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Essential expat health kit
Fear
of flying
For the one in six adults who have a phobia about
flying, a three-hour flight can seem never-ending, and worrying
about the flight home can ruin a holiday. Sedonium contains
300 mg of the standardised LI-156 extract of dried valerian
root, which has been shown in research to reduce feelings of
stress and improve sleep quality, leaving you relaxed and refreshed.
It has recently been approved by the MCA as a pharmacy-only
medicine, available from your pharmacist costing about £5.99
for a pack of 30 tablets.
Travel sickness
Travel sickness can spoil your fun before you’ve
even got there. Conventional remedies often cause drowsiness,
but with natural alternative ginger, you won’t set off
on the wrong foot. Historically used to treat stomach complaints,
recent clinical trials have revealed that the active constituents
of the ginger root, gingerols and shogaols, may have anti-nausea
and anti-vomiting effects. Helping to rebalance the gastric
juices, ginger soothes the stomach and can be used to maintain
a healthy digestion. Ginger is available in capsule form from
pharmacies and health-food shops. To maintain a healthy digestion,
the recommended daily dose is one capsule, which can be taken
at mealtimes or prepared as a tea.
Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT)
Most long-haul passengers are aware of the dangers
of deep-vein thrombosis and ways to avoid it, but a recent study
of travellers between Stansted and Italy uncovered the frightening
fact that blood clots can develop in the first two to three
hours of a flight. A separate survey carried out by the Aviation
Health Institute found that out of 85 DVT-related deaths in
the last three years, one in five occurred after a short-haul
flight. People considered to be at high risk include those with
previous incidences of thrombosis, blood-clotting problems,
circulatory problems in the legs or significant weight problems.
“Air-travel-related DVT is a silent killer and all passengers
are at risk whether they fly in sleeping beds or economy,”
said Farrol Kahn, director of the Aviation Health Institute.
“However, the preventive measures are simple. Wear flight
socks and-take ginkgo biloba to encourage circulation.”
Ginkgo biloba improves blood flow to peripheral blood vessels
and has been used for centuries in the treatment of poor circulation,
varicose veins and thrombosis. Ginkgo Concentrated, from Lichtwer
Pharma, is the only scientifically researched standardised 120
mg ginkgo biloba supplement available in the UK.
Insect bites
Creating your own mosquito repellents is a safe and
effective alternative to commercial repellents. The most frequently
used natural mosquito repellent is citronella essential oil,
which is extracted from the plant Cymbopagon nardus and has
a pleasant citrus-like aroma.
Upset tummy
Overindulgence in sangria, exotic cocktails and foreign
food can leave us dehydrated and nursing an upset stomach. This
summer, don’t forget to pack Cynara Artichoke supplement
to help avoid a holiday hangover, so you can enjoy the sunshine
instead of seeking the shade! Cynara Artichoke is made from
a standardised extract of dried artichoke (LI-120) and its unique
active ingredient, Cynarin, aids the digestive process by stimulating
the production of bile and breaking down and eliminating fatty
foods and alcohol from the body. Take one or two capsules daily
to help maintain a healthy digestive system, or take up to six
capsules during times of over-indulgence for fast-acting relief
from bloating and other symptoms of over-eating and drinking.
Alternatively try Silicol Gel, a silica supplement that is rapidly
absorbed into the stomach lining, helping to maintain digestive
comfort and regularity. Just one spoonful of Silicol Gel forms
a soothing coat over the lining of the stomach and intestines.
Silicol Gel binds and safely removes toxins and irritants from
the gut. The best news is that unlike may other medicines, Silicol
Gel has no side-effects, so you are free to enjoy your holiday
to the full! For further information please visit www.silicol.com.
Summer colds
Whilst most people are on red-alert for colds in winter,
summer colds often slip through the net and nobody wants to
take tissues to the beach! Recent research has confirmed garlic’s
beneficial role in preventing colds and flu as well as secondary
infections. Through modern scientific study, garlic has been
found to possess antiseptic, antibiotic and antiviral qualities.
Try Lichtwer Pharma’s Kwai Garlic Once-a-Day concentrated
garlic tablets. If you are not able to prevent catching a summer
cold, try Vitamin C and zinc lozenges, which coat the membranes
of the mouth and throat, helping to fight and reduce the duration
of infection.
Holiday drinking
Milk thistle supports the liver by preventing the
depletion of glutathione, an amino acid-like compound that is
essential in aiding the body’s ability to destroy toxins
and environmental pollutants. Milk thistle also acts as a powerful
antioxidant and helps to prevent damage from free-radicals.
In addition, research has shown that milk thistle promotes the
regeneration of healthy new liver cells, which replace old and
damaged ones, thus maintaining healthy liver function. Taking
one or two tablets daily before your holiday helps ensure the
liver is in tip-top form before the barrage of excessive booze;
when your liver is likely to be exposed to more toxins during
your holiday, two tablets can be taken daily. Water and other
drinks
If in doubt, the number-one rule is don’t drink the water,
and that includes ice. If you don’t know for certain that
the water is safe, always assume the worst. Reputable brands
of bottled water or soft drinks are generally fine, although
in some places bottles refilled with tap water are not unknown.
Only use water from containers with a serrated seal –
not tops or corks. Take care with fruit juice, particularly
if water may have been added. Milk should be treated with suspicion,
as it is often unpasteurised. Boiled milk is fine if it is kept
hygienically, and yoghurt is always good. Tea or coffee should
also be OK, since the water should have been boiled. Remember
to clean your teeth with purified water rather than straight
from the tap.
Finally…
Care in what you eat and drink is the most important
health rule; stomach upsets are the most likely travel health
problem (between 30 and 50 per cent of travellers in a two-week
stay experience this), but the majority of these upsets will
be relatively minor. Don’t become paranoid; after all,
trying the local food is part of the experience of travel.
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