Natural Medicine Travel Kit Guide
A handy and healthy guide for your travels and at-home use!
stay Balanced
Yoga philosophy teaches us that we have three bodies: the physical body, causal body, and astral body which are all interconnected and make up the five koshas (sheaths or layers). Purifying these three bodies and taking care of each one through various practices are fundamental to reveal our True Nature and offer ourselves the most conducive conditioning for spiritual awakening.
The physical body is the grossest or densest body. One factor of the physical body is that it is composed of the five great elements (Pancha Maha Bhutas): earth, water, fire, air, and ether (space).
Ayurveda and the five elements
Ayurveda, the world’s oldest healing system and referred to as the “science of life,” shares that the five great elements are the building blocks for the material world, and that everything in existence is a combination of these five elements.
Ayurveda offers us a wealth of information emphasizing how to balance our bodies through health and lifestyle choices dependent on our Dosha, which is our unique elemental constitution based on the five elements. The doshas are a wonderful tool for recognizing and correcting any imbalances within our systems.
Ayurveda offers us a wealth of information emphasizing how to balance our bodies through health and lifestyle choices dependent on our Dosha, which is our unique elemental constitution based on the five elements. The doshas are a wonderful tool for recognizing and correcting any imbalances within our systems.
Not sure what your ayurvedic constituion is?
- Am I Vata (Space & Air)? 17%
- Am I Pitta (Fire & Water)? 63%
- Am I Kapha (Water & Earth)? 20%
Note that going to an Ayurvedic doctor is still the best person to assess and determine your Dosha.
There are many factors that can change one’s constitution from a balanced state.
Making conscious and intuitive decisions to live in accordance with what pacifies our Dosha is a positive way to prevent imbalance, illness, or dis-ease in the body. However, there are certain moments in our life where our immune system may be weakened or our health may be compromised when we are experiencing an imbalance.
Travel is often a catalyst for a suppressed immune system as we are exposed to many different people, recycled air, new bacteria, and new environments. We are experiencing massive shifts not only externally, but also internally as we are exposed to different energies, and our body’s natural rhythms are disrupted, especially when crossing time zones.
It is vital to ensure we have on-hand go-to remedies and natural, alternative solutions for our health when we are traveling so that the physical body can remain strong and healthy, without coming into contact with chemicals and toxins, and our three bodies can embody its natural balance.
To assist in making your future travels as comfortable, smooth and graceful as possible, we have put together a Natural Medicine Travel Kit Guide for your optimal health and balance!
Utilizing the resources Mother Earth so abundantly provides us with has been the approach of Ayurveda for thousands of years. You will find Ayurvedic herbs intertwined within the guide, as well as a few modern day remedies. If you find that there is more than one remedy for a specific issue, we recommend choosing in accordance with your Dosha!
be mindful while traveling
When we are traveling we can often feel a greater dominance of the Vata Dosha, the quality of air and space. Amidst traveling through the air and amongst the hustle and bustle of fellow travellers, we may feel a bit floaty, spacey or anxious during travels. We may experience bloating, constipation, or perhaps even dryness of the skin and mouth.
Grounding practices and foods are recommended as a way to pacify the air and space quality. Nourishing and cooked organic soups, stews, simple rice or dal dishes are great food options while traveling. Increasing our meditation time and practicing yoga nidra are incredibly helpful practices, as well as staying hydrated with plenty of purified water and Ayurvedic herbal teas.
Here are our favorite travel essentials!
Manage the different imbalances that may come up during your travels.
Oil Of Oregano
Properties include: antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and cancer suppressing.
This powerhouse may be used for a multitude of things, such as, indigestion, gastrointestinal illnesses, parasites, respiratory illnesses, bacterial infections, bacteria-related skin diseases, and inflammation.
Oregano is recommended to be taken internally with a vegetable capsule with 3-4 drops of the oil twice daily for no longer than 10 days. You may also use it topically diluted with fractionated coconut oil and applied to the bottoms of the feet.
Grape Seed Extract (GSE)
Properties include: anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and improves cardiovascular health.
GSE may be used for fungal infections, protecting against pathogens, poor circulation, swelling, high cholesterol, and nerve damage.
Tea tree (melaleuca) essential oil
Properties include: antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anti-fungal.
Tea Tree may be used as antiseptic for minor cuts, wounds and scrapes, to soothe skin from inflammation, bug bites or stings, toothache or mouth infection, sore throat, or ear infection.
Apply topically to the affected area after cleaning. If you have sensitive skin, use Fractionated Coconut Oil to dilute the oil.
activated charcoal
Properties include: antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and detoxifying.
Activated Charcoal may be used for food poisoning, diarrhea, intestinal gas and bloating, skin clearing, kidney health and function, and detoxifying the body.
Activated charcoal may be taken by tablet or powder.
coriander seed
Properties include: anti-fungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, protective against infections, and digestive boosting.
Coriander seed may be used for digestion, nausea, diarrhea, intestinal gas, worms, joint pain, regulating cholesterol, cold and flus, improving lung function, boosting brain health, and aiding diabetes.
Use coriander seeds by soaking 2 tsp overnight and drinking its water, or add it to tea, or cook with it.
ginger
Properties include: anti-inflammatory, supports cardiovascular health, improves digestion, relieves migraines, anti-carcinogenic, and antibacterial.
Ginger can be used for upset stomach, nausea, colds, coughs, flu, relieving pain and inflammation, muscle soreness, and reducing menstrual cramps.
You may wish to use the essential oil internally in vegetable capsules, tea, or hot water. It will have the highest potency with internal use. Alternatively, you may incorporate fresh ginger root into your food or teas, or purchase candied ginger, ginger drops, or crystallized ginger.
tulsi tea (holy basil)
Properties include: anti-microbial, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-diarrheal, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardio-protective, anti-diabetic, boosts brain health, and calms the nervous system.
Tulsi is a potent adaptogen used for bronchitis, coughs, colds, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, eczema, stomach ulcers, insect bites, and anxiety.
Tulsi is available in capsules, tinctures, powders, and as an herbal tea.
additional favorites
digestive aid
Black pepper, cumin seeds, fennel seeds.
constipation relief
Castor oil, dates or plums, raw apple cider vinegar.
food poisoning or stomach pain
Cardamom powder.
burns or rashes
Aloe vera gel.
external skin problems
Turmeric or neem oil.
tooth and gum problems
Clove oil.
May we all feel empowered to take care of ourselves, maintain balance in our health, and our life as we continue to purify our minds and bodies, open our hearts, and experience the freedom that is our Truth and Love!
Make your next trip to bali!
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