5
MAKING A TRAVELER’S
MEDICINE KIT
MAKING YOUR OWN FIRST-AID KIT IS AN ADVEN-ture. It requires planning and ingenuity. It may remind you of childhood games—scavenger hunts come to mind. Don’t expect it to be an inexpensive proposition, and don’t expect to complete it in a day—unless you’re a terrific planner.
You’ll likely want more than one first-aid kit, depending on its intended use. I have a big one for home, a little one for backpacking, and a slightly larger one for travel by air, boat, or car. What you put in your kits is largely up to you and will depend upon your and your family’s needs. It will also depend upon where you’re traveling. It’s a highly individual endeavor. For instance, I have a bottle of Herb Pharm’s Propolis/Echinacea Spray in all my kits, because my throat seems to be the first place to show signs of distress when I’m coming down with something—and this spray is great for sore throats. In addition, it’s one of those items that do double duty: I have used it with good results as a spray for cuts, abrasions, and bug bites. On the other hand, someone in your family might have a propensity for athlete’s foot. In this case, you’d probably want to include a remedy in your travel kit. Since your kit is an individual creation and the overall goal is to include what you know works for you, please don’t stress about throwing in some over-the-counter remedy, even if it is synthetic. I have Sudafed in my kits because it’s about the only thing that works effectively for me if I’m traveling by air and become congested. In my opinion it’s better to take the “dreaded” pill than to deal with a deep, full-blown ear infection two days later due to my body’s inability to deal with air-pressure changes. This book is about natural remedies, but it’s also about flexibility.
CARRYING IT ALL
What you use to carry all your healing goodies is, again, a matter of personal choice. I’ve seen all kinds of containers. The most impressive one I ever saw was Shatoiya de la Tour’s—an enormous fishing tackle box. It has dozens of little plastic drawers and a pop-out kit the size of a lunch box that you can reach for quickly in a case of emergency. A box that size would not be your first choice on a Caribbean cruise, but I had to mention it here because of its “granddaddy” status. Other (less ambitious) containers that make useful kits include small baskets with lids, quilted makeup bags, tool kits, and small fishing tackle boxes. If you know someone good with a sewing machine, you might even consider commissioning a first-aid kit. I’d love to have one made out of quilted fabric with little pockets and elastic loops to hold tincture bottles in place. If designed well, it could easily roll up and store snugly in your carry-on. Still, the bottom line is that what you use to carry your first-aid supplies is totally up to you.
Remedies that might melt or containers that could leak or spill should be individually placed in plastic bags to prevent seepage onto your clothes or elsewhere in your travel bags. Save empty film canisters for storing small items such as pills or sewing items. One note of warning: Do not store loose dried herbs in film canisters for travel. These canisters used to be the number one choice for carrying small, personal-use amounts of marijuana back in the 1960s and 1970s. Any loose dried plant that is green, brown, or somewhere in between is going to look suspicious to most customs officials, especially if it’s in a film canister. You definitely do not want to spend your arrival day in customs sorting out what could become quite nasty, depending on your destination. See Navigating Customs later in this chapter for more information.
Essential oils must be stored in glass vials or bottles. The constituents in essential oils will eat right through a plastic container, as well as the rubber bulb at the end of a glass dropper. When buying essential oils for travel, always get them with a solid screw top. Some come with dispensers built into the bottles but, if not, buy individual glass droppers (one for each bottle) and store them separately. Tincture bottles should either be stored in individual compartments (that’s why tackle kits are so great) or placed in plastic bags. The 1-ounce size is obviously smaller and would pack more easily, but you might consider a larger bottle for something like echinacea that the whole family will use.
Make sure all your remedies are labeled. It’s so tempting, especially if you’re packing at the last minute, to think you’ll remember what it is that you poured into that brown tincture bottle. Believe me, noses aren’t infallible, and even lavender essential oil can smell like rosemary essential oil if you have no context—such as the bottle’s position on your shelf. It’s even more difficult to sort out what’s what with tinctures, and nearly impossible with capsules. I am embarrassed to admit that I’ve thrown out my share of capsules simply because I couldn’t remember what I put in them and I hadn’t taken the time to label the jar. Obviously, labeling isn’t necessary if you’re buying premade remedies at your local health food store—unless, of course, you repackage them. Labels should list the name of the preparation and/or contents, what it’s used for, whether it should be taken internally or externally (remember that others might use your kit) what the dosage is, and the date.
To help reduce repackaging, take advantage of promotional and trial-sized items. When I worked at an alternative “pharmacy” in Palo Alto, we had a fairly large display area of small trial- or travel-sized preparations. Among other things, you could get ¼-ounce tins of Tiger Balm and small plastic tubes of calendula ointment or aloe vera gel. Many of our vendors supplied us with promotional items that we gave away to customers at the checkout stand. So be on the lookout when shopping—you never know what you might find.
PLANNING YOUR KIT
The idea is simple: You should put as much time and effort into packing your first-aid kit—maybe more—as you would into packing the rest of your personal belongings. The size and number of your kits and what you put in them depend entirely upon your destination, your mode of travel, the length of your trip, the activities you plan to engage in, and who’s going along. You might want to customize your kits for each trip, but at least your smallest everyday kit will usually remain pretty much the same. Remember to go through your kits at least once a year to replace used items and discard old ones.
The following is a list of questions to help you begin thinking of what you might want to put in your travel kit(s). If you are an experienced traveler, some of the items may seem obvious, but it pays to think about all the elements of your kit so you can choose remedies that will do double or triple duty. Is there a headache remedy that will also relieve insomnia, soothe sunburn, and (if you are a woman) ease menstrual cramps? Anything you can do to make your kit lighter while keeping it as complete as possible will make for a more pleasant trip. I like the idea of having two different kits—a larger one that goes in my luggage and a smaller one for my purse or carry-on. If you’re backpacking, you’ll most likely have room for only a small kit, and you’ll probably want to keep everything together in one place.
If you’re traveling out of the country, you’ll deal with customs. Depending on your destination, the experience could be as easy as choosing the “green” lane and walking through to the other side. In other countries, agents will stop everyone and go through their belongings as a matter of course. One year, my sister and I were traveling home to Iran for Christmas. We rather stupidly had wrapped all of our Christmas presents before packing them. To this day, I can’t imagine what we were thinking. We had grown up in the Middle East, were well acquainted with customs procedures in that area of the world, and knew we had an excellent chance of being searched. Anyway, the woman going through our baggage tore the paper from each gift, examined the contents, threw the whole mess back in our bags and sent us on our way. It was an experience in violation and one that imparted a good lesson: be careful what you take with you and how you package it.
I haven’t the knowledge to tell you what you can’t take with you to each and every country. For one thing, the rules change more often than you’d imagine. While travel agencies might help, your best bet is to inquire at the embassies or consulates for the countries you plan to visit. Another idea is to call your health care practitioner and find out what advice he or she gives patients who travel. In general, though, it’s wise to stay away from loose dried herbs. You’ll probably be okay if they’re in capsules, store bought, and labeled. I think I’d feel fine taking tea bags with me, especially if they were individually packaged in sealed envelopes. Don’t take items that look suspicious.
Whenever I’m stopped and questioned about my personal belongings, I try to remain as cooperative as possible. This is not the time to take an attitude. Explaining sometimes helps, especially if language is not a barrier, but if officials want you to part with whatever is bothering them, let them do so.
SAMPLE 
KITS
To help you think about what you might want to include in your travel kits, here are a few sample kits. The first is my little kit that goes everywhere with me.
Sample Everyday Medicine Kit
¼-ounce bottle lavender essential oil
¼-ounce bottle peppermint essential oil
2–4 adhesive bandages
1 small bottle Rescue Remedy
4 decongestant tablets
1-ounce bottle echinacea tincture
arnica homeopathic tablets (30x strength)
¼-ounce tin all-purpose herbal salve
1-ounce bottle St. John’s wort oil
1–2 individual packets antiseptic cleanser
2 throat lozenges
1 bottle Herb Pharm Echinacea/Propolis Spray
Sample Air Travel Kit
all the items listed under Sample Everyday Medicine Kit
1-ounce kava tincture
20 ginger capsules
witch hazel spritzer (and see the section on swollen feet or ankles).
Sample Backpacking First-Aid Kit
moleskin
Ace bandage
arnica homeopathic tablets (30x strength)
1 small bottle St. John’s wort oil
¼-ounce bottle lavender essential oil
¼-ounce bottle tea tree essential oil
1 small container powdered yarrow or cayenne pepper
1 ounce shepherd’s purse–yarrow tincture
1 ounce echinacea tincture
10–20 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
¼-ounce tin herbal antibiotic salve
water purifying tablets or Citricidal
2–4 antihistamine capsules
1 small jar green clay–lavender essential oil–echinacea–goldenseal-tincture paste
1 small bottle Dr. Kloss’s Liniment
matches in a waterproof container
Swiss Army knife
1–2 packs instant miso soup
Medium-Sized Travel Kit (packed in luggage)
If you’re planning to also carry a small kit with you in your carry-on or purse, there’s no need to duplicate the items in your medium-sized kit. Also, be sure to bring any prescription drugs that you take on a regular basis. Replacing these while traveling may be quite difficult.
¼-ounce bottles lavender essential oil, peppermint essential oil, German chamomile essential oil, tea tree essential oil, and eucalyptus essential oil
2-ounce bottle echinacea tincture
1-ounce bottle kava tincture
1-ounce bottle valerian tincture
1-ounce bottle pain and anti-inflammatory tincture
1-ounce bottle bitters tincture
1 small container cayenne powder
2–6 bags peppermint tea
2–6 bags chamomile tea
¼-ounce tin multipurpose herbal salve
¼-ounce tin Tiger Balm
1 small bottle St. John’s wort oil
6 vials Oscillococcinum
1 bottle arnica homeopathic tablets (30x strength)
1 bottle melatonin
2–4 vials of Curing Pills (Chinese patent remedy)
1 small bottle ginger capsules
1 small tube aloe vera gel
1 small jar green clay–echinacea–goldenseal–lavender essential oil paste
1 small bottle activated charcoal
1 small bottle Herb Pharm Echinacea/Propolis Spray
2–10 decongestant tablets
2–4 antihistamine capsules
Scissors (small pair)
5–10 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
thermometer
tampons or pads
tweezers
Possible Items for Your Kit
The following is a long, but not exhaustive, list of items you might consider for your kits, especially those you keep at home or take car camping. Again, don’t feel you have to include the same things I have—you know your family and self better than anyone else.
Tinctures
echinacea tincture
echinacea-goldenseal tincture
shepherd’s purse–yarrow tincture (bleeding)
valerian tincture
cramp bark–valerian tincture (menstrual cramping)
pain and anti-inflammatory tincture
bitters tincture
horsetail–goldenrod–juniper–corn silk tincture (urinary tract infections)
Dried Loose Herbs (for tea or bleeding)
cayenne
yarrow
peppermint
chamomile
fennel seeds
Salves
all-purpose herbal salve
calendula ointment or salve
herbal antibiotic salve
Tiger Balm
vapor balm (for congestion)
Herbal Oils
arnica oil (or gel)
St. John’s wort oil
pain oil (arnica, St. John’s wort, dandelion)
small bottle with plain vegetable oil (for massage blends)
Essential Oils
lavender
peppermint
eucalyptus
German chamomile
clary sage
Homeopathic Remedies and Flower Essences
Oscillococcinum
arnica homeopathic pills (30x strength)
Traumeel
Rescue Remedy
Rescue Remedy Cream
Supplements
vitamin C
acidophilus (nonrefrigerated type)
melatonin
Miscellaneous
Curing Pills (Chinese patent remedy)
Dr. Kloss’s Liniment
Tiger Liniment
throat lozenges
Para-Gard
packets of instant miso soup
ginger capsules
cranberry capsules
cascara sagrada capsules
aloe vera gel
loose clay
green clay-echinacea-goldenseal-lavender paste (bug bites, poison oak)
witch hazel spritzer
Herb Pharm Echinacea/Propolis Spray
decongestant
antihistamine
Supplies
gauze bandages
finger splint
tape
scissors (small pair)
pen and paper
matches
needle
adhesive bandages
thermometer
tampons or pads
Ace bandage
moleskin
flashlight
Citricidal
hot-water bottle
ice and heat bags
tweezers
Swiss Army knife