3 natural remedies I never travel without
With travel opening back up, it is timely to chat about how to stay well when you’re on the move! This blog is allll about the three remedies I always bring with me when I travel. I’ve learned the hard way that being without a first aid essential in a foreign country can be more than a little painful. That’s why I’m sharing my three super essential travel buddies.
Manuka honey- burn, wound, infection
Manuka honey is a sticky, natural antimicrobial compound that is wound game changer. It is important to choose quality New Zealand grade manuka honey to ensure the strength and legitimacy of the product. I’ve successfully used manuka honey on myself over the years to address antibiotic resistant staph infections, blistering burns, acne, scratches/cuts (including my puppy’s), and probably much more. Needless to say, I never leave home without it, especially on long travel.
-I actually like this squeezy tube by Eras Natural Sciences (less mess, easier application) which I used to get at my local co-op and now order directly from their website. http://www.woundhoney.com/index.html. Not a big fan of buying supps on amazon but you can get it there as well.
Charcoal- food poisoning/bug, binder
Charcoal is a binder, a name for a substance that does exactly that- binds items in your gastrointestinal tract. The idea is that if you know you have ingested a toxin, charcoal has the potential to bind it up so that it may be excreted (instead of absorbed into your blood stream and distributed throughout your body). It is important to note that charcoal is a nonspecific binder, meaning it will bind to vitamins/minerals that your body needs. Thus, it is important to not abuse charcoal and take it only as needed. Specific binders, such as chlorella or parsley, are much gentler and can be used over time for a milder detoxifying effect. They will not, however, be as strong in the case of acute symptoms. Other favorite binders include bentonite clay-montmerollinite (my favorite brand - https://nevalite.com). I also like activated charcoal capsules by Integrative therapeutics.
Electrolytes – for rehydration, especially if you get sick
The secret to hydration is really electrolytes. Especially if you are already thirsty (ie, you’re dehydrated), regular water tends to run right through you. This is because electrochemically speaking, our cells use electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, etc) to conduct energy. Water with electrolytes helps hydrate and nourish your cells, so that the actual H20 can be used efficiently. A quick and easy way to do this at home is to sprinkle a dash of Himalayan pink salt or lemon into your water. Since those items are not always available during travel, I always keep electrolyte sticks with me. In fact, these bad boys probably saved me from needing to go to the hospital when I was very, very sick in Bali. Luckily my (human) traveling buddy is a best friend that happens to be colleague and had these packets herself! I use Pure encapsulations electrolyte/energy sticks.
BONUS:
Water filter -Berkey sport water bottle - for clean water always
This one is a bonus because I’m obsessed with having clean water. Berkey is my preferred water filtration device at home and I just discovered they make BPA free sport water bottles with the same proprietary filtration system inside. Impressively, these filtration systems make water potable which is quite a feat! Shelf life depends on the amount of streams and taps you are filling from, so be sure to check the recommended guidelines. To know with confidence that I always have water without chemicals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and heavy metals flowing into my body is huge and I am so grateful for this little bottle all the time!