FOREWORD

WHETHER SOLITARY ADVENTURERS OR RIDERS in a caravan, travelers were once thought to be the bravest citizens of the world. Often risking their lives, they might journey through the jungle to the next village or across seas and deserts to a new world. When they returned, these adventurers were revered for the new knowledge they brought home. Travelers shared stories as well as samples of new foods, spices, and medicines. Sometimes they brought seeds, and these new delights were incorporated into the village lifestyle. Travelers were the doors to the outside world.

Today, of course, traveling is much more commonplace and certainly not our only means of cultural exchange. But exotic places still conjure up romantic visions of adventure, and even the most sophisticated traveler faces health-compromising dangers. Subjecting ourselves to new climes, germs, and foods, we introduce our bodies to stress and new types of intestinal flora, which we each process in our own unique way. Thank goodness Pam has written this book to help you prepare for the health issues that can and do come up on even the most well-planned trip.

Having read many books on natural medicine and self-healing in my twenty-eight years as an herbalist and educator, I was pleased to read this most honest and practical book. Knowing Pam personally, I see in this book her meticulous research and attention to detail. Pam draws on her extensive experience as a world traveler and a healer, sharing her successes and her mistakes and offering not just her personal wisdom but also the knowledge given to her by teachers and friends. I especially appreciate Pam’s acknowledgment of the role attitude and spirit play in healing as we navigate life’s many adventures.

In the modern world we now face complex viral diseases and bacteria resistant to pharmaceutical antibiotics. Many people believe the answer to this problem lies in a return to healthy living and natural remedies. Bacteria has a difficult time building a resistance to the complex chemical makeup of herbal remedies, and immune-enhancing foods and herbs allow us to become more resilient to viral infections. This book introduces to the reader, in a safe and simple way, the joys and benefits of natural self-healing. By applying these time-honored remedies, the reader is helping to keep alive ancient traditions and perhaps resolving some of the new problems we have created in our modern world.

In my personal travels, I always carry a small kit similar to the one recommended by Pam in this book. At the end of my trip, it is usually depleted not only from my own needs, but also from those of my fellow travelers. Often a successful remedy sparks a new friendship and plants the seeds of interest in this wonderful form of healing. I predict this book will become a favorite in homes desiring self-sufficiency, where it will be used not just for travel, but also as a home first-aid guide. I intend to keep my copy in a handy place.

Shatoiya de la Tour, coauthor of The Herbalist’s Garden