Our annual family vacation is only four days away, and as you might imagine, packing for my party of six is definitely quite the endeavor. I have spent the last several days organizing clothes and shopping for any items missing from our wardrobes. And clothes are just the beginning. I still have to sort through toiletries, pool and beach gear, and last but not least, my medicine cabinet. Being a naturally-minded mom, my travel first-aid kit looks very different from those of my siblings. Apparently, my remedies have worked well over the years though because I am now the go-to family member when anyone in our group gets hurt or sick. So here are five must-pack homeopathic remedies for your next vacation.
Urtica Urens
Last week I highlighted five simple tips to avoid getting sunburned, and in a perfect world,
we would all follow these suggestions 100% of the time and always stay burn-free. Unfortunately this perfect little word doesn’t actually exist, and most likely we will all encounter UV overexposure at some point this summer. And with that reality in mind, I want to let you in on a little secret I recently learned from Dr. Brown..there is actually a remedy for that. And guess what? It works
Urtica urens is commonly indicated for itchy skin with burning pain making it the #1 remedy for sunburn. And on top of that, it is also the #1 remedy for allergic reactions to shellfish, a food group that often makes its way to the dinner plate while on vacation. This is one to have on hand for sure!1
Nux Vomica
We’ve all been there. We are finally on vacation. The buffet is delicious. The poolside cocktails are delightful. And we eat, and we drink until our bellies just can’t fit anything else. And then, surprise, surprise, we don’t feel very well. Insert, Nux Vomica, the homeopathic commonly known as the “hangover remedy.” Now while I don’t recommend eating or drinking to excess, I’m a realist and know that vacation might just bring that out of us. In these times of overindulgence, Nux will be your best friend.
Nux vomica is commonly indicated for those experiencing headache and/or nausea who are nervous, irritable, angry, impatient, oversensitive and cannot bear noise, light, and odors. It is even a great remedy for motion sickness. I definitely don’t travel without this one.2
Arnica Montana
With three rough and tumble boys, we keep this next remedy
on us at all times. From minor bumps andbruises to serious concussions or injury, Arnica Montana improves outcomes and helps with pain. With a group of 30 people, 19 of them being kids, we often use Arnica multiple times a day on our family vacations.
Arnica Montana is the #1 remedy for any type of trauma — injuries, falls, blows, bruises, and even severe mental stress or shock. It can even help stop bleeding which may come in handy if any of your family members experience nosebleeds from changes in altitude like mine sometimes do.3
Aconitum Napellus
Vacation is no place for a summer cold. Hopefully, this remedy will just stay snug in its case the whole vacation through, but unfortunately this has not been our experience. I don’t know what it is about travel, but it seems to always start or end with me or one of my kids getting sick with some type of virus. We will literally go almost an entire year with not so much as a sniffle. Then vacation week comes, and bam, someone has roseola. Last year, it was me that got sick with flu symptoms! Thankfully with the help of this remedy and the Immune Support System, they only lasted a half day before I was good as new.
Aconitum Napellus is often the first remedy indicated for sudden onset general cold and flu symptoms and can help with several different specific conditions such as conjunctivitis and earache. Both of which are terrible conditions to endure on vacation.4
Apis Mellifica
With a niece who has a peanut allergy, this next remedy is close to my heart.
It could literally be life-saving in case of accidental food poisoning like with the peanuts or at least discomfort easing in case of a bee or insect sting
Apis Mellifica is the #1 remedy for allergic reactions including anaphylactic shock. It is commonly indicated for burning, stinging pain and excessive swelling. I haven’t had to use this one for an anaphylactic reaction and pray I never do but witnessed it work almost immediately for bee stings on multiple occasions. It’s one I like to always have within arm’s reach.5
[I think it goes without saying but I’ll go ahead and say it anyway. Of course seek proper medical treatment in case of anaphylactic shock since this is a medical emergency. You bet I would be calling for help while also grabbing my Apis!]
More Remedies!
Let’s be honest… I really struggled to limit this list to just five. The reality is that I travel with five times that many remedies. But instead of listing them all here and having you run out to the store to purchase them all individually, we’ve actually made this super easy on you. A few years ago, Dr. Brown and I created the Acute Care Kit that has 25 remedies (including the 5 above) plus a Remedy Guide written by the doc himself! We have very limited supply right now, so be sure to snatch one up ASAP if you’d like it for your summer vacation.
In health,
