From the Blog

I don't go anywhere without my remedies!  It's true!  I have taken them to Kenya, Mauritius, the UK, Europe and Japan.  I even take them with me to the shops!  I have a small pouch in my handbag with arnica and Emergency Essence.  I have a friend who tucks arnica in her kids' school bag for any bumps and bruises they may receive at school.  The beauty of having remedies on hand is being able to minimise trauma, promote a speedy recovery and reduce the impact of any injury or ailment on your activities at the time.  And if there is one particular time when we want to maximise our fun, and minimise our fun-zapping aches and pains, it's when we are travelling or on holidays.  If you are heading away any time soon, I hope the following information helps you get the most out of your time.

Before you go:
Preparing for a trip away can mean lots of time researching, planning, organising, budgeting as well as juggling every day demands of working, running a household and/or raising a family.  It can bring on feelings of overwhelm, stress and anxiety.  Here's a few flower essences to help you with this process:







Homeopathic Remedies:
I have a travel kit similar to the one below, which I take in my hand luggage when flying, and in my (large) handbag when travelling long distances in the car.  I find it contains 20 of the most-used remedies and the reference book is handy if I am not sure what remedy to choose.  It has come in handy when dealing with motion sickness, 'bali belly', hayfever, sore throats, runny noses, bites and stings, bumps and bruises, and so much more.  I have had my leather case for 12 years now and I just replenish the remedies as I need them so it is an investment that will repay itself many times over.



If you are not interested in a kit just yet, then the following remedies are handy when travelling:

* Arnica:  As mentioned earlier, it's great for bumps, bruises and even emotional trauma.  The sooner it is administered, the better, and repeated doses can be given.  It speeds up the healing process so in some cases you may find the bruise darkens and appears larger after dosing, but it usually means the bruise is coming out and should turn yellow for healing much quicker.  

* Arsenicum:  A great travel remedy as it helps the body adjust to change - physical, emotional and psychic change from travel.  Can be helpful when dealing with vomiting, food poisoning or traveller's diarrhoea³.

* Aconite: For acute or sudden fear or excitement relating to travel or events³.

*Nux Vomica:  A good remedy when travel affects one sleep or digestion³.  Those who have travelled to Cairns and the Tablelands in Far North Queensland will be familiar with the Gillies Range.  Known for it's relentless tight corners that make even a seasoned traveller seedy. Nux Vomica is a great remedy for seediness and nauseous for motion sickness.  I always need to give this to at least one person in the car when travelling this range.  

* While we are on the topic of travel sickness, the Travel Sickness Tissue Salts Combination might be a good idea - a tissue salt blend to assist with the wear and tear of travel. 

* Pulsatilla: When travelling, this remedy can help with ear pain associated with the pain changing altitude³.  Also helpful when dealing with anything 'gunky'.  If it's yellow or oozy, hit the Pulsatilla.  Also helps for the super emotional, weepy person who is struggling to cope.  On a recent trip away, Miss 6 was finding the most simple tasks overwhelming and while I knew it was from exhaustion, I knew she needed Pulsatilla when getting dressed was causing her to weep.  Her spirits lifted after a cuddle, a dose and a little assistance from Mum and Dad. 

* Ferrum Phos.  It is the remedy I go to when I notice one of the children is ‘off colour’.  It is very helpful during the first stage of a head cold, sore throat, mild fever or tonsillitis¹.  It boosts the body’s vital force to power up and beat the invader.  In many cases the illness never eventuates in it’s true form. 

For more homeopathic remedies to help you ensure smooth travelling, check out this travel factsheet and this holidays factsheet.

Australian Bush Flower Essences:
As Flower Essence gently release negative emotions and raise your vibration, you will feel improvement to your overall wellbeing, emotionally and physically.  If you are travelling with children, you can't leave home without Whoopsies.  Whoopsies will get you out of immediate strife if you have a child who is affected by injury.  Whoopsies lessens the emotional stress of injuries, whether they are small or large, and promote a speedy recovery.  The child has been affected by emotional trauma, including shock, you may find Whoopsies assists them in returning to a more rational state of mind.  This Essence is actually not just for children, but can apply to adults as well.  

When facing long trips in the car, or a long day of travel, I suggest Calm Your Farm is tucked nicely in your travel bag. This Essence promotes 'happy hearts' in all, and is a great measure when faced with cabin-fever. Calm Your Farm can settle restless children, improve moods and create a sense of calm and happiness among all.  And who doesn't need that?

If heading to the sunshine, I always take Sizzled Bits to help me manage exposure to the sun.  I love how Sizzled Bits can be applied topically or added to sunscreen or after-skin lotions to soothe and repair the skin from the sun's rays.  Taken orally, Sizzled Bits may reduce the emotional stress from sunburn and prevent the body from becoming dehydrated.  

Oh, and we can't forget Bulletproof!  A great tool to keep up your sleeve to minimise the impact of illness when travelling.  I usually add the Essence to our travel water bottles every couple of days, and give orally if one particular person is a bit off colour.  If you find that the sniffles have set in, Sneezy Wheezy is a great to remedy to have in your toolkit to minimise the discomfort involved in sneezing or experiencing a runny nose - whether that is from hayfever or a cold. 



And then there's Belly Bandaid.  I have lost count as to the number of times I have reached for Belly Bandaid when away from home.  Even if you are not eating exotic foods from a foreign country, Belly Bandaid may assist with the discomfort from over-indulging and digestive upsets.  Children tend to particularly sensitive to change, and no one likes dashing to the chemist at 11pm for something to ease a sudden bellyache. 

Of course, Sweet Dreams makes a good travel companion for obvious reasons.  This Essence contains the Bush Iris essence that promotes a healthy body clock, meaning it can be helpful when changing time zones or feeling the effects of jetlag.  

If you are particularly concerned about jetlag or the depleted feeling you get after long travel, the Australian Bush Flower Essence Travel Mist is very helpful.  Misted throughout the car, or your travelling space, or above your head can relieve the ill effects of travel.  I know of a lady who had always had a headache and felt nauseous after flying until she discovered the Travel Mist.


Essential Oils:
I like to start this section by saying I am not an expert in this field and it is only something I dabble in, to complement my other remedies.  I have a case that contains eight essential oil bottles which I take away with me, which usually includes lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, Thieves, purification and a couple of roll-ons to help with congestion (such as Breathe Easy), aches and pains (such as Deep Relief) and headaches. 

When applying oils topically I always dilute them and apply them to areas of the body such as the neck, shoulders, chest, inside the wrists, the stomach and soles of the feet.  Other ways to use essential oils include:

* Putting a drop on a cotton wool ball and placing in an air-con vent while travelling.

* A drop on a tissue or blanket to help with sleeping or congestion.

* USB or travel diffusers can be handy also.

 
Other tips for travelling:
1.  Get plenty of rest when possible.

2.  Pack plenty of snacks for travelling - particularly when children are involved.  I found each of them would get 'hangry' at unpredictable times so having seaweed snacks, popcorn and rice crackers on hand was very handy.

3.  Keep fluid intake as high as possible.  Source good quality, reliable water where possible.

4.  Blow up pillows or neck cushions were helpful when travelling at nap times or overnight.  They are light and easy to fit in your hand luggage.

5.  Pack a sachet of Broth of Life Dissolvable Bone Broth in your luggage.  I found it came in handy on so many occasions.  When cooking basic snacks and dishes in our accommodation, I could boost the nutritional content by adding a couple of teaspoons to the sauce.  When the glands in my neck were inflamed one morning - possibly a start of a virus - I was able to drink a cup of broth in addition to taking remedies to ensure nothing came of it.  When holidaying in cold climates, it's easy to drink a hot cup of broth to warm your insides up and keep you hydrated.  

6.  A fortnightly dose of Anas Barb 200c as a preventative during the cold and flu season.  Suitable for children too.  Can be used when exposed to a person who is unwell with a cold or flu, for example, sitting behind/next to a coughing passenger on the plane.  

 

Sources:

3 Owen, J. (2010). Homoeopathy for the home prescriber. Western Australia, AUSTRALIA: QDirect.

White, I. (2009). Happy Healthy Kids.  From conception to age 7 with Australian Bush Flower Essences. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin.

Owen Homeopathics Travel Factsheet. Found at: https://www.owenhomoeopathics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TravelInfosheet.pdf 

 

Disclaimer:

This blog is not intended to replace the service of a qualified practitioner.  Any application of the recommendations set forth in this blog is at the reader’s discretion and sole risk.