Electrolytes
Naturopathic travel and first aid essentials
03/Jul/12 10:39 AM Filed in: Travel
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
Over years of travelling both locally (camping, hiking) and to far-off places like India and Nicaragua I’ve developed a list of essential travel and first-aid items for naturopathic treatment on the go.
The first rule is that you truly will never know what you will need, so BE PREPARED! I’ve treated cuts, scrapes, diarrhea, vomiting, flu, ear infections, bumps, bruises, sprains, strains, fractures, viruses, bacteria, dehydration, jet lag, motion sickness, anxiety attacks, bug bites, and lots more in myself and others using the things I’ve listed below.
I also have been able to treat myself to avoid major illness (and use of antibiotics) while travelling while most people around me were sick (sometimes extremely sick). I credit this partially to my hardy type O immune system but also to my efforts to maintain my health and prevent illness while I travel.
For daily use:
I also have a list of homeopathic remedies for acute and first aid use to treat most minor illnesses and injuries. These include:
Over years of travelling both locally (camping, hiking) and to far-off places like India and Nicaragua I’ve developed a list of essential travel and first-aid items for naturopathic treatment on the go.
The first rule is that you truly will never know what you will need, so BE PREPARED! I’ve treated cuts, scrapes, diarrhea, vomiting, flu, ear infections, bumps, bruises, sprains, strains, fractures, viruses, bacteria, dehydration, jet lag, motion sickness, anxiety attacks, bug bites, and lots more in myself and others using the things I’ve listed below.
I also have been able to treat myself to avoid major illness (and use of antibiotics) while travelling while most people around me were sick (sometimes extremely sick). I credit this partially to my hardy type O immune system but also to my efforts to maintain my health and prevent illness while I travel.
For daily use:
- Sea salt: Add a pinch to your water bottle to prevent dehydration and electrolyte loss in hot climates
- Probiotics: Use daily to prevent digestive upset while travelling - I usually use Polyflora (type O for me) since it does not need to be refrigerated and I’ve never had an issue
- Deflect (type O for me): I use this when I eat out or while travelling to protect my digestion from foods not right for my blood type and just for general digestive support
- Digestive enzymes: Take with meals to prevent digestive upset (I’ve never used these, but I think for many people it is a good idea)
- Greens powder/protein powder: Handy for extra nutrition while travelling and in case you miss meals
- Natural electrolyte drink: For more serious fluid loss from diarrhea, vomiting, heat stroke, excessive sweating - if you can’t find every ingredient, that’s OK, just do your best
- Peppermint, ginger, chamomile teas: To sooth an upset stomach, frayed nerves, aid sleep and relaxation
- Tea tree oil: For cuts, scrapes, wounds to prevention infection - once, in a pinch, I put this in my ear and it worked to stop a painful ear infection (although I don’t recommend this use!)
- Oregano oil: For sore throats, colds/flus, infections
- Calendula cream: For shallow/superficial cuts, scrapes, and rashes (don’t use on deep, fresh, or open wounds)
- Grapefruit seed extract (GSE): To prevent or treat digestive upsets like vomiting and diarrhea - follow instructions on the bottle
- Aloe vera gel: For sunburn and minor cuts/scrapes
- Apis gel: For bug bites
- Traumeel cream and/or tablets: For bumps, bruises, sore muscles, etc
- Traumeel ear drops: For any ear issues (pain, infection, itch) - I’ve never actually used these but seems like a great idea and they come in single-dose ampules
- Oculoheel eye drops: For any eye issues (allergies, itch, dryness, fatigue) - love these and they come in single-dose ampules
- No Jet Lag: Great product to prevent jet lag - it really works!
- Melatonin: As a sleep aid and to treat or prevent jet lag (although I have always used No Jet Lag)
- Rescue Remedy: Use for anxiety, emotional upset, nervousness, panic attacks, shock, trauma - I like the spray
I also have a list of homeopathic remedies for acute and first aid use to treat most minor illnesses and injuries. These include:
- Fevers, cold & flu, infections
- Frostbite
- Bug bites
- Bruises, strains/sprains, fractures
- Food poisoning
- Diarrhea, constipation
- Vomiting
- Pain
- Burns (sunburn and burns from heat)
- Jet lag
- Motion sickness
- Altitude sickness
- Sunstroke
- Wounds
- Poison ivy
- Hangover
Comments
Natural electrolye drink
23/Jun/11 08:58 AM Filed in: Home remedies | Recipes
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
This is one of the home remedies I discussed during my appearance on Wylde on Health June 17, 2011. Video is up online here (look for June 17th, segment 2).
If you are dehydrated through sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting, it is essential to not only replenish water, but also glucose and minerals/electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, and chloride, which are essential for many processes in your body. It is also important to stay well hydrated when you are sick with a cold or the flu. This remedy is also great for keeping sick kids hydrated!
There are a lot of electrolyte drinks on the market and unfortunately most of them are very high in sugar and artificial ingredients that you don’t need. Why not make your own simple electrolyte drink at home? The simple recipe below can be made with ingredients found in your kitchen and for extra taste and to bump up the immune boosting power of this drink, you can add a berry concentrate such as Proberry 3 liquid. Check out my blog called A tastier flu “shot” about the power of berries, especially elderberry. Elderberry has powerful anti-viral properties, so is effective against influenza and other viral infection such as the common cold.
Natural electrolyte drink
Ingredients:
¼ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp agave nectar (or maple syrup or honey)
Juice of a ½ lemon
1L water
1-3 tsp berry concentrate (to taste)
Directions:
1 Add the first four ingredients to the water and stir until dissolved.
2 Add berry concentrate to taste.
This is one of the home remedies I discussed during my appearance on Wylde on Health June 17, 2011. Video is up online here (look for June 17th, segment 2).
There are a lot of electrolyte drinks on the market and unfortunately most of them are very high in sugar and artificial ingredients that you don’t need. Why not make your own simple electrolyte drink at home? The simple recipe below can be made with ingredients found in your kitchen and for extra taste and to bump up the immune boosting power of this drink, you can add a berry concentrate such as Proberry 3 liquid. Check out my blog called A tastier flu “shot” about the power of berries, especially elderberry. Elderberry has powerful anti-viral properties, so is effective against influenza and other viral infection such as the common cold.
Natural electrolyte drink
Ingredients:
¼ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp agave nectar (or maple syrup or honey)
Juice of a ½ lemon
1L water
1-3 tsp berry concentrate (to taste)
Directions:
1 Add the first four ingredients to the water and stir until dissolved.
2 Add berry concentrate to taste.
