Travelers First Aid Kit

by Rosalee de la Fort I recently traveled to the Yucatan of Mexico to spend time with my father who has been living down there for the past few years. Before leaving I packed an herbal first-aid kit knowing I would not be able to find the herbal remedies that I am accustomed to using here at home. In my day to day life, I rarely get sick. I drink my nourishing herbal infusion daily, eat wholesome nutritious food, and live exactly the life I want - virtually stress free. While traveling I find its a lot harder to focus as much on nourishment. Staying in hostels and hotels makes daily infusions very difficult to make, sleep schedules are often erratic, and even though we tried to find good quality food to eat, it just didnt compare to the locally raised organic meats and vegetables I eat at home. Although I was hoping to never have to dip into the kit, I was given several opportunities to do so. In this article I will share not only what I brought with me, but my experiences with these remedies. The following is a list of what I brought.

Tinctures
Wormwood Usnea Echinacea Uva Ursi Yarrow Skullcap

Oils
St. Johns Wort Tea Tree Oil

Salves
Healing Salve Lip Balm

Tea
Peppermint Chamomile

Extracts
Grapefruit Seed Extract Garlic Vinegar

MISC
Elderberry Cordial

Travelers First Aid Kit

by Rosalee de la Fort

Tinctures:
Wormwood (Artemesia absinthium): This is an invaluable
tincture while traveling. It can be used against parasites and food poisoning that manifests itself as cramping and diarrhea. I was unfortunately given the opportunity to use this tincture, although I am happy to report back how amazingly quick it helped to set my system right again. After eating some questionable food I had cramping and diarrhea for 24 hours. At first I decided to let it run its course, but after 24 hours I was facing a 6 hour bus ride that I wanted to be well for. I followed Susun Weeds dosing suggestion of three drops of tincture in water once every hour for up to four hours. By the third dosage I was feeling fine. Later in the trip I met up with a dear friend of mine from college. She was very ill and had been so for over a week with intestinal issues, mainly cramping and diarrhea as well as gas and bloating. She had gone to the doctor and been prescribed antibiotics which she had been taking for a week without any sign of improvement. I shared my wormwood experience with her and she decided to give it a try. Again, after three doses she felt great! That is after many days of turmoil. Needless to say we were both impressed and both very thankful for the powers of wormwood. Herbalpedia reports that wormwood repels roundworms and threadworms probably due to its sesquiterpene lactones. Steven Harrod Buhner writes in his book, Herbal Antibiotics, that wormwood is effective against malaria and Staphlycoccus aureus, as well as intestinal worms.

Usnea (Usnea spp.): I carry usnea tincture with me to hot tropical

environments for its strong antibacterial and anti-fungal stimulant. Its very effective on athletes foot, jock itch, or other external fungal infections. I apply it full strength with a Q-tip or cotton ball to the affected area twice daily. If I suspect a serious fungal infection I apply it daily for three months. It can also be used to clean wounds.

Travelers First Aid Kit

by Rosalee de la Fort

Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia): Echinacea, the darling of

many herbalists was very helpful on this trip as well. Taken at the first sign of a cold or flu it helps to boost our immune system. To be effective it should be taken in large doses and frequently. Buhner suggest the following: Strep Throat: Full dropper (30 drops) of the tincture as often as desired, not less than once each hour until symptoms cease. Mix with saliva and dribble slowly over affected area down back of throat. Onset of colds and flus: Not less than one dropper full (30 drops) of tincture each hour until symptoms cease. It can also be used externally for burns, wounds, skin infections and as a wash for poisonous stings and bites. To do so mix the tincture with equal amount of water and wash affected area liberally every 30 minutes.

Uva Ursi: Once when I was traveling in the Dominican Republic I

got a very severe bladder infection. I was given antibiotics, which although sometimes effective are just not the best way to treat cystitis. Now, I never leave home without my uva ursi tincture. Although I prefer drinking uva ursi tea for bladder infections, the tincture is much easier to carry around while traveling. I use 10 to 30 drops of tincture 3 6 times daily.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): Counters all bacteria internally

and externally, and repels insects. It can be used as prevention for colds and flus, for sore throats, or for fevers. To use as an insect repellant I keep the full strength tincture in a spray bottle and spray liberally and frequently.

Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora): I use skullcap tincture to

settle my nerves and anxiety especially when there is a headache present. Traveling doesnt always go smoothly and its nice to have skullcaps settling effects.

Travelers First Aid Kit

by Rosalee de la Fort

Oils:
Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil can be used externally for a whole range
of issues including fungal infections and herpes virus. I dont leave home without it for its fast acting effect on cold sores. I apply it with a Q-tip at the first tingle of a cold sore.

St. Johns Wort Oil: St. Johns Wort Oil is great externally for
nerve pain or cold sores. It can also be used on sunburns, although I would wait to apply this oil until after the initial heat has subsided.

Salves:
I always carry a healing salve with me wherever I go. My favorite mixture is comfrey, calendula, and plantain. I also always bring along some cottonwood lip balm.

Tea:
Peppermint: For upset stomachs, flatulence, and heartburn. Chamomile: For nausea, anxiety, or used as a steam for clearing
up congestion.

Cold and Flu Tea: I make this tea myself and seal in hot press tea
bags. Cold & Flu Tea: One Part Elder Flower One Part Yarrow ! Part Peppermint ! Part Rose hips 4

Travelers First Aid Kit

by Rosalee de la Fort

Extracts:
Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE): GSE is perhaps the only true
antibiotic in that can kill off all bacteria much in the same manner as broad spectrum antibiotics. I include it in my traveling kit for its ability to purify water and for its use as a disinfectant. To purify water place three drops in 8 ounces of water. To use as a disinfectant place 30 40 drops in a quart of water. This can be used to clean hands or surgical instruments. GSE is active against a lot of different organisms internally; Staph, Influenzae, Giardia, E-coli, Streptococcus, Salmonella, and Cholera just to name a few. The dosage is quite low 3 15 drops taken in citrus juice 2 -3 times a day. (Its impossibly bitter otherwise.)

Garlic Vinegar: Garlic vinegar is a staple in our house, and I

always take it with me even on a weekend trip. We make ours by filling a mason jar half full with minced garlic and then filling to the top with vinegar. I let it sit for about 6 weeks before I start using it. To take it on travels I put it in an extract bottle. I use one tablespoon as a preventative daily, or if I start feeling sick I take a tablespoon every hour.

MISC.
Elderberry Cordial: I have to admit this is quite the luxury item to
take traveling, but we happened to take it to Mexico and I was so thankful we did. This thick delicious syrup soothed my sore throat when nothing else would.

Throat Drops: We didnt have any throat drops this trip and I
sorely missed them. I ended up buying some conventional drops and they were just awful. Next time Ill find some throat drops at the health food store to put in my kit. I havent found any yet that I can make that will keep for extended periods of times in all weather conditions.

Travelers First Aid Kit

by Rosalee de la Fort

These dosage suggestions are taken from Susun Weed.

Acid indigestion: 5-10 drops of Dandelion root or Wormwood tincture every ten minutes until relieved. I use a dose of Dandelion before meals to prevent heartburn. Bacterial Infections (including boils, carbuncles, insect bites, snake bite, spider bite, staph): 30-50 drops Echinacea or Yarrow tincture up to 5 times daily. Colds: to prevent them I use Yarrow tincture 5-10 drops daily; to treat them, I rely on Yarrow, but in larger quantity, say a dropper full every 3-4 hours at the worst of the cold and tapering off. Cramps in gut: 5-10 drops Wormwood, once. Diarrhea: 3 drops Wormwood hourly for up to four hours. Fever: 1 drop Echinacea for every 2 pounds of body weight; taken every two hours to begin, decreasing as symptoms remiss. Or a dropper full of Yarrow tincture every four hours. Fungal Infections*: Apply Usnea or Tree tea oil to the infected area twice daily. Depending on the severity of the infection this may need to be continued for up to three months. Insect: prevent bites from black flies, mosquitoes, and ticks with a spray of Yarrow tincture; treat bites you do get with Yarrow tincture to prevent infection. Sore throat: Gargle with Yarrow tincture. Or place Echinacea tincture on the throat. Wounds: I wash with Yarrow tincture, then wet the dressing with Yarrow tincture, too. *All dosages are taken from Susun Weeds recommendations with the exception of the fungal infection dosage. 6

Travelers First Aid Kit

by Rosalee de la Fort

Further Reading:
Herbal Antibiotics, Steven Harrod Buhner www.susunweed.com www.learningherbs.com

Bon Voyage!