Headaches, motion sickness, sunburns, bug bites and tummy troubles can find us anywhere in the world. And even if you’ve packed yourself a first-aid kit with a pill for everything and a band-aid for anything, if you ask around you might just find just the local panacea (or placebo) you need.
Brush up on some everyday remedies for minor ailments from around the world that you might want to add to your kit.
Disclaimer: This info is intended to be travel inspo, not medical advice. While it stems from plenty of adventures abroad, it’s no substitute for a doctor’s wisdom. Before making any health decisions, be sure to consult a healthcare professional who knows what’s best for you.
Use for: Motion sickness, fatigue, headache, bad energy.
You can’t go too far in Peru without spotting a bottle of agua de florida, which is stocked in markets and shops around the country. This eau de cologne is a zesty, aromatic blend of floral and citrus extracts with herbs like rosemary and lavender. Many locals swear by its restorative powers for, well, everything. Rub a small amount between your palms and inhale to help take the edge off headaches, motion sickness and even the effects of altitude or bad vibes.
Use for: Prevention of diarrhea and stomach upset.
While it takes guts to travel somewhere new, new places can also wreak havoc on those guts. In India, some travelers make their first order of business a tall glass of lassi when they arrive in the country. This yoghurt-based drink is packed with gut-friendly lactobacillus bacteria, and there’s some thought that ingesting a dose of local probiotics sets your gut up to successfully welcome all the other dishes and delicacies you’ll want to devour during your visit. In other countries, this approach can be taken with similar probiotic-packed snacks like kimchi, miso, labneh or sauerkraut.
Use for: Sinus congestion, motion sickness, headache, pollution.
If you find yourself congested in Thailand, a Thai nasal inhaler, aka yad om, might give you the breath of fresh air you need. They’re usually made with a mix of herbs and spices like cloves, mace, pomelo skin, cinnamon and cardamom soaked in a blend of menthol, eucalyptus and camphor oils (the same ingredients used in Vicks Vaporub). This mixture opens up congested sinuses with a single inhale, two, three, four and hold… and exhaaaale.
Use for: Prevention of altitude sickness, digestion, avoiding close-talkers.
High up in the Himalayas, garlic soup is a trekker’s soup of choice. Because it’s packed with antioxidants and improves blood flow and oxygenation, some feel it helps with minor effects of altitude. And if you’ve had a bit too much together-time on the trails, a bowl of piping hot garlic soup also gives you an impenetrable bubble of personal space. Keep in mind, if you’re feeling symptoms of altitude sickness, you should seek the assistance of a mountain guide, not a bowl of soup.
Use for: Minor wounds/burns, sore throat, toast.
While you can buy mānuka honey in many countries, its roots are in New Zealand. This wonder-honey comes from the flower nectar of mānuka trees, which bees collect and turn into a honey that is typically thicker and darker than regular honey. Mānuka is known for its antimicrobial properties, thanks to high concentrations of a unique compound not found in other types of honey. Studies have shown that, when applied to small wounds or burns, mānuka honey can fight minor bacterial infection and speed up healing.
Use for: Headache, fatigue, general wellbeing.
Mate (MAH-tay) is a hot, herbal, caffeinated drink served in a hollowed gourd (also called a mate) that pairs perfectly with a trek in Patagonia’s Tierra del Fuego. Not only can a cuppa mate give you a nice pick-me-up when your energy levels dip, it’s packed with antioxidants and vitamins B and C, which give your immune system a pick-me-up, too. Plus, mate is a drink best shared with mates often with one cup passed around a group.
Use for: Bug bites, splinters, slapstick comedy.
If you’ve packed a banana breakfast for a day out in the tropics, hang on to your peel, and not just for the compost pile. Some folks believe that rubbing the inside of a banana peel on your skin can help soothe itchy bug bites, splinters and minor rashes, thanks to a mix of anti-inflammatory natural oils and compounds. While avoiding bug bites in the first place is probably your best plan of attack, if you find yourself unprepared in mosquito season, swing by a fruit stand and treat yourself to a snack and a science experiment.
Disclaimer: This info is intended to be travel inspo, not medical advice. While it stems from plenty of adventures abroad, it’s no substitute for a doctor’s wisdom. Before making any health decisions, be sure to consult a healthcare professional who knows what’s best for you.
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Heather Kang is Intrepid Travel's global content manager and lives in the forest in Canada with her husband, two kids and two cats. She has visited over 35 countries, but still likes Canada the most.
