Herbs on holiday: if you're planning a road trip, be sure to pack an herbal travel kit - includes related article on tinctures and creams - The Herbalist

Vegetarian Times, April, 1995 by Drew DeSilver

TRAVEL, IT HAS BEEN SAID, broadens the mind. Unfortunately, it can also sicken the stomach, burn the skin and exhaust the body. Whether you're taking the family to Disney World, touring Europe solo or camping in the wilderness with friends, unforeseen health problems can put a damper on your vacation.

For serious ailments such as a broken bone or an infection, proper medical care is vital. If you'll be staying in an unfamiliar area, find out ahead of time where the nearest physician or hospital is located; if you'll be traveling abroad and don't know the language, learn how to say "I need a doctor" or "take me to the hospital" before you go.

Chances are, the worst ailments you'll encounter are an upset stomach or jet lag. For such minor illnesses, herbal remedies can put you back in good health much more gently than drugs can. And an herbal travel kit that can treat a range of minor ailments--from cuts and scrapes to motion sickness--won't take up much room in your suitcase or backpack.

When thinking about herbal remedies, teas probably come to mind. Though excellent (and tasty) ways to absorb the healing properties of herbs, teas aren't always practical. You may not be near a source of potable water, you may not have utensils handy and, most important, you may not be in any condition to prepare a proper herbal tea. "Once you need [a remedy], you don't want to have to find a stovetop and a pot to boil the water in and a strainer," says Brian Weissbuch, a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist in San Anselmo, Calif. "You want to be able to use it immediately."

The herbalists we consulted recommended using tinctures whenever possible as the best way to take herbs on the road. These alcohol-based herbal extracts are highly concentrated--much more so than a water-based tea--so a small volume of tincture packs a large dose of healing power. The alcohol draws out and preserves the essential oils and other medicinal components of herbs. That means tinctures remain potent longer than teas, lasting 12 months or more. And if you choose not to use alcohol, you still can make suitable tinctures by substituting wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

Here's a rundown on some of the common ailments you might encounter on vacation and the appropriate herbal treatments. You can easily purchase some of the tinctures recommended from a natural food store; if you'd rather make your own, follow the instructions in "How to Make Tinctures and Creams," p. 98. The dosages given are for adults; to figure out children's doses, divide the child's weight by 150. If a child weighs 50 pounds, you would divide 50 by 150, which equals 0.33, or one-third the adult dose.

CUTS AND SCRAPES

JAMES GREEN, director of the California School of Herbal Studies in Forestville, Calif., recommends a goldenseal-myrrh liniment for cuts, scrapes and other minor wounds; its drying action helps them heal faster.

To make the liniment, mix one ounce each of goldenseal and myrrh gum with one-fourth ounce of cayenne pepper in one pint of 100-proof alcohol (such as vodka or apple cider vinegar). Cover tightly and shake once a day for seven days. Strain out plant parts, and store in an airtight bottle. Apply topically.

You can also apply a few drops of an echinacea-goldenseal tincture to the cut. Echinacea is an immunity-boosting herb that facilitates wound-healing, and goldenseal is an effective drying and antiseptic agent. Follow the standard tincture-making instructions on the bottom of this page, but use equal parts of echinacea and goldenseal. (If you're mixing one ounce of herb in five ounces of alcohol, use one-half ounce each of echinacea and goldenseal.) Also, straight cayenne powder applied to the wound is an effective styptic, says Green: "It burns, but it stops the bleeding."

DIARRHEA

WEISSBUCH RECOMMENDS oral doses of the same echinacea-goldenseal tincture used for cuts and scrapes in the case of illness caused by stomach upset; both herbs fight a range of bacteria, and goldenseal is a digestive aid. Take two to five droppersful every two to three hours.

Blackberry, with its astringent and tonic properties, is an old home remedy for diarrhea. Green says that when he makes his own tincture of blackberry, he includes the leaves, stems and root. Take a teaspoonful every two to three hours.

UPSET STOMACH

DANDELION IS an excellent digestive aid; take one spoonful three times a day of tincture made from the leaves. Tinctures of peppermint or chamomile are also excellent for easing indigestion and nausea.

If you are in a position to brew tea, try some made from ginger, which has a long history as a digestive aid. To make a ginger tea, bring one cup of water to a boil and remove from heat. Add two teaspoons of powdered or grated ginger root, steep for 10 minutes and strain if necessary. You can also take ginger capsules, available at natural food stores.

INSECT BITES

BETTER TO KEEP BUGS from biting in the first place than to deal with the itchy consequences. A blend of eucalyptus, pennyroyal and citronella oils is a common and highly effective insect repellent; you should be able to find some already prepared in natural food stores. If you can't, make your own: Blend 10 to 12 drops total of eucalyptus, pennyroyal and citronella essential oils in one ounce of almond oil or other neutral carrier oil, such as grapeseed or apricot kernel.