Traveling can be incredibly soul fulfilling and widens your horizons in the most exciting way. But as fantastic as travel is, adjusting to different time zones, undertaking long plane/bus/train rides, varying from your usual diet and getting less sleep can all take a toll on your health. That’s why I always travel with a travel sized natural wellness kit (in addition to some of the regular run-of-the-mill first aid kit supplies, including bandaids, triple-antibiotic cream, lemon eucalyptus mosquito repellant, mineral sunscreen and travel health insurance). What I take with me will vary, depending on where I am traveling to, whether it is rural or urban, and the kinds of illnesses that are common in the area. For example, for a trip to Paris, I might just bring a few travel teas and shelf stable probiotic, but if I am going to rural India, I will likely bring a more robust collection of supplements with me.
I get quite a few queries as to which supplements can be helpful to travel with, so I will share some of my favorites to include in a natural wellness kit for travel, below. All of the products are available on FullScript - just look under my favorites category “Travel Kit”. Pick and choose depending on what kind of trip you are taking. Depending on the length of your trip, you might want to empty just enough of each item into a reusable labeled ziplock to avoid lugging around entire containers with you.
HMF Travel: This shelf stable probiotic is a staple of my travel kit. This probiotic contains Saccharomyces boulardii, which has been shown to help reduce the risk of traveler’s diarrhea.
Activated Charcoal: Great to have on hand if you do find yourself with an upset stomach. Taking 2 capsules every 2 hours (maximum 14 in a day) can help to bind up toxins in your gut, to help alleviate symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal distress. Make sure to take away from prescription medications, as it can interfere with absorption.
Para-Gard: Contains combination of antimicrobial, detox supportive and immune boosting herbs. If you’re traveling somewhere with potential for food contamination, taking 1-2 caps Para-Gard with meals can help to lower your risk of gastrointestinal infections. If you feel the start of stomach upset happening, you can increase to 2-3 caps with meals.
APTraveler: A little less intense than Para-Gard, taking one cap a day of APTraveler by Ayush Herbs, can be a gentler option for daily digestive support during international travel, especially if you have a tendency to get an upset stomach while traveling.
Biocidin Advanced formula Throat Spray: To use at the first signs of a sore throat, and also during long plane rides as an URI preventative.
PureDefence w/NAC by Pure or EHB by Integrative Therapeutics: Both of these are fantastic immune boosting supplements to take at the first signs of a cold, and continue for one full day after symptoms subside. Sometimes I take PureDefence w/NAC preventatively before, during and for a day after a long flight, as there is the potential for high exposure to a lot of people’s respiratory infections while stuck in an enclosed space for hours.
All Purpose Salve by Wise Woman Herbals: I LOVE this salve. It’s always with me when I travel. Great for soothing minor irritations, itching and dry/chapped skin. It contains anti-inflammatory comfrey and calendula, both of which also help promote skin healing, as well as vitamin A, vitamin E and beeswax. Also can double as a lipbalm and provides some soothing for minor sunburns.
Aloe Gel: Can be soothing if you tend to be prone to sunburns (but don’t forget your non-toxic sunscreen - prevention is ideal!)
Arnicare Gel: A homeopathic topical that can provide symptom relief for aching muscles after a long day, and swelling/bruising from minor injuries
Natural T-Relief: A homeopathic combination cream that can provide symptom relief for muscle, joint and nerve pain.
Melatonin: 1-3mg. Can be super helpful if traveling across multiple time zones to help combat jet lag. Read more about how to take melatonin for jet lag and other things you can to do combat jet lag here.
Bon voyage!
**As always, check with your doctor before taking new supplements, to make sure they are appropriate for you. If you are ever unsure of what is going on, be sure to seek out medical care.