Vacation Savers

After learning about homeopathy, I thought back to stories I had heard over the years from friends and family. They described health problems encountered while vacationing. Some stories involved getting diarrhea from drinking local tap water. One of my family members experienced constipation whenever traveling. Others shared their experiences with jet lag—how it affected their energy while on vacation, and how it took many weeks to recover from its effects once they returned home.

Homeopathy provides a unique resource for health problems experienced by travelers. While there is an abundance of homeopathic remedies available for just as many problems, I will be highlighting remedies commonly indicated for problems associated with the actual trip in this month’s column.

Before the trip

Over the past year, several of my friends described getting sick just before leaving on a trip. Often excitement felt about the prospect of leaving is exacerbated by last-minute preparations, and health problems can result from the anticipation. Aconite will calm acute anxiety and fears. The thoughts of the person needing Aconite will chase one another. The person will experience a sense of foreboding and feel restless, impatient and agitated. This person also often has a great fear of flying.

The person needing Argentum nitricum experiences fear and apprehension before any ordeal. In general, Argentum nitricum will help a person who has a fear of heights, crowds, closed spaces and water. This individual will experience great anticipation and will feel as though he can’t get things done quickly enough. All of this can result in diarrhea.

Gelsemium is related to Argentum nitricum in that emotional excitement and apprehension can lead to diarrhea. While Argentum nitricum people will be very active and will not be able to keep still, the person needing Gelsemium will experience her anticipation in a quiet and subdued state. The person will also most probably be trembling. Gelsemium is also useful for people who are afraid of flying.

Take one pellet of the indicated remedy in a 30c potency night and morning for one or two days before the trip, one pellet the day of the trip, and then as required for up to three more doses.

During the trip

For problems experienced during a trip, Cocculus is the main remedy for nausea, giddiness and loss of orientation. A Cocculus state can come on from sleep loss; so, it may be the indicated remedy for any problem resulting from having lost sleep. (I’ve used it successfully many times for new mothers along these lines.)

Nux vomica is another remedy which helps problems resulting from sleep loss. Nux vomica is indicated for acute headaches which are over one eye, sometimes at the back of the head, and attended by nausea. The person’s stomach will feel very queasy, and he will not be able to bear the thought of food, even to the point of retching and gagging. The person will feel cold and desire warmth.

Rhus toxicodendron is helpful for air sickness involving nausea and vomiting, extreme giddiness on trying to get up, and a severe frontal headache. Usually the person will not have an appetite, her mouth will be dry, and she will be very thirsty.

As a child, I dreaded family car trips because I would inevitably experience what felt like a “deathly” nausea which would last for days. If only my family had known about homeopathy! A dose or two of Tabacum would have provided prompt relief and afforded me the opportunity to enjoy the trip.

Tabacum is a great motion sickness remedy. It is made from tobacco, and I often find it is the leading motion sickness remedy for those who live or have lived in an environment in which they are or were exposed to secondhand smoke. Homeopathic Tabacum can treat acute episodes of motion sickness, and, through constitutional homeopathic treatment, it is possible to permanently relieve a person (or animal) of this problem. (This includes nausea from reading on trips or the unfortunate children who are unable to swing due to the resultant nausea.)

The person needing Tabacum acutely will feel nauseated and giddy. These sensations might lead to vomiting, with a feeling of icy coldness and a sinking feeling. Usually, the person will have a great desire for fresh air and will be desperate to loosen any clothing around his abdomen. He will be worse from the smell of tobacco smoke.

Air travel

When traveling by air, I would recommend not passing homeopathic remedies through the security x-ray at the terminal. I know a homeopath whose entire kit of remedies was ruined in this way. The security people have always been cooperative in carrying homeopathic remedies to the other side when requested.

Borax may be taken just before landing for a fear of downward motion. Some people can be so sensitive to the descent of an airplane that they will feel nauseated and may even vomit. For acute pain in the ears when the plane begins to lose height, Pulsatilla will provide relief.

Jet lag is a common problem and one which is helped by homeopathy. A person needing Arnica will feel physically tired, with aching muscles and limbs. Gelsemium would be indicated for tiredness with heavy, rather than aching, limbs. Remember also to consider Cocculus based on the indications described above.

One pellet or tablet of the 6th or 12th potency should be taken at 15-minute intervals, for three or four doses if required. If the person feels better after the first dose or two, stop the remedy until symptoms return. For jet lag, one pellet can be taken hourly for three doses, and then once every three hours until symptoms disappear.

A handy little book called The Traveller’s Guide to Homoeopathy by Phyllis Speight is available for those interested in (many) more travel-related ailments and remedies. It is available through Minimum Price Homeopathic Books.

Traveling mercies!