Conscious Choice: Summer Vacation Remedies

July 2000 | Herbs for Health

Summer Vacation Remedies

by Meg McGowan

Summer vacations tend to spark our imaginations with visions of sojourns far greater and more profound than trips taken at other times of the year. Summer vacation is our chance to do all those things we have put on hold while the routines of our lives held us firmly in place. As children we vaguely anticipated grand adventures. As teens we may have dreamed of romance. As adults we imbue our summer vacations with expectations for enriching family experiences, quality time with children or partners, exploration, education, an opportunity to commune with nature and the sort of unfettered lollygagging we yearn to recapture from childhood. Perhaps expectations from those earlier years remain as well.

But of course summer vacations do take place in real life, where unexpected snafus are bound to occur. It’s best to be prepared for life’s little emergencies. Vacationing in an unfamiliar or remote location may make it difficult to seek attention from an alternative health practitioner or to purchase necessary natural remedies; thus a bit of forethought can alleviate a lot of later frustration. Natural First Aid (Storey, 1999), by herbalist Brigitte Mars, is an excellent reference book for home and travel. The guide is both comprehensive and accessible. Beginning with basic first-aid techniques such as CPR, Mars explains how to handle typical emergencies and injuries, as well as situations that may occur while traveling — including on trips into the wilderness.

Travel involves motion, and for some individuals, that is not a good start to the journey. There are a number of herbal remedies available for treating motion sickness. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a classic treatment for nausea. It is available as a tincture, as capsules, or in a candied form. It can be nibbled as ginger snaps or sipped in a natural ginger ale. Peppermint (Menthax piperita) is particularly effective for nausea accompanied by a headache. It is also convenient for traveling as it can be consumed as a natural peppermint drop, an infusion, or a tincture. Essential oils of ginger, peppermint, or spearmint (Mentha spicata) may be inhaled as well. In Herbs for Health and Healing (Rodale, 1996), Kathi Keville recommends basil (Ocimum basilicum) tea as an antidote for severe nausea. Homeopathic remedies also can be effective. Try Tabacum, Cocculus, or Nux vomica. It is best to begin treatment an hour or so before beginning a trip, packing additional doses to be taken as needed. Odors can bring on or intensify symptoms of motion sickness. If possible, avoid exposure to smoke, exhaust, and any type of synthetic fragrance. Soothing and refreshing essential oils can be used in small amounts to counter the effects of automobile exhaust.

When it comes time to bed down for the night, essential oils can create a familiar and comforting atmosphere. While natural and smoke-free hotel rooms have become increasingly popular, they are not available everywhere. Essential oils can help to cleanse the air of residual odors. Using scents that are part of your home repertoire can add comfort, thereby contributing to a restful night’s sleep. Lavender (Lavandula officinalis syn. L. angustifolia) is an excellent choice, as it has antibiotic, antiseptic, antiviral, and antifungal properties. When used in moderate amounts, it also acts as a relaxant. Valerie Ann Worwood, in The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy, suggests utilizing the uplifting and reassuring scent of geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), especially when traveling with children. For sanitary concerns, Worwood advises wiping toilet seats and handles, doorknobs, sinks, and tubs with a drop of neat thyme oil on a tissue. If you feel stronger methods are necessary, use thyme with lavender and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora, E. dives, E. globulus or E. radiata) essential oils. "These three together provide a very powerful bactericide and few dangerous microorganisms can escape their exterminating effect." Worwood also recommends wiping mattresses with a few drops of thyme, lavender, and lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) as a precautionary measure.

Long days spent outdoors can quickly result in sunburn, especially if the sun’s rays are reflected off water. It is easy to lose track of time while frolicking or sightseeing. Awareness is the key, and prevention is the best defense. Use a high-quality sunscreen and reapply often. A wide-brimmed hat will shield vulnerable facial areas. If sunburn occurs, aloe vera (Aloe vera syn. A. barbadensis) is one of the best remedies. The gel from a freshly broken leaf may be used, though it is unlikely that this would be readily available for travelers. Instead, look for a quality product that contains a high percentage of aloe vera gel and more aloe than water. Brigitte Mars recommends adding "a few drops of lavender essential oil to aloe vera juice" and smoothing over affected areas. Cold milk compresses are effective as well. Mars also notes that peppermint tea may be sipped to promote inner cooling. (I must address a rumor I’ve heard recently from several sources — peppermint tea should be sipped, not administered as an enema!) Drinking plenty of water helps to rehydrate the skin. Saint John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) is one recommended treatment for minor burns, including sunburn, however, it also increases sun sensitivity. Those using Saint John’s wort are advised to stay out of the sun, which makes it a poor choice for travelers.

One of the worst afflictions to beset travelers is diarrhea. Calumba (Jateorhiza palmata syn. J. calumba) root helps to prevent digestive infections by making the stomach more acidic. An East African herb, it is often used to treat dysentery. A calumba tincture may be used as a tonic to strengthen the digestive system against undesirable bacteria, before and during travels. Again, prevention is best, as an attack of diarrhea is both uncomfortable and restrictive. Drinking only bottled water is also a good idea. Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) tea is a basic remedy for diarrhea. Keville recommends garlic, yogurt, beer, and wine to ward off invading microbes. She also notes that goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) and Oregon grape root (Berberis aquifolium) contain berberine, which is effective in fighting digestive-tract infections. Her recipe for a tonic she calls Traveler’s Companion combines one ounce each of quassia bark (Picrasma excelsa syn. Picraenia excelsa) and goldenseal or Oregon grape root tinctures with one-half ounce each of yerba santa leaf (Eriodictyon californicum) and peppermint leaf tinctures. She advises that the result is quite bitter and thus, should be consumed quickly, taking "one-half dropperful about twenty minutes before each meal. If you get sick anyway, double the dose and take three times a day."

Planning can help to create a space and atmosphere in which our intentions become reality. The best vacations allow us to get to know ourselves, our families, our friends, and our world better, giving us something more meaningful to bring home than seashells and destination-emblazoned T-shirts.

DISCLAIMER: Choosing a holistic approach to medicine means choosing personal responsibility for your health care. Herbs for Health offers a doorway through which to enter the realm of herbal healing, an invitation to further investigation on the part of the reader. It is in no way intended as a substitute for advice from a health care practitioner.

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