SUMMER IS HERE!
Many of our kids are already out of school. Mine are getting out this week – I can’t wait! And with summertime, often comes TRAVEL! Domestic, international, by planes, trains or automobiles. Wherever we go and however we get there, the summer often includes packing up, leaving our homes and having some good ‘ol family fun!
But leaving our home also means leaving behind our home remedies and sometimes interrupting our vacations with a nasty cold or tummy bug or earache. Many of my patients ask me what, as a holistic pediatrician and mama, I bring with me on our travels so that we have a healthy, happy vacation and can successfully nip those illnesses in the bud quickly and get on with our fun.
So here it is – my holistic travel remedy kit!
Supplements
- Probiotics – I typically bring ones that don’t need to be refrigerated, like Orthomolecular Products Orthobiotic powder and/or capsules. Taking a probiotic-a-day can keep tummy troubles and the flu away!
- Vitamin D3 – Even if you’ll be swimming and playing in the sun all day, a little extra Vitamin D3 when we’re sick can give our immune systems that much needed boost.
- Umcka Coldcare syrup – This herbal syrup is great to start at the beginning of any cold or flu-like illness. (NOTE: this is the same as Integrative Therapeutic’s V Clear syrup).
- Kan Herb’s Windbreaker – This tincture is a staple in our household. We travel with 8-ounce bottles! If your child is amenable to taking Chinese herbs (really – these aren’t bad!), this formula will knock that cold, fever, or flu right out of your system!
- Garlic Ear Drops – For earaches, whether it’s swimmer’s ear or the start of a middle ear infection, ear drops with garlic can provide instant pain relief and fight infections. (Do not use if you see any fluid coming from ear.)
- Xlear Nasal Spray – A must to prevent infections (spray while flying or after any potential “exposure”), and to help clear those congested, runny noses!
Homeopathics Medicines
If you’re not familiar with homeopathic medicines, please refer to my blogposts What is Homeopathy – Part 1 and What is Homeopathy – Part 2 for more information on what they are and how to use them. As many of you know, homeopathic medicines are often my preferred choice for infants, and pregnant and nursing women, because they are so safe yet effective! I generally recommend using the 9C or 30C dilution, although the 30C dilution is usually easier to find at Whole Foods and other health food stores. The dosage is typically 3 pellets every 3-4 hours at least 10 minutes away from food or drink. However, for acute situations like hives and fevers, homeopathic medicines can even be given every 10-15 minutes as needed. Space out the interval between doses as symptoms improve. Stop when feeling better. These are the top 10 homeopathic medicines with their most common indications that I pack in my travel bags:
- Oscillococcinum – 1 vial every 8 hours for a total of 3 doses at the start of flu-like illness, fever, chills. Also great to take preventatively during a flight or after any potential “exposure.”
- Aconitum napellus – sudden onset of high fever and cold symptoms, especially after being exposed to cold wind (like on the beach!); croup attacks.
- Apis mellifica – for hives or swollen, red, burning or itching mosquito bites, bee stings, etc., better with cold compresses. Also good for sunburns!
- Arnica – for head bonks, bruises, sprains, aches and pains.
- Arsenicum album – for stomach flu or food poisoning with vomiting and diarrhea, also for wheezing and wet cough, especially when worse 1am – 3am.
- Belladonna – for high fevers, delirious, with red clammy face.
- Coldcalm – a combination cold/flu formula to combat the most common symptoms.
- Ferrum phosphoricum – for low grade fevers without any other clear symptoms, at the start of any illness; for any earache.
- Hepar sulphuris (use 30C) – for swimmer’s ear, sore throats, and boils/abscesses.
- Nux vomica – for upset stomach/indigestion especially after overindulgence (too many ice cream sundaes, perhaps?).
For Jetlag
- Arnica + Cocculus indicus – 3 pellets of each 3x/day, starting the day before travel and continuing for 3 days after landing.
- Melatonin – 0.5mg – 1mg, ½ hour before desired bedtime for the first few nights (you can even give this on the plane at the desired bedtime of your destination).
For Motion Sickness
This combination has saved me on our live-aboard boat trips and whale-watching excursions!
- Petroleum + Tabacum + Cocculus indicus – 3 pellets of each 2x/day while on a boat (or other motion-sickness inducing event), and every 2-3 hours as needed for motion sickness.
Topicals
- Arnica ointment – for bruises and sprains.
- Calendula ointment – for open cuts and scratches, itchy rashes.
Essential Oils
- Lavender – for general calming, fevers, aches and pains, sleep support.
- Peppermint – for nausea, can also be applied directly to itchy spots and bites.
Insect/Tick Repellents
I prefer one of the following essential oil-based repellents. The key is frequent application:
- Badger Bug Repellents
- Nature’s Cloak Mosquito, Tick and Insect Repellents
- Fedorenko’s Bug Stick
So there you have it – the essential holistic travel remedy kit that I carry with me during all of our family’s travels, any time of year. Now go have fun all summer long, armed with your own travel kit to keep your family healthy and happy wherever you go! And please do pass this on to any family you know who will be traveling and could benefit from this information!
xo Holistic mama doc – Elisa Song, MD
Thank you for this article! I will definitely add some of these to my travel kit. In regards to the garlic drops, can I use those preventatively? Could you recommend a brand? I have a 1 year old and she loves the water. We will be going to the pool a lot this summer and I’d like to avoid ear infections if possible.
Hi Maria! Yes, you can use garlic drops preventatively. I use the Mullein Garlic ear drops by Herb Pharm – easy to find at Whole Foods and order online!
xo Elisa
Thank you so much for writing this! It’s a huge help to get us ready for our big trip in July! ❤️
You’re so welcome, Kristen! Did I answer your question? I would also take Oscillococcinum 1 vial on the plane, and spray Xlear throughout the flight and blow your noses! (I updated the blog post just now!) Miss you guys!
xo Elisa
Thank you so much for this helpful post, it is much appreciated. May I ask, what probiotics do you normally take? I note the ones you suggest you travel with, I was just wondering what brand of probiotics you take at home, if you don’t mind me asking?
Thanks so much, Jennie
Hi Jennie! I don’t mind at all. My husband and I take Klaire Therbiotic Complete capsules, 1 capsule daily. My children who are 7 and 5 take Klaire Therbiotic Children’s chewables, 1 chew daily, which are essentially identical to the Therbiotic Complete in strains and potency but in a chewable form.
Take care,
Elisa
Hi elisa,
My baby is 11 months old. We are currently given her mommy’s bliss probiotic drops. Can you suggest if i can continue that or anything else is recommended?
Also we are travelling to new hampshire next month. This blog is really helpful to pack my travel necessities. Do the infant need anything different?
I’m not familiar with mommy’s bliss probiotic, but please do look at my Probiotic Guide (www.healthykidshappykids.com/probiotic-guide) to see if it’s a good choice. And the same travel kit applies to infants and adults! 🙂
Wow! This is GREAT!!! Just what I needed as we are traveling and getting over a cold…
Hi Elena! So glad you found it usefut! Have safe and wonderful travels. Can’t wait to hear all about it!
xo Elisa
Hi Dr. Song,
Thanks for the helpful info! I have learned so much from following you!
Can you please recommend a good brand of probiotics and vitamin d3 ? My 3 year old is on the spectrum and on the GAPS diet.
Thank you!
Roxanne
Hi Roxanne! I can tell you what we use at home for us and for Kenzi (7) and Bodi (5) – for probiotics I use Klaire Labs Therbiotic Complete powder 1/8 tsp daily, and for Vitamin D we use Orthomolecular Products Liquid Vitamin D3 which is 1000IU per drop.
xo Elisa
On the windbreaker, do you need to boil out the alcohol? or it ok to give “as-is” to a 14 month old?
Hi Tiffany,
I started giving Windbreaker to Bodi when he was under a year of age and Kenzi would bring germs back home from school, and I did not boil out the alcohol. The amount of alcohol is very low, and likened to the amount that would be present in a very ripe banana. However, some kids and adults are very sensitive to alcohol, in which case you can put the drops into a small amount of very hot water, let the water cool, and then give it to them.
Good luck!
Elisa
Thank you for this wonderful info! Do you have favourite brands for the homeopathic remedies?
Hi Carey,
I use Boiron remedies because they are backed by incredible quality assurance manufacturing procedures, so I don’t doubt their safety and effectiveness.
Good luck!
xo Elisa
This is an answered prayer! I have been looking for exactly this!!! Thank you!!!
you’re so welcome!
Thank you so much for the information!
I wanted to ask you which of these remedies are ok to use on a baby (10 week old)
Homeopathic medicines can be used at any age. Herbal medicines and vitamins should be checked with your pediatrician first. Best of luck!
Thank you so much Dr Elisa. I am a new mom of a 2 month old little girl and I am so glad that I came across tyour blog and this article. We need more doctors like you Thank you again and God bless you and please keep sharing these wonderful holistic solutions.
You’re so welcome! 🙂
Hi ELisa,
could you recommend anything for travel calm for the travel process for adults and children? I am travelling 24 hours with three little ones on my own and would like to carry some natural remedies to keep us (me) as stress free/ calm as possible while in the airports and on/off planes.
regards,
milena
Hi Milena – I’m afraid this is reaching you too late to help, but Hyland’s Calms Forte homeopathic formula is awesome for calm in any situation!
Sincerely,
Elisa
Hi Dr. Song, thanks for the info. How young of a child can you give Oscillococcinum and Umka syrup? Are the majority of the items you list on your kit safe for babies?
Oscillo and any homeopathic medicine is safe at any age. I typically wait for herbal medicines like Umcka until at least 6-12 months of age. And of course, if anything with honey, wait until at least 1 year.
Hi Elisa, Great post really helpfully thanks! In regards to the Kan Herb’s Windbreaker how much would you give a 14 month old? Do you start it at the first sign of a cold? The elderberry I can give 1/4 tsp throughout the winter season to help boast immunity. Also what about Vitamin C is there one you reccomend for toddlers? Thanks again!
Hi Michelle – I can’t give specific information for your child, and I would definitely check with your healthcare practitioner. But I can tell you what I did when my kids were around 15 months – at the first sign of a cold, I gave them Windbreaker 1 dropperful 3-4x/day. I didn’t dose elderberry daily, but definitely gave 1/4-1/2 tsp after potential exposures. And Vitamin C – I use the Metagenics’ Ultra Potent C powder or Vitality C powder so I can easily mix into a drink for toddlers. Best of luck! 🙂
Is amazon a safe place to order the windbreaker?
Dominique – totally depends on who the seller is. We will have our Healthy Kids Happy Kids online store up and running very soon, so parents can get trusted supplements. xo Elisa