by Joni Owen, DC, FACO, CHom
Thanksgiving means different things to different people. In the U.S., it's a national holiday commemorating a feast held in 1621 by the immigrant Pilgrims and the native Wampanoag.
(Some would argue it was the beginning of the end for the latter.) Most people have grown up with a short prayer of thanks before a traditionally very social, very large meal, accompanied by massive quantities of drink. Hordes of people travel great distances to be with family and friends to share this holiday feeling.
Well-planned, natural solutions to potential health problems can help ensure an enjoyable holiday season for you and your patients.
Thanksgiving weekend is the greatest travel time in the U.S., with air, train, bus and personal automobile travel at an all-time high. In 2001, right after 9/11, about 15 percent of travelers (5.4 million people) still planned to fly commercially. More than four out of five travelers relied on a personal vehicle.
With these activities in mind, well-planned, natural solutions to possible illnesses and discomforts during this holiday weekend always are a good idea. Homeopathy offers compact, natural, acute solutions in the form of remedies, which are easy to pack in any size luggage. The remedies are easy to use, gentle and effective, given the right or indicated symptoms. As practitioners, we might suggest comprehensive, yet small travel homeopathic kits be added to the family first-aid box. These come with brief instructional user-guides. We also might suggest key remedies that may come in handy while spending quality time in far-away places or with the many friends we invite into our own homes.
Air and Car Travel: Soreness, achiness and possible jet-lag are greatly relieved by Arnica montana 30c. Also, a post-Thanksgiving rousing family activity such as football, hockey or roller skating by deconditioned participants might result in sprains, strains and exercise aches and pain. Again, think Arnica montana 30c.
Upper respiratory and gastrointestinal syndromes are common during the winter season and with air travel. Remedies which are commonly indicated are: Gelsemium sempervirens 30c (dull, achy, glassy-eyed, out-of-it flu symptoms); Kali bichromium 30c (negative thoughts, goopy or stringy yellow or green nasal discharge and possible cough); Kali carbonicum 30c (negative thoughts, extremely driven by duty, goopy or stringy yellow nasal discharge, possibly a deep chest cough, and waking between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.); and Rumex crispus 30c (low-spirited, disinclined to interact with surroundings, sticking, scraping feeling in the throat, dry throat with thick mucous).
Family stresses might include the loss of loved ones or family members not able to join in the festivities. This might be an acutely painful holiday when reminiscing about holidays past, and deep grief might surface. Natrum muriatricum 30c is a dependable grief remedy that can help ease and release old, silent grief. Ignatia amara 30c might be a better choice if greater moodiness and outbursts accompany the grief.
Upper respiratory and gastrointestinal syndromes are common during the winter season and with air travel. Remedies which are commonly indicated are: Gelsemium sempervirens 30c (dull, achy, glassy-eyed, out-of-it flu symptoms); Kali bichromium 30c (negative thoughts, goopy or stringy yellow or green nasal discharge and possible cough); Kali carbonicum 30c (negative thoughts, extremely driven by duty, goopy or stringy yellow nasal discharge, possibly a deep chest cough, and waking between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.); and Rumex crispus 30c (low-spirited, disinclined to interact with surroundings, sticking, scraping feeling in the throat, dry throat with thick mucous).
Overdoing it on all fronts is a given for many. Some limit their indulgence to food or drink. Overeating, with resulting stomach and intestinal upsets, even a "food poisoning" feeling might benefit from Arsenicum album 30c. Also, diarrhea and anxiety may benefit greatly from this well-known homeopathic remedy.
Overworking to meet pre-Thanksgiving deadlines, with resulting "pushing oneself" irritability, overdrinking or general excessive behavior, might benefit from Nux vomica 30c. This remedy also might double as a "hangover remedy."
Common ways of taking homeopathic remedies are one to five pellets (one dose) either hourly, or three to five times per day for a short two to three day limit. I also have found benefit from taking several pellets and placing them in a small water bottle, dissolving and then vigorously shaking before each "dose" or hourly sip from the bottle. It depends on the likes/dislikes of the person taking the remedies and the convenience of the method.
Whatever you and your patients are doing, and wherever they are going, homeopathic travel remedies might help ease any holiday suffering and enhance the warm feelings and enjoyment of loving time spent with family and friends.