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I'm
not selling any of these products, this is only a collection of impressions
about some of the things I have traveled with, or plan to travel with.
As I use them, I will add updates. Remember that not all items are appropriate
for all travels, and the importance of packing light cannot be overstated:
when in doubt, leave it out! Where practical, I have added
links to manufacturers or retailers for anyone who wants more information.
Text
in GREEN has been added since my latest trip.
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Lots
of people swear by these for easing the transition to new time
zones...I can only say that I used them myself and did not
experience any major difficulty adjusting to Italy time. They're homeopathic,
so no side effects to worry about, either. On
this last trip, I amazed my host by adjusting nearly seamlessly from
San Francisco to London time -- but I think a good part of my
secret is not sleeping at all the night before departure.
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To
read their web site, you'd think they had discovered a miracle cure-all
(or at least cure-most). While the claims may be optimistic, it seems
clear that this grapefruit seed extract does have anti-bacterial
properties that could prove useful on the road.
Fortunately for me, I never got sick enough to use these on the last
trip. Well, there's always next time...
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We're all very familiar with antibiotics, but what's a PRObiotic? Well,
its a supplement to increase the "good" bacteria in
your system... according to the company, they've been shown
to " stimulate immune response and suppress intestinal pathogens...
[and] help reduce spoilage caused by undesirable bacteria in cultured
dairy products." What this means is they could be a help to a digestive
system overtaxed by unfamiliar (and possibly unclean) food. Didn't
need these on my last trip, fortunately.
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Just
three little drops promise to do away with water-borne bacteria
and parasites, as well as offer protection against food-borne
illness. While not a guarantee I won't get sick, it does provide some
insurance in problem areas. I used this a few
times in my drinking water, and it left quite a bitter taste. Did it
protect me from some terrible fate? Without a double-blind test with
a control group, it's impossible to say. Where the risk is relatively
low, I think there's no harm done. Where the risk is higher,
I'd use the time-tested, proven treatment: iodine tablets.
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Ginger
Nature's
Way |
I know these are great for preventing
motion sickness (my kayak instructors and friends all swear
by them). I've also read that ginger is good for the immune and digestive
systems. It's best to take them before
you need them... if you're hung over on a tour bus on winding
Scottish backroads, it's probably too late for anything except rolling
down the window.
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Motion
Sickness Tablets |
These
are the big guns, if gentler ginger pills fail to provide
adequate relief. I was very glad to have these
on my 19-1/2 hour exodus from Ireland to France on the ferry.
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This
eucalyptus-intensive ointment is nice to have when
the rigors of travel take their toll on my hard working body. The manufacturers
claim it relieves not only muscle soreness, but also itching from mosquito
bites, pain from tension headaches, and flatulence. Packed
away in my medical kit, I rarely thought to use it, although I was often
quite sore from so much walking.
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This
remedy came highly recommended for natural relief of muscle pain and
soreness from overexertion. As far as
I could tell, these had no effect when I used them to relieve
muscle soreness, but I'd be very glad to know if anyone has had more
success with this, or any other, muscle pain relief aid.
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Skin
Ointment
Bag
Balm |
I haven't found anything more effective for cracked,
dry skin, especially on hands and feet, and a little goes a long way.
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Men's
Health magazine says this is the only thing that really works against
athlete's foot fungus. Shared showers are a great place
to pick up these unpleasant beasties, so I pack a small tube for insurance.
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For
the emergency dental kit, it can be used to cover the
jagged edge of a broken tooth.
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Oil
of cloves, cotton pellets and a little tweezers, all I will need for
emergency treatment of pain from a broken tooth or lost filling. There
seems to be some controversy about use of clove oil, and the possibility
of resulting nerve damage... check with your dentist before you pack
this.
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Emergency
Dental Filling
Dentemp O.S. |
Temporarily replace lost fillings or secure loose crowns...the
tiny vial is cheap and easy insurance in case of dental disasters.
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Saline
Spray
Ayr |
But a shot of this feels nice and refreshing, and helps keep those
germs at bay.
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Saline
Gel
Ayr |
Anyone
who flies knows that plane air is dry air, and spending much time
in the air dries out one's nose. This is a problem not just because
it's uncomfortable, but also because when nasal membranes dry out,
they're less able to fend off airborne infectious agents that cheerfully
re-circulate throughout the cabin. Similar
to saline spray, but more compact and concentrated, this gel dries
out less quickly. This is good for people
who don't want to be spraying something up their nose every half hour
or so. Duck behind your in-flight magazine, dab a little inside each
nostril, and breathe more comfortably for hours.
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Cold
Preventative
Airborne |
I first saw this in Italy, where globetrotting backpackers were swearing
by it for preventing colds from germ-laden re circulated air on planes.
It contains a megadose of vitamin C, as well as other vitamins, minerals
and herbs to support immune functions.
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Staying healthy on the road is a top priority.
Emer'gen-C comes in handy little single-serving packets that you mix
with water, and delivers a potent dose of C and other good things.
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Disposable Thermometers
Vicks
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Flight
regulations prohibit mercury thermometers (did you know this--I
didn't know this) and glass and mercury are not the best things to carry
around anyway. So enter the amazing technology of these tiny, light
and apparently accurate and easy to read disposable thermometers.
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First
Aid Kit
Atwater
Carey |
The Wilderness Medicine Pro 1.0 model is a good
basic choice, but I will be adding a few things (like an oral thermometer)
and subtracting some of the things (latex gloves, large bandages) I
hope I won't need when I'm in mostly first-world conditions.
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Suture
& Syringe Kit
Adventure
Medical Kits |
Suture/Syringe Medic, something I can take to developing countries
where sterile suplies might not be available. Not
needed on my Europe leg, but will be going with me to some more rustic
areas.
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Staying
Healthy in Asia, Africa, and Latin America
Dirk
G. Schroeder |
Recommended reference material for all the scary
diseases that it's possible to contract. This book will make you paranoid.
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LIZ'S
TOP PICKS - EQUIPMENT
- ELECTRONICS - CLOTHING
- PERSONAL CARE - HEALTH - SUPPLIES
- LEFT BEHIND
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