For frequent travelers, it tends to become apparent pretty quickly that it’s important to travel with a few items to keep you healthy away from home and out of your regular routine. Indeed, if you do find yourself flying here and everywhere each season of the year, it’s most likely you’re doing so for work and that means you have to be on top form wherever you go; you can’t afford set-backs due to ill-health when your schedule’s bulging with business appointments and meetings all over the shop.
What’s needed then is a sensible, well-prepared medical kit, the core of which will be typical over-the-counter medication and, of course, any specific medication you might need for whatever reason. It’s worth pointing out, though, that when putting together your kit you should keep the pills in their original packs (instead of throwing them all together in, say, a small jar); otherwise you might confuse one tablet for another or even have them confiscated at customs – yes, really.
The essentials
- Antacid – likely to settle down an upset stomach
- Ibuprofen – a pain reliever that’s ideal for sore muscles, headaches, fever, sunburn and, because it’s anti-inflammatory, sore or pulled muscles
- Paracetamol – great for pain related to viruses and fevers, especially headaches; in many cases, you can also combine it with Ibuprofen
- Pseudoephedrine – excellent for congestion and sinus issues, although unfortunately it can only be obtained via prescription in some countries (so may be taken off you at customs)
- Plasters – simply don’t leave home without them; you’ll realise just how obligatory they are as soon as you suffer a stinging cut or painful graze that clothes rub against and make worse.
Be prepared for anything with a travel medical kit.
And what about?
- Supplements – it’s very easy to fall into the trap of not eating as well as you might or would like to when travelling regularly, but notwithstanding it’s important to keep up your vitamin and nutrient intake; you might wish to try B12 spray (a vitamin-rich natural alkaliser that may aid digestion and detoxification) and Green Magma UK (can help boost energy, improve sleep, reduce stress and increase immunity and mental alertness)
- Sunscreen – everybody’s free to wear it (as the tune goes); quite frankly, if you’re exposing your skin to the sun it’s essential to keep those powerful and very harmful UV rays off your skin
- Lip balm – believe it or not you can use some lip balms as something of a sunscreen substitute or even as hair product (if you’re really desperate); their intended use for aiding chapped lips caused by chilly climes or worsened by air-conditioned plane cabins, though, can be a lifesaver
- Loperamide – an antidiarrheal that can be highly useful when your gut disagrees with something, but be warned; always follow the label!
- Loratadine or cetirizine – good non-drowsy antihistamines for allergies to everything from pollen to dust to bug bites
- Diphenhydramine – need rest and a good night’s sleep? This anti-histamine can effectively act as natural sleeping pill.
Finally, you might also consider jotting down any of your significant medical history on a card and keep it in your medicine kit just in case you get properly ill – you can’t be too careful!
