very comfortable for travel and ensure the perfect preservation of the eye drops. Cornflower-based lotions to clean and remove make-up from the eyelids are very refreshing and soothe irritations due to environmental factors.

HOW TO PREPARE HYPERIC OIL

St. John's wort blooms and shows its maximum splendor in late spring and early summer. This is the moment when it also presents its optimal content in active principles and, therefore, the time indicated to collect it and prepare with it the St. John's wort oil that will serve us throughout the year.
• In a jar put the flowery tops of St. John's wort, fresh (just picked) and cut into pieces.
• Cover with oil (sweet almonds, olive, etc.)
• It is left to marinate "in the sun and serene" for 40 days.
• To finish, it is decanted and stored in opaque or topaz-colored jars, sheltered from light and heat.

Note: the oil is red in color due to hypericin.

• Traveler's diarrhea ... infusion of agrimony.
• Hits… arnica cream that should never be missing in the natural medicine cabinet.
• Small wounds ... St. John's wort oil.
• Always consult a doctor before taking any home remedy or medicine. The insurances have a 24-hour Medical Guidance service for any query you want to make about your health.

Maria Jose Alonso

Member of medicinal plants and homeopathy of the College of Pharmacists of Barcelona