Tomatoes, cinnamon, avocados: Make the most of nature's medicine cabinet
DON'T let insect bites, sunburn, nausea and an upset tummy ruin your annual break. These 10 natural healers will ensure a happy and healthy holiday.
Ginger and honey have long been used to help alleviate the symptoms of coughs and colds but you might be more surprised to hear that Coco-Cola is also a "natural" healer.
The fizzy soft drink can take the pain out of wasps stings, while tomatoes can reduce the swelling and itching of insect bites, according to pharmacist and Silver Travel Advisor writer Dave Harcombe.
Ordinary foods such as these can be a life-saving medical aid and can be particularly useful when you are travelling and away from your medicine cabinet.
Simple, natural and inexpensive ingredients such avocados and salt can be used to treat many conditions you might experience on your holidays.
“It’s well worth knowing some of the healing properties of common foods when travelling," said Dave Harcombe.
"Conventional medicines aren’t always available, pharmacies may be closed when you need them, labels may be written in an unfamiliar language, prescriptive quantities can be ambiguous and quite often nature has a ready, freely available remedy that will bridge the gap until more conventional aid can be found."
Here are the top 10 natural medicines on the move:
COCA COLA: Takes the sting out of wasps
Globally available, Coca-Cola can be used to take the pain out of a wasp sting but should never be used on a bee sting.
Cola contains phosphoric acid, which counters an alkaline wasp sting whereas bee stings are acidic and have no effect.
TOMATOES: Ease insect bites and neutralise odour
Tomatoes are invaluable travel companions. To stop itching and swelling, slice and apply raw tomato to insect bites.
If hair takes on a tinge of green after swimming in a chlorine laden pool, comb tomato sauce through it. Adding two cups of tomato juice to a warm bath helps neutralise body odour from excess perspiration, especially in hot climates.
Sit in the tomato infused water for 15 to 20 minutes and you’ll be ready to face the heat again.
VINEGAR: Add salt to calm jellyfish stings
The pain of jellyfish stings can be alleviated immediately by dousing the area with vinegar and rinsing with salt water (the sea will do).
Remove tentacles by scraping them off with a sea-shell or credit card and apply a cold compress. Never rinse stings with alcohol or fresh water because the pain and stinging will get worse.
BANANAS: The stressed traveller’s best friend
To counteract anxiety caused by airport queues, flight delays and general travel stresses, bite on a banana.
This happy fruit’s 105 calories and 14g of sugar provides a mild blood sugar boost which helps the brain produce mellowing serotonin.
SALT: Oust your ulcer
Raid the condiment pots in hotels and restaurants or pick up a salt on the plane, and apply it directly to mouth ulcers.
It will sting at first but the soreness of the ulcer fades like magic. Alternatively if a glass of water and a sink are at hand, regular saltwater mouth washes have the same effect.
YOGURT: Tame tummy trouble
Yogurt is one of the greatest and healthiest food aids. It’s an antibiotic, an immunity booster and helps clear up travellers’ diarrhoea, it also soothes ulcers and rids women of yeast infections.
Check the label first to make sure it contains a live acidophilus culture.
CINNAMON: Blast bugs
Found naturally throughout Asia and the Far East and in supermarkets worldwide, cinnamon has an antimicrobial action and can quickly settle nausea and upset stomachs.
Eat it in stews, on toast, in desserts and teas and a daily does will keep the doctor away.
COFFEE: Aromatic insect repellent
Apply a lit match to a small container of ground coffee to keep wasps away. Just a couple of teaspoons on a saucer or small dish will smoulder for hours, it’s cheap to top up and even if the wasps persist, it smells nice.
AVOCADOS: Alternative sunblock
For an emergency sunscreen, slice open an avocado. This oil-rich, nutrient rich and delicious fruit offers rapid skin penetration which quickly protects, softens and soothes the skin.
Even when the sun is behind the clouds, or a more conventional sunscreen is at hand, apply as a skin moisturiser, cleansing cream, make-up base, bath oil, and hair conditioner.
GINGER: Soothe sore throats
A cold or sore throat is a miserable holiday companion.
Infuse a mug of boiled water with ginger to create a fast and simple cure for sore throats, especially if caught in a monsoon or on the promenade on a wet afternoon in Bognor.
Ginger can also be taken to suppress nausea and alleviate motion sickness.
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