Start Packing: Travel Medicine Kit

Shona Witch Doctor in Zimbabwe

Once you have made sure you have all desired and required vaccinations for your upcoming trip, it is time to start packing your travel medicine kit. Below are three handy lists that I hope will help you complete your next packing endeavor.

Whether for SG Guatemala July 2010 or SG Ethiopia November 2010, this list applies to any trip to the developing world and remote places on our small planet.  Always visit the Centers for Disease Control website and enter your destination.  In addition, the CDC website has a search option to find a travel clinic near you.

‘The Traveler’s Medicine Cabinet’ by Dr. Richard Wenzel
Items that should be in every tourists first aid kit from Budget Travel Magazine
1. Antacid (Pepto Bismol, Pepcid Complete)
2. Bandages and First Aid Antibiotic Ointment  (Band-Aids, Nexcare, Neosporin, Polysporin, or Bacitracin)
3. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin)
4. Insect repellent with over 30% deet  (Ultrathon 34%, Ben’s 30% Deet)
5. Motion Sickness Remedy (Dramamine, Marezine, Hyland’s Motion Sickness-Homeopathic, Pepogest-natural, )
6. Anti-Diarrheal (Imodium, Pepto Bismol,
7.  Antihistamines or Allergy Medicine (Benadryl)
8. Sunscreen
9. Antibiotic (Zithromax, Cipro)
10. Anti-Inflamatory Cream (Cortaid, 1% Hydrocortisone Cream)

Some alternatives to the above list can be found at the terrific Vagabondish Travelzine.
‘The Traveller’s Medicine Cabinet’ by Robert Evans
1. Kratom- “an anti-depressant, analgesic, or a stimulant. It has immuno-stimulant properties and can also be used to treat diarrhea.”
2. Kava Kava- Acts as a numbing agent, also can treat social anxiety and stress.
3. Oil of Oregano- Combats intestinal parasites, fights the flu and colds, and relieves cramps.
4. Ginger Root- Treats nausea, diarrhea, and seasickness
5. Kanna- Robert Evans says Kanna is a “mood elevator and an anti-anxiety medication. It also works as an appetite suppressant, and can lead to tiredness and vivid dreaming. In other words, Kanna is the perfect pre-flight medication.”

And finally, here is what I carry in my kit:
-Psi Bands for motion sickness (I wear them on buses to prevent motion sickness), I also carry a small travel vial of Dramamine and Hyland’s Homeopathic Motion Sickness tabs.
-Ginger chews by either The Ginger People or Reed’s.  You can tell I am prone to motion sickness.
-Off-label versions of Advil (muscle soreness), aspirin (good for sunburns), and Aleve (headaches)
-Valerian Root tincture for adjusting to jet lag and time zone differences
-Band-aids in different sizes, a few alcohol swabs, Neosporin
-Benadryl
-Ben’s 30 Deet insect repellent
-Sunscreen for face, for lips, and another for body.  30-50 SPF, and always a sunhat and good sunglasses.
-Digestive enzymes
-Pepto Bismol travel size.  Not only for upset stomach but also to take before eating or drinking suspect food.  It can coat the stomach before a street food adventure and protect from mild bacteria invasions.
-Rehydration salts, and/or Gatorade and EmergenC packets
-Mini deodorent, toothpaste, dental floss, Q-tips, 2-in-1 mini shampoo
-Clean Well hand sanitizer it’s natural, and Wet Ones singles
-Travel pack tissues, I stash packs of tissues in every bag.
-Mini nail file, pack of matches, mini nail clippers and tweezers, collapsible hair brush
-Cipro
-Earplugs
-Red bull in the 3oz size for after a long haul flight

This year I am taking Robert Evans’ advice and bringing Kanna.  I took Klonopin on my long last flight which was to India and it made for very comfortable flying.  Kanna sounds fun and is natural! A great online store for all things mini and travel size is Minimus.biz.  If everything is mini in your pack you reduce baggage weight then you have left more room in your pack for gifts and mementos.

Please comment, add to this list your tried and true travel medicine kit items! Happy Packing!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 7th, 2010 at 8:07 am. It is filed under Getting Ready and tagged with travel medical kit, Traveler's medicine cabinet. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.