Following lockdown everywhere at last us Britons are going to get back on holiday. Whether it’s in the UK or abroad, there are so many health issues that crop up when you go on holiday, especially with children too.  Whether it’s travel sickness, upset tummy, insect bites and stings, or too much sun, this helpful A-Z provides plenty of self-help tips for problems that don’t really need a doctor.

ALLERGIES

Foreign lands, strange foods, plenty of heat, insect bites, pollen, chemicals, dust, and cosmetics can all cause allergic reactions.  And if you are out in open spaces where there is plenty of grass you may suffer from hay fever in which case you can try Nelson’s Pollenna.

If there is severe reaction seek medical advice.

• Apis mel homeopathic remedy for emergency relief to allergic reactions.
• For burning watery eyes try Euphrasia homeopathic tablets.
• Pulsatilla is for itchy eyes and blocked nose.
• Arsen Alb soothes itchy and runny nose and sneezing.
• Eye drops containing herbal Euphrasia can help sore eyes.

• Featured products
  Pollenna	Nelsons	72	£5.51
  Euphrasia 30C	Nelsons	84	£5.89
  Pulsatilla 30C	Nelsons	84	£5.89
  Arsen Alb 30C	Nelsons	84	£5.89
  Euphrasia Tincture	A. Vogel	50ml	£9.15
  Lavender Organic Pollen Balm	Haymax	5 ml	£ 7.10
  Get 15% discount with the promotion code: HSoul1 at www.superfooduk.com

BURNING

‘Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun’ so don’t. As well as getting burnt you can get sunstroke with symptoms of dizziness, dehydration, raging headache and sickness.

The Aussies say: ‘Slip on a shirt, slap on a cap, and slop on some suncream’.

To prevent burning:

• Use a high factor sun tan lotion but try to choose one that doesn’t contain a host of chemicals because there are fears that some lotions may have a part to play in skin cancers – see Environmental.
• Wear cotton shirts even in water where you can still burn.
• Cover up on cloudy days because the sun still burns.
• Limit exposure to sun to morning and late afternoon.
• Take a supplement like VitaCell that contains Vitamin E, beta-carotene and other antioxidants to make the skin more resilient to sun.

For burnt skin:

• Put one or two drops of either Lavender or Tea Tree essential oils into a bath of cool water to soothe skin, or make a compress with a few drops diluted in one litre of water.
• Cold compresses can also be made using vinegar, cold tea. cucumber juice.
• Make a concoction of stinging nettles boiled and cooled and use in the same way.
• Belladonna 30c is ideal for both sunstroke and sunburn and helps with beetroot skin to throbbing headaches and full blown delirium, according to homeopath, Sue Leach
• If burning is not too intense try Cantharis.

Severe sunburn is a medical emergency.

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Lavender Oil	Tisserand	9ml	£5.70
Tea Tree Oil	Tisserand	9ml	£5.70
Basic 18 Kit	Helios Homeopathic Pharmacy	18 homeopathic remedies	£26.95
Calendula cream	Nelsons	50g
Belladonna 30C	Nelsons	80 pillules
Cantharis 30C	Weleda	125 pills
Anti-Age Suncream SPF 15	Lavera	50ml
Baby & Child Sun Neutral SPF 15 spray	Lavera	200ml
After Sun	Lavera	150ml
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COLD SORES

Echinacea photo courtesy of A.Vogel Bioforce

 The ultra-violet rays of the sun are the biggest trigger for cold sores, but sunbeds also activate them too. They indicate a run down immune system.

To prevent:

• Take regular Echinacea before holidays in the sun.
• Eat plenty of garlic in the diet all the time to boost the system.
• Use a lip cream which contains Propolis, which is made by bees to protect their hives from infection! To treat:
• Take homeopathic remedy Rhus Tox 6c.
• Apply Tea tree, Lavender or Eucalyptus oil.
• Drink lemon balm tea – you can even grow your own!

Featured Products
Tea Tree Oil	Tisserand	9ml
Echinaforce Echinacea tincture	A. Vogel Bioforce	50ml
Bio Propolis cream	A. Vogel Bioforce	2g
Rhus tox 30c	Nelsons Clikpak	84
Lavender Oil	Tisserand	9ml
Eucalyptus Oil	Tisserand	9ml

DEHYDRATION

Sweating in the heat, travelling on planes, or stomach bugs can all cause dehydration, which can be a very dangerous condition so if someone is shivering and going hot and cold take them to the hospital or a doctor.

To prevent:

• Don’t spend long hours in hot sun in the middle of the day
• Avoid coffee and alcohol
• Drink plenty of water regularly.

To treat:

• Try drinking coconut water which replaces fluids in the body.
• Take China 30c homeopathic remedy to cope with loss of fluid due to diarrhoea and vomiting.
• Make up an Electrolyte Solution with 17 fl oz (500ml) of boiled water, 8 teaspoons of sugar and a half teaspoon of salt).

EYES and EARS

Swimming pools and the sea can affect eyes and ears and cause infections.

Euphrasia courtesy of A.Vogel Bioforce

To soothe sore eyes :

• Dilute a few drops of Euphrasia or Eyebright in water and apply to eyes on cotton pads.
• Place cucumber slices on eyes – they’re deliciously cooling.

For ear problems:

• Soothe earache with two drops of Lavender oil on cotton wool in the outer ear.
• Inhale Olbas oil to prevent nose and ears blocking.
• ‘If ears are popping on the plane,’ says Sue Leach, ‘Silicea is a good homeopathic remedy’.
• ‘Pulsatilla 30c is better if ears hurt on the flight because of a cold.’

Featured Products
Lavender Oil	Tisserand	9ml
Euphrasia Tincture	A. Vogel Bioforce	50ml
Olbas Oil	G. R. Lanes	10ml
Olbas Oil for Children	G. R. Lanes	10ml
Pulsatilla 30C	Nelsons	84
Euphrasia 30C	Nelsons Clikpak	84
Silicea 30c	Weleda	125 tablets
Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) herb	Nature’s Answer	30ml

 FATIGUE

Packing, travelling and arriving somewhere new all take their toll and it’s not uncommon to arrive feeling exhausted. Anyone who is working hard and burning the candle at both ends can lose half a holiday recovering!

Self-help tips:

• Get plenty of sleep on holiday and avoid too much alcohol in the first few days.
• Do some exercise daily – walking, swimming or yoga.
• Spend at least one hour a day alone being calm and quiet.
• Eat healthy foods – plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and lots of water to drink.

Remedies:

• Nux vomica 30c is good for anyone who is exhausted from too much work.
• Have daily baths with a few drops of aromatherapy oils in – stimulating Basil, Rosemary or Lemon Grass, or better still ask your partner for a massage!

Featured Products
Nux vomica 30C	Nelsons Clikpak	84	£5.89
Rosemary Oil	Health Aid	10ml	£5.99
Lemongrass Oil	Tisserand	9ml	£5.10
Basil Oil	Health Aid	5ml	£7.99
Get 15% discount with the promotion code: HSoul1 at www.superfooduk.com

 GERMS

Recycled air and other people’s germs on a plane can often result in illness on arrival at your destination. Add to that the stress of actually getting ready to go away and you could succumb to illness when you arrive.

To prevent:

• Boost the immune system with Echinacea before and during the flight.
• Coat the inside of nostrils with olive oil to protect from germs.
• Drink plenty of water to flush out toxins.

To treat:

• For bacterial, fungal or parasitical infection take 10 drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract 2 to 3 times a day – it has an antibiotic effect.

Featured Products
Echinaforce Echinacea tincture	A. Vogel Bioforce	50ml
Citricidal Grape Seed Extract liquid	Higher Nature	25ml

 HOT FEET

Hot feet can swell and become puffy while athlete’s foot is more prevalent in the sun.

• Tea tree oil diluted in water or used in a natural lotion can prevent fungal infections.
• Thuja tincture is good for soothing and healing athlete’s foot.
• Bathe puffy feet in water with a few drops of peppermint oil, or foot lotion.

Featured Products
Peppermint Oil	Tisserand	9ml
Tea Tree Oil	Tisserand	9ml
Thuja liquid	New Vista	30ml

INSECT BITES AND STINGS

Itchy, uncomfortable and unsightly insect bites and stings can also become infectious and make you ill.

To avoid :

• Light Citronella candles to keep insects away.
• Use a  herbal insect spray that doesn’t contain DEET to repel bugs and soothe bites –  for gnats, mosquitoes, midges, fleas, biting flies at home and abroad.
• Put a few drops of Tea tree, Lavender, or Citronella oils in a water spray, or on the wrists and ankles – check that you are not allergic first!

To treat:

• Apply coconut oil mixed with a couple of drops of lavender and neem oil to keep mosquitoes away and soothe bites.
• Ledum is the number one homeopathic remedy for bites, according to Sue Leach. Take them every 15 minutes until swelling goes down.
• For bee and wasp stings take Apis.
• Soothe insect bites with neat Tea tree or Lavender oil – test first to see if allergic.
• If nothing else is available put vinegar on a wasp sting.

Jellyfish stings

Very painful and rather shocking when you’re swimming.   The area goes very red and stings as if needles are being stuck in you. So here are some tips:

• Get out of the water as quickly as possible.
• Dowse skin with neat vinegar if you can – this works amazingly quickly. The pain goes almost immediately and the redness slowly wears off.
• If there’s no vinegar you can pee on it – lots of old wives’ tales about this such as male urine is better. It’s obviously to do with the acid as with vinegar, so definitely try it out if there’s a shortage of  vinegar!

 

• For jelly fish stings remove the tentacles and immerse in hot water.

Featured Products
Lavender Oil	Tisserand	9ml
Tea Tree Oil	Tisserand	9ml
Neem Insect Repellent	A. Vogel	50ml
Apis mel 6C	Nelsons Clikpak	84
Citronella Oil	Tisserand	9ml
Ledum 6c	Helios Homeopathic Pharmacy	36 tablets

JET LAG

Long-haul flights can cause: tiredness, depression, lack of concentration, constipation, and disturbed sleep as the body clock takes time to adjust.

• On long haul flights Cocculus 30c helps with sleep deprivation – take one tablet every four hours, Sue Leach advises.
• Arnica 30c helps the body deal with the shock of travelling between time zones – again every four hours.
• Olive is a good flower remedy to cope with the change your body is going through.
• Put Neroli (if you can afford it!) or Lavender oil on a tissue and breathe in to induce sleep.
• On arrival bathe with few drops of Grapefruit, Rosemary, Juniper or Lemongrass oils in water to refresh you.

Featured products
Lavender oil	Tisserand	9ml
Lemongrass oil	Tisserand	9ml
Arnica 30c	Nelsons	84
Travella including Cocculus	Nelsons	72
Rosemary oil	Health Aid	10ml
Grapefruit oil	Tisserand	9ml
Olive	Bach Flower Remedies	20ml
Juniper oil	Tisserand	9ml
Neroli oil	Health Aid	2ml

KIDS’ CUTS AND GRAZES

Children get into scrapes wherever they are and holidays are a prime time for them to get cuts and grazes.

• Arnica gel or cream is great for rubbing on bruises particularly after a hard day on the slopes.
• Take Arnica homeopathic tablets for bad bruises – take regularly until the colouring has gone. For broken skin try Calendula cream or Hypercal which is a combination of healing Hypericum and soothing Calendula.
• Rescue Remedy cream soothes most cuts and grazes.

Featured Products
Atrogel (Arnica) Gel	A. Vogel Bioforce	50g
Arnica 30C	Nelsons	84
Hypercal Cream	Nelson	30g
Calendula Cream	Nelsons	30g
Rescue Cream	Bach Flower Remedies	30g

 LIGHT-HEADEDNESS

A mixture of sun and alcohol can cause headaches,light-headedness or sheer exhaustion.

• If you are hung over or feel generally light-headed try Nux vomica 30c homeopathic remedy.
• Have a refreshing bath with a few drops of Lavender, Rosemary or Juniper oils.
• Sip peppermint tea – but not if taking homeopathic remedies as it reduces their effectiveness.
• Breathe deeply and slowly into your diaphragm.

Featured Products
Lavender Oil	Tisserand	9ml
Nux vomica 30C	Nelsons Clikpak	84
Rosemary Oil	Health Aid	10ml
Juniper Oil	Tisserand	9ml

MIGRAINES

The sun, alcohol, tension, long distance travelling, and general stress can bring on a severe headache. The best way to stop a migraine is to nip it in the bud before it becomes intolerable.

• Rub lavender oil on the temples, or any other combination of oils such as Migrastick which contains both peppermint and lavender oils – but don’t get near eyes or they will pour!
• Take peppermint tea bags on holiday and sip at first signs of headache.
• A good dip underwater can often clear out the sinuses and stop a headache in its tracks.

Once it strikes:

• Both Migrastick and 4Head can help – you rub them directly on the skin, but because they contain strong oils they can make your eyes run if too near so be careful how you apply them.
• For a throbbing headache, redness sensitivity to light and noise try Belladonna 30c homeopathic remedy.
• For headaches due to a mixture of sun and alcohol, take the homeopathic remedy, Glonoin 30c.
• When headache is accompanied by feeling sick Nux vom 30c sometimes does the trick.

Sometimes it’s too late to stop a migraine and it may not go away until after you’ve been sick, so don’t hold back!

Featured Products
Lavender Oil	Tisserand	9ml
Feverfew Migraine Relief	Higher Nature	30 capsules
Nux vomica 30C	Nelsons Clikpak	84
Belladonna 30C	Nelsons Clikpak	84
4Head Headache Treatment	4Head	3.6g

 NERVES

Last minute panics and worries about your destination can cause nervous diarrhoea.

• Take Argent Nit, or Gelsemium homeopathic remedies if you are paralysed with fear.
• For nervous air passengers put a few drops of Bach Flower’s Rescue Remedy on the tongue .
• Take Arnica tablets if feeling shocked and traumatised – if this happens every time, start taking before leaving home.

Featured Products
Rescue Remedy	Bach Flower Remedies	10ml
Gelsemium 30C	Nelsons Clikpak	84
Argent nit 6C	Weleda	120
Rescue Remedy Pastilles	Bach Flower Remedies	50g

OVER-INDULGENCE

You don’t have to go away to suffer from indigestion and a bloated stomach – picking at barbeques can make stomachs uncomfortable.

• Nux vom is a good homeopathic remedy if your stomach feels uncomfortable.

• Peppermint tablets or tea are excellent for good digestion, relaxing the muscles in the gut and soothing pain and wind, but don’t take with homeopathic remedies as it reduces their effectiveness.   Even sniffing peppermint oil can take away feelings of nausea.
• Slippery elm is a good indigestion remedy – herbal and totally natural.

Featured Products
Nux vomica 30C	Nelsons Clikpak	84
Peppermint tablets	Obbekjaers	60
Japanese Peppermint oil	Obbekjaers	10ml
Slippery Elm Stomach Tablets	Potter’s	60

PRICKLY HEAT

For some people the heat and sun brings out an irritating rash which ‘prickles’ the skin.

• Put a few drops of Lavender oil in a luke warm bath to soothe the rash – disturb the water with your hand to disperse the oil.
• Take Cantharis homeopathic remedy for intense irritation, made worse by the sun.
• Aloe Vera gel can be very soothing – preferably straight from the plant.

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Lavender Oil	Tisserand	9ml
Japanese Peppermint Oil	Obbekjaers	10ml
Aloe Vera Gel & Tea Tree	Aloe Pure	200ml
Aloe Gold Ultimate Skin Gel	Higher Nature	120ml
Saw Palmetto	A Vogel Bioforce	50ml

QUEASINESS

There could be several reasons for feeling sick or queasy when you’re away – it may be due to food, the heat, the change of climate, jet lag, not enough sleep, jet lag, or even yearning for home!

• For constipation and nausea take Nux vom 30c.
• With headache and strong thirst try Bryonia 6c.
• For travellers constipation use Nat mur 30c.
• Peppermint oil on a tissue or in tablets can quell queasiness (never take homeopathic remedies with peppermint).
• For home sickness Bach Flower RemedyHoneysuckle – a few drops in water or on the tongue three times a day.

Featured Products
Peppermint Oil	Tisserand	9ml
Honeysuckle Bach Flower Remedy	Bach Flower Remedies	20ml
Nux vomica 30C	Nelsons Clikpak	84
Nat mur 30C	Nelsons Clikpak	84
Bryonia 30C	Nelsons Clikpak	84

RASHES

There can be all types of rashes that crop up when you’re on holiday. Check what you are doing that is different from normal – for example, is it your suncream? If you suspect that it is, change the brand. We suggest natural suncreams which don’t include harsh chemicals, such as those containing aloe vera.  Or it could simply be the sun – see Prickly Heat above, or it might be the sea!  Try to make sensible changes before going to a doctor, who might give you strong corticosteroid creams.   A homeopathic remedy, such as Graphites, can ease

Featured Products
Aloe Vera Lotion SPF 25	Aloe Pura	200ml
Aloe Vera After Sun Lotion	Aloe Pura	200ml
Aloe Vera Skin Gel	Aloe Pura	200ml
Graphites 30C	Nelsons	84 tablets

STRESS

Packing and organisation before you leave home can leave you feeling stressed on the journey there. Add to that travelling and arriving somewhere new it’s not difficult to feel completely frazzled.

• If young kids are whining and being annoying give them Chamomilla 30c – it’s a safe homeopathic remedy and they’ll probably like the sugary taste.
• On arrival relax in a bath with a few drops of Geranium or Lavender oil.
• If feeling weepy and fed up use Ylang Ylang or Clary Sage oils in the bath or in a tissue tucked in your collar.

Featured Products
Lavender Oil	Tisserand	9ml
Ylang Ylang Oil	Tisserand	9ml
Clary Sage Oil	Tisserand	9ml
Geranium Oil	Tisserand	9ml
Chamomilla 30c	Weleda	125

 TRAVEL SICKNESS

Motion sickness can happen in a car, boat, or plane but is much worse on an empty stomach. It’s important for all the family to have a light meal before setting off on a journey.

• Cocculus 30c is described by Sue Leach as the ‘perfect remedy for sickness brought on by reading in the back of a car or feeling green on a boat’.
• Nux Vomica can calm the stomach after vomiting.
• Sniff Ginger oil, sip ginger tea (if possible), or buy ginger tablets.
• Other teas which may help – Chamomile and Peppermint (peppermint should not be taken with homeopathic remedies).

Featured Products
Travel Essence	Australian Bush Essences	30ml
Travella includes Cocculus	Nelsons	72
Nux vomica 30C	Nelsons Clikpak	84
Ginger Oil	Tisserand	9ml
Ginger Root Veg Caps	Viridian	30 x 400mg

UPSET STOMACH

Over half of Britons who travel abroad come back with some kind of stomach upset – from mild diarrhoea to serious bugs.

There are several ways to prevent stomach bugs:

• Build up resistance before going away with Probiotics which populate the gut with ‘friendly’ bacteria.
• Do not eat lukewarm food – it should be hot or chilled!
• Don’t have a meal in restaurants where there are lots of flies around the food.
• Wash hands before eating.

To treat discomfort and vomiting:

• Take homeopathic remedy, Arsenicum Alb 30c for upset tums, particularly if exhausted from vomiting, restless and anxious.
• Carbo veg 30c is good if you are ‘bent double with stomach cramps and laid out with pain,’ Sue Leach says.

Severe food poisoning requires medical attention.

Slippery Elm is good for indigestion when taken after a meal.

Featured Products
Slippery Elm Stomach Tablets	Potter’s	60
Bio-Acidophilus	Biocare	60 Veg caps
Essential 18 Kit	Helios Homeopathic Pharmacy	18 homeopathic remedies
Optibac Probiotics Travla	DTEC	20 capsules
Optibac Probiotics for Babies & Children	DTEC	10 sachets

VACCINATIONS

For cholera, typhoid, yellow fever, polio and malaria seek advice from a homeopath about vaccinations. You need to take expert advice about areas where these diseases are rife and can be deadly. There are some remedies that can be taken in areas where there is less of a risk, but you need to check that your travel insurance will cover medical costs if you don’t have the recommended vaccinations.

• Even if having vaccinations, take Echinacea, garlic and Vitamin C to build up the immune system before and during the trip.
• There are some homeopathic remedies to prevent Hepatitis, Tetanus and Malaria, but make sure you speak to a homeopath direct or to a company like Helios.

For more information contact:

• Helios Homeopathic Pharmacy, 01892 537254, www.helios.co.uk

Featured Products
Echinaforce Echinacea tincture	A. Vogel Bioforce	50ml
Ester C Vitamin C	Viridian Nutrition	950mg

 WATER

Meat and seafood may be common culprits where food poisoning is concerned, but in many countries it’s the water that hasn’t been properly treated which makes you ill.

• In hot countries drink mineral water in bottles unless you are advised that tap water is definitely safe.
• In undeveloped countries only drink boiled water.
• If travelling in the East steer away from salads and peel fruit to avoid the water which has been used to clean them.
• Never accept ice in suspect countries!

XHAUSTION

Long journeys, hot climates, and a change of setting can be tiring at first.

• Siberian Ginseng can perk you up – it might be good to take before you go on holiday but don’t take when pregnant.
• Arnica 30c may be well known for bruising but it’s also a good remedy for physical exhaustion.
• Revitalise with a few drops of Geranium or Rosemary oil in the bath.

Featured Products
Siberian Ginseng tablets	Lambert’s Healthcare	60 x 1,500mg
Arnica 30C	Nelsons Clikpak	84
Geranium Oil	Tisserand	9ml
Rosemary Oil	Health Aid	10ml

 YEAST

Too much yeast in the body can cause Candida which results in bloated stomachs or thrush. Anyone who is prone to thrush and fungal infections may find they get worse in hot countries with exotic foods washed down with plenty of local wine.

• Take Probiotics before going away and during the holiday to populate the gut with healthy bacteria and strengthen resistance.
• Calendula and tea tree creams can be used to soothe itching of thrush or any fungal infections.
• Live natural yoghurt can be eaten regularly, and applied to a tampon to cool down an irritated vagina.

Featured Products
Calendula Cream	Nelsons	30g
Tea Tree Cream	Nelsons	30g
Candida homeopathic tablets	Nelsons	72 tablets
Candigest	Winning Team	30

Passiflora courtesy of A.Vogel

ZZZ

Nerves and excitement combined with a strange bed and jet lag can seriously upset sleep patterns.

• Try to get back to normal by going to bed at the right time for the country you’re in.
• Passiflora or Valerian are herbal remedies which can promote a relaxed night.
• Put a few drops of Lavender or Neroli oil in a hot bath before bedtime.

Featured Products
Lavender Oil	Tisserand	9ml	0
Rescue Remedy Night Drops	Bach Flower Remedies	10ml
Rescue Night Spray	Bach Flower Remedies	20ml
Passiflora Complex Liquid	A. Vogel Bioforce	50ml
Valeriana Officinalis Valerian tincture	A. Vogel Bioforce	50ml
Coffea 6c	Weleda	125

HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY