‘Tis the season, not for setting up Christmas trees and eating too much sugar, but for escaping to warmer, sunnier climes. It used to be that only more mature people and wealthy people could afford to go to Mexico or Hawaii or Cuba for a winter vacation. Now it seems that nearly everyone goes, young children and all, for a week or two in January or February.

Travel certainly can be fun and relaxing, and it can be interesting in a not so positive way if you are not prepared. What herbs would go well in a travel kit? Here’s a list of what I would include and why.

So many of the holiday destinations come complete with warnings about tropical diseases that cause diarrhoea.  If you are going to one of these locations you might want to consider using Tiao He Pak for protection. The Tiao He Pak includes herbal blends to kill parasites and keep the bowels functioning well and as such may help to prevent parasites and constipation.  I always recommend starting to take this a full week to ten days prior to departure, and only one packet per day to start with so you can see how it affects you. Add more gradually to promote good bowel function if needed. So, for prevention of parasite infestations and promotion of healthy bowel movements Tiao He Pak is often a good choice.

A steady diet of restaurant food is a sure way to end up with stomach upsets. Stomach Comfort and Garden Essence Enzymes are two excellent choices here. Garden Essence Enzymes can be taken with each meal to promote improved digestion. They also contain herbs that help the liver in its digestion-oriented functions. Stomach Comfort is a natural antacid that also calms queasy and uneasy stomach symptoms. Chew one or two as needed to settle things down.

Aloe Vera Gel mixed with a little peppermint essential oil and lavender essential oil is an amazing first-aid treatment for sunburn. You’ll want to take a bottle of each of the ingredients with you, along with an empty bottle to mix this up in as needed. Combine 2 Tbsp Aloe Vera Gel, 1 Tbsp water, 4 drops Lavender Essential Oil and 4 drops Peppermint Essential Oil and apply as needed to the sunburned area. Anything worse than a second degree sunburn (light blistering) should be treated by a health practitioner.

Travel often involves jumping time zones.  Going more than two time zones away from home can wreak havoc with sleep cycles and create jetlag which can take weeks for some people to adjust to – and the holiday is over before the adjustment is complete, only to have to do it going the other direction all over again. AD-C (Chinese Mood Elevator) and IMM-C (Trigger Immune) make a powerful duo for resetting the circadian rhythm. Taking nine capsules of each every day starting a few days before departure, continuing through the trip, and for a few days after returning home often makes the adjustment much faster and easier. An added benefit of using AD-C is better overall energy, while IMM-C supports the immune system.

If your holiday is an active one that runs the risk of sore muscles, you’ll want to have Tei Fu Lotion with you. This soothing lotion is great for sore muscles, and you can apply it before the activity to help prevent soreness as well. Additionally, Tei Fu Lotion can be used as a chest rub and under the nose to loosen congestion.

For airplane trips or trips that involve travelling overnight (cruises or overseas flights) sleeping is a good way to pass the time and arrive refreshed and ready for adventure. Many people enjoy using Melatonin Extra and HTP power to encourage sleep. Remember to take your sleep mask, ear plugs or MP3 player (for background noise) and a small blanket and a neck-support pillow (unless you are traveling first class). Melatonin  Extra is usually best taken 30 to 60 minutes before retiring. HTP Power can be taken throughout the day to help ensure adequate serotonin production at bedtime.

Ear pressure can make an altitude change the worst part of the trip. Going up and down in an airplane can be unbearable for some people, especially infants and young children. Certainly, the advice to chew gum or swallow frequently is sound. Additionally, you may want to take Lobelia Extract and a few cotton balls. Lobelia Extract placed in the ear and backed with a cotton ball helps to keep the Eustachian tube dilated which often makes it easier to equalize air pressure on the ear drums. You may also use Lobelia extract orally for its mild sedating effects to help you remain calm if you are a ‘white-knuckle’ traveler, or to help you relax to fall asleep. Large doses induce vomiting.

For for just in case something unexpected happens, Catnip & Fennel Liquid is a great contingency plan. This blend is great for stomach upsets, colds and congestion, and calming, and most people agree that it tastes pretty good (as far as herbs are concerned).

Herbal preparations can help to take some of the worry out of travel, and as an added benefit if you have them with you do don’t have to worry about translating product names to or from another language, and you will know the quality of the product you have on hand. It’s better to have it and not need it than to end up desperately searching to find a remedy in unfamiliar circumstances.

Judith Cobb