A Vacationer's First-Aid Kit

(Page 3 of 3)

June/July 2000
By Charles Dickson, Ph.D  
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COLD SEASON NEVER ENDS

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Just because you're on vacation doesn't mean that cold germs are also taking time off. Colds can hit you in the summer just as well as in winter - and nothing puts the damper on vacation fun faster. One of the best remedies for preventing colds or shortening their duration when they do strike is an herb called echinacea, more commonly known as coneflower. Echinacea comes from a variety of coneflower species and is sold in an array of forms, including liquids, gelcaps and hard capsules. The solid forms are the easiest to pack. The usually recommended dosage is two to eight capsules per day, but be sure to read and follow the label instructions for whatever form and brand you buy.

Unfortunately, coughs are as common to colds as mosquitoes are to hot summer nights. One of the best natural cough remedies is licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). Its sweet taste prompts you to swallow, and the act of swallowing can serve to suppress a cough. Some studies have shown that licorice may even dull the central cough reflex.

Bring some licorice powder along on your trips. You can brew it in a coffeemaker by placing the powder in the same place you'd put the coffee grounds. Drink several cups a day to suppress a cough. Alternatively, you can chew on the herb several times a day and swallow the juice. Incidentally, don't try to substitute the so-called "licorice sticks" you can buy in the candy section. Most of the candy stuff is merely licorice-flavored and has no real licorice content.

JUST PLAIN TIRED

Of all the afflictions you may have to face on your vacation, the worst one may be traveler's fatigue. If you find that you're simply too pooped to party, try a ginseng capsule, preferably containing 100 mg to 125 mg of the extract. Even better would be to start taking ginseng supplements in the weeks before you leave for vacation, as the herb can help to build up your energy ahead of time. After all, there'll be plenty of time to collapse in a rocking chair after you get back home.

So there you have it: a vacationer's first-aid kit using sim ple but effective remedies. Take it with you on your trip. It may just save your vacation from becoming more taxing than a day at the office.

Charles Dickson teaches college chemistry and is the authorof Investigations in Biological and Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CRC Press).

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