Despite our best efforts to stay healthy while traveling, it’s inevitable that at some point we’re going to get sick, injure ourselves, fall pregnant or become bed-ridden with food poisoning while on the move.
If your work entails a lot of traveling, or you’re simply a wanderluster whose mission is to fill your passport with stamps, traveling exposes you to many experiences that can possibly leave you feeling unwell.
In order to recover quickly and get back to full health so you can make the most of your travel plans, natural remedies are usually your best option.
One of the main reasons behind this is that natural remedies are easily accessible anywhere…
You can buy them in most grocery stores, local gift shops, or even in street stalls. There’s no need to go to the pharmacy to get something you’re not familiar with.
Below I have listed some of the common health issues most travelers experience, and their natural remedy counterparts.
Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, these items are handy to have in your suitcase or backpack.
How To Treat Common Traveler Health Issues With Natural Remedies…
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8. Light-Headedness or Dehydration
Light-headedness and dehydration is very common among travelers who visit tropical destinations.
The heat is usually not something they’re used to, so being unprepared and not drinking enough water leads to dehydration. Important: Always bring water wherever you go.
If you are feeling really thirsty and to the point of possibly fainting, drinking coconut water will help to quench your thirst and increase your electrolytes.
You can purchase pre-packaged coconut water in most convenience stores, or, if you’re traveling in tropical countries, you will easily find them in roadside/beach stalls.
7. Motion Sickness
At some point, you or the people you are with will most likely get motion sickness, especially when traveling by bus or boat.
This is why medications like Meclizine are prescribed to those individuals who do not have the tolerance for excessive motion.
But if natural is more your style, one good remedy for motion sickness is ginger.
You can pack ginger-honey tonic into a little jar and take it with you to ease the queasiness.
Alternatively, ginger chews are great in alleviating migraines, morning sickness (for pregnant women), and congestion.
6. Sleep Problems
If you didn’t book a first-class flight, you might as well expect to not get much sleep while flying.
Insomnia usually occurs when an individual is forced to sleep in an environment he or she is not used to.
One remedy to fight “travel-insomnia” is to pack lavender essential oils.
This natural oil doesn’t only exude a relaxing scent, it will also enhance your sleep.
A study conducted by psychologists at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut has proved that inhaling lavender helps sedate and improve sleep.
The lavender oil is usually added to air diffusers but you can also add a few drops on your pillow.
5. Upset Stomach/Bathroom Irregularities
One of the biggest problems while traveling long distances is bathroom irregularities or an upset stomach.
This issue can be due to many different factors but the usual culprit is the change of diet.
When you drastically change your diet, the normal bacteria living in your gut will sense these prominent changes and will try to adapt in order to digest your food better.
One way to prevent and fight digestive issues is by taking probiotics.
You can feed your body probiotics by eating fermented food like fermented soy beans or yogurt, such as Yakult…
But as a traveler who’s always on the go, having them in pill form is the best option. Probiotic supplements are easily found in most grocery stores.
4. Food Poisoning/Stomach Bugs
If you have gone past the bathroom irregularity stage and feel like you’re battling something more serious like food poisoning or a stomach bug, bringing activated charcoal will be the best relief.
Activated charcoal reduces toxicity in the body by absorbing the chemicals in your gut.
If you’re experiencing diarrhoea, make sure you stay hydrated…
Drink plenty of bottled or filtered water as well as fresh coconut water to restore electrolytes.
If you need something stronger to keep you hydrated, you can easily make a natural electrolyte drink out of freshly squeezed orange juice, freshly squeezed lemon juice, filtered water, raw honey and a small pinch of salt.
3. Joint Aches/Body Pains
No matter how fit and healthy you are, traveling will often cause sore muscles and joint pain.
These issues are usually caused by cold temperatures and restricted body movements. For example, sitting in an air-conditioned bus for 6 hours can cause stiff joints and annoying aches and pains.
By taking turmeric with curcumin benefits, you will not only prevent inflammation, but also alleviate and eliminate body pains.
Some people claim that with constant use, their body doesn’t feel the stress of traveling long distances anymore.
In fact, many women claimed that taking turmeric has eliminated PMS symptoms and dysmenorrhea.
Travelers who suffer from arthritis also have great success in taking this for pain relief.
2. Sunburn and Dry Skin
If you run out of sunscreen/sunblock, using coconut oil is the natural remedy for that.
Using coconut oil can help moisturise your skin – especially if you’re traveling in a cooler destination with dry air.
Its antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant and antiviral properties make coconut oil a good beauty regimen alternative too…
You can use coconut oil as a makeup remover, hair conditioner, or skin moisturiser.
1. Lack of Nutrition
Traveling can cause you to miss out on crucial meals throughout the day.
Though unhealthy, there’s really nothing you can do about it aside from packing snacks taking your daily multivitamins.
It’s important to provide your body with proper nutrition to avoid getting sick, which is why multivitamins can be a huge help.
Just make sure you store them in an airtight container or sealed travel medicine kit so that they don’t absorb moisture!
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All of the common traveler health issues that I have listed here are easily treated by natural remedies which you can find all over the world.
Knowing how to address these health issues in a natural way doesn’t only save you from confusion, but also saves you a lot of money!
If you’re trying to avoid the costs and side effects of medicine, going the natural route is the best thing to do.
Now I’m curious! What natural remedies for common traveler health issues have you found abroad? Any unique forms of treatment you’d never heard of before? Share your experiences in the comments section below!
