Americans will travel nearly 700 million times this summer. Warmer weather and more flexible schedules allow us spend more time outdoors and away from home. This can sometimes mean an increase in injuries and less preparedness to handle illness. This webinar will focus on treating summer and vacation illnesses. We will discuss common infections, insomnia, swimmer’s ear, allergic skin conditions, athletic injuries, and digestive issues associated with travel. We will also review the benefits of the newly introduced Health Concerns Travel Kit. Compact, and easy to travel with, the Health Concerns Travel Kit supplies you and your loved ones with the essential herbal support you’ll need once you hit the road. Now you can be prepared for whatever comes your way and have more room in your suitcase for souvenirs and sunscreen!
Questions and Answers from “Travel and Herbs”
What do you recommend for edema caused by air travel?
I highly recommend the formula Drain Dampness. The patient should experience successful results when taken before, during and after the flight.
I have patients traveling to India, Thailand and Vietnam. They are worried about parasites. Which formula should I prescribe to offer them protection?
The best formulas to prevent parasitic infection are Artestatin and Colostroplex. Colostroplex will help protect against diarrhea as well as treat it. Artestatin can be used to prevent against Giardia, which is very common in that part of the world. If you want to treat an existing parasiticinfection, I recommend a combination of Aloe 22 and Artestatin.
What can I recommend to a patient who experiences irritable bowel syndrome and diarrhea due to stress and unfamiliar food/eating times while traveling?
In this case, I recommend taking Enteromend, which helps resolve food allergies. It can actually be used for acute indigestion and it tends to protect against diarrhea. Enteromend should be taken daily, or immediately before foods to which the patient may be allergic. Of course, if the patient does eat contaminated food, he or she will experience diarrhea. If the patient is susceptible to diarrhea, have them take Colostroplex a week or two leading up to, as well as throughout the trip. If the patient experiences loose stools or diarrhea, they should take an extra dose of Colostroplex–start with between 6 to 12 capsules per day.
What herbs or formulas do you recommend to help with jet lag?
The symptoms of jet lag can be addressed with a few different formulas. You may recommend Schisandra Dreams to help with sleep issues (both falling and staying asleep), and either Astra 8 or Adrenosen to give the patient a pick-me-up. CordySeng can be taken as a preventative measure.
A patient of mine experiences motion sickness in cars, and especially when on ships and boats. What do you recommend?
I recommend formulas such as Quiet Digestion and Chzyme as these can both be very helpful in this situation. Also consider Stomach Caps.
I’d like to help a patient who doesn’t deal with heat well. What can I recommend to help tonify and stay cool during summer months?
In this case, you’ll want to nourish the yin. The Health Concerns Clinical Handbook will have more information about which formulas to prescribe and when, but I would start with Lily Bulb Formula which addresses lung yin deficiency, Nine Flavor Tea which is a general yin tonic formula.
I will be travelling for five years on horseback, in a clockwise circle around North America. What herbs would you recommend I bring along with me?
I hope you’ll take the time to report back to us after your trip and let us know about your experience and which herbs helped you the most! Of course your own personal health history should be considered, but in general, the three formulas I would recommend are Channel Flow for its healing, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, Resinall K to be applied topically to areas where there’s irritation or chaffing, and Resinall E which is designed to be taken for swelling and soon after injury. As I’m afraid of horses, I would take Calm Spirit with me to settle my nerves! Good luck on your trip!
Can Quiet Digestion be overused?
No, this formula cannot be overused. Remember that if a person feels like they need to be taking it every day, there’s most likely a reason why they feel that way. Quiet Digestion is more of a branch rather than a root therapy. If you’re interested in treating the root of digestive disorders, I recommend my book Healing Digestive Disorders for more information. For those of you with patients traveling to the third world, I would also recommend Healing Immune Disorders, which discusses in detail parasite prevention.
What is a good formula to be used as a preventative measure if there’s exposure to rain and cold so that illness does not take hold while travelling?
The best formula to take for preventative measures is CordySeng. If the patient has weak lungs or is susceptible to allergies, I recommend combining CordySeng with Astra C.
What about patients who are gluten intolerant?
In this case, prevention is key. The best formulas include Enteromend, Chzyme and Colostroplex. Refer to the Clinical Handbook for more information on gluten intolerance.
Is it okay to prescribe Colostroplex to those with diary sensitivities?
Although colostroplex does have trace amounts of milk, it is generally not a problem for 95-98% of those who take it. The levels of milk are a byproduct of getting the fresh colostrum from cows. I have found that taking this formula over time will help reduce a person’s susceptibility to food sensitivities.
Would Artestatin be good for dengue fever prevention?
I would recommend following all the advice of Western medicine to avoid this illness. Then I would consider taking either Artestatin prophylactically, or I would take it along with me for the ride.