hit the road, jack - homeopathic remedies - Brief Article

No doubt travel, be it cycling through Europe, camping in national parks or visiting Grandma and Grandpa down on the farm, broadens one's horizons. Unfortunately, it can also sicken the stomach and exhaust the body. Airplane food and air, and trying to sleep in a locked, upright position can screw up delicate body systems. Add to that the anticipation, excitement or anxiety about the trip--not to mention funky water--and you're a prime candidate for gastric upset, headache, cold symptoms and jet lag.

But these conditions should not deter you from your travels, nor are they inevitable. For the mild nuisances mentioned above, homeopathic remedies are gentle enough to put you back in the saddle--without the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs.

Homeopathy is based on the Hippocratic principle of similars, meaning it treats disease and dysfunction with a highly diluted dose of the same substance that would, in a much larger dose, cause the condition. Remedies are typically sold in 6, 12 and 30 X and C potencies. Use 30C potency for all remedies below and follow label directions for frequency. Do not touch the pellets with your hand; gently shake them into the bottle cap and pour under the tongue and let dissolve. Avoid eating or drinking anything 15 minutes before or after taking a remedy, and, for best results, skip caffeine and mint (including toothpaste and floss) while taking them. Because homeopathy treats the whole person and not just the symptoms, it's always best to consult a homeopath for acute or chronic conditions.

Contributors to this month's column are David Kramer, M.Ed., a homeopath in New York City and Westchester County, N.Y., and founder of the Hudson Valley School of Homeopathy; and Dana Ullman, M.P.H., author of several books, including The Consumer's Guide to Homeopathy (Jeremy Tarcher/Putnam, 1996), and founder of Homeopathic Educational Services in Berkeley, Calif.

Condition        Symptoms                   Remedy

Constipation     Hard, dry stools;          Alumina
                 loss of appetite           Lycopodium
                                            Nux vomica

Fear of flying   Anxiety, lack of           Aconite
                 concentration, sweating,   Argentum nitricum
                 breathlessness, heart      Arsenicum
                 palpitations

Jet lag          Fatigue, sleeplessness,    Arnica
                 sluggish body functions    Cocculus
                                            Gelsemium

Montezuma's      Stomach pain, loose        Aloe (not the herb)
revenge (or      stools, cramps, nausea     Arsenicum
traveler's                                  Podophyllum
diarrhea)

Sea or air       Nausea, vomiting,          Cocculus
sickness         dizziness, headache        Nux vomica
                                            Tabacum

Condition        Dosage(*) (use 30C for all remedies listed)

Constipation     3 - 5 pellets, 3 - 4x/day, starting at first
                 sign of trouble. If you know you're
                 susceptible, start the day before you get to
                 destination

Fear of flying   3 - 5 pellets, 3 - 4x/day, starting at the
                 first sign of anxiety and continuing until
                 end of flight

Jet lag          3 - 5 pellets, 3 - 4x/day, starting the day
                 before travel and continuing through the day
                 after you arrive at destination

Montezuma's      3 - 5 pellets, 3 - 4x/day, starting at first
revenge (or      sign of trouble. If you know you're
traveler's       susceptible, start the day before you get
diarrhea)        to destination

Sea or air       3 - 5 pellets, 3 - 4x/day, starting about
sickness         an hour before trip and continuing as needed

(*) Note: Dosages given are recommendations only; check with your health care professional before using any herbal or homeopathic supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing or taking prescription drugs.

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