Photo: film_fatale

Sometimes it’s the local water supply. Often it’s the result of a chatty all night smoking/drinking binge. Or it could be just one too many dairy or baked treats, coffee, anxiety or simply failing to properly hydrate ourselves.

Whatever the cause, gastrointestinal upset including heartburn, gas, cramps, headache, nausea and sluggishness are always a part of traveling. In my experiences I have come across several widely available herbal alternatives to antacids and alka seltzer which can be used to negate these effects, making you and your accomplices happy.

A small kit will only add ounces to your bag. Consider some of the following:

Peppermint

Photo: tillwe

Pepermint (Mentha x spicata) is native to Europe and is an excellent digestive antispasmodic (relaxant) soothing the nerves upon scent relieving nausea and freshening the breath.

In lieu of proper bags, an infusion of one ounce herb to eight or so ounces of boiled water can be steeped in just a few minutes. The Mint (Lamiaceae) Family in general contains many plants good for the innards (Oregano, Thyme, Sage, etc.).

Licorice

Native to southern Europe and W. Asia, Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is often added to many herbal tea mixtures in the form of powdered root to add sweetness and body to the infusion.

Often it is available whole in twig-like root stalks that can be gnawed on for the hell of it with pretty girls or boiled in water for fifteen or so minutes to create a tea that soothes heartburn and relieves gas.

Chopped, it can be infused in a wire mesh steeper on a cup by cup basis in half the time. Licorice mixes well with Peppermint.

Ginger

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is native to Asia and familiar as the gnarled golden roots in produce sections of grocery stores everywhere. I used to take home a half a kilo of crystallized ginger per week when I sold supplements at a health foods store in Cincinnati and would eat ten to twenty chunks at a time, perhaps an acquired taste.

An icy hot tea can be decocted (boiled) from chopped, fresh root in about twenty minutes and works wonders for nausea and motion sickness. Drying it first is ideal, but far more time consuming.

Coca

Photo:audrey_sel

I became wise to the delights of Coca (Erythroxylum coca) herb several years back on a trip to Peru. Immediately out of the airport in Cusco, several women approached with two to three ounce baggies of dried leaf.

Although traditionally chewed fresh with a bit of slaked lime (Calcium hydroxide) to enhance absorption, I utilized it in hot tea form drinking several cups a day, offsetting the worst and preventing rough Pisco hangovers all the while staying hydrated. Coca has a mild “planty” taste and is just fine at room temperature. It is super effective in treating he debilitating headaches and nausea of altitude sickness.

Other Herbs

While those are my favorites, several more options remain available. Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) with it’s light apple scent, is great as an all around soothing tea.

Individual Clove buds (Syzigium aromaticum) can be worked inside the mouth as a breath freshener and tooth ache reliever or delivered as an infusion for the innards.

Anise (Pimpinella anisum), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and Caraway seed (Carum carvi) are all of the same botanical family (Apiaceae) used in many gin, liquor and baking recipes (And no, copious amounts of Raki, Ouzo or Absinthe will not endear your belly to you further). All have tastes reminiscent of Licorice with broad digestive benefits attainable via chewing or steeping the crushed seeds.

Or consider the following plants to relieve indigestion…. Bananas (Musa sp.[technically the largest herbaceous plant]) replenish potassium electrolytes after a bout of diarrhea and vomiting.

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) provides the highly effective protein-digesting enzyme bromelain which contributes to calm stomachs and friendlier smelling dorm rooms.

Where / How to Find Herbs / Herbal Supplements

Herbal Supplements can be purchased (regulated by the FDA in the United States and Commission E in Germany) in bulk or, tablet, capsule and tincture form, although absorption rates will differ with the later three.

Due to pretty packaging and processing they tend to be more expensive and harder to find in whatever godforsaken (Edenesque) hell hole you may find yourself, therefore I don’t recommend them.

What I do recommend is determining your degree of allergy and potential side effects with whatever prescription medications you might be taking then hitting up the local grocer. Keep in mind several cups of tea are often needed to feel the full medicinal effects, and hot water increases absorption.

Also, don’t neglect your sense of smell, which will capture the stray volatiles as you gulp away. I have found that a cup or two with meals and a couple hours before or after works best as a preventative with the strength of my doses varying with mood, hunger or availability.

Honey is an excellent additive for it’s sweetening, antimicrobial and throat soothing effects. Don’t forget the cold showers, steam baths, ambient music, companionship or complete silence as compliments to your need to feel better.

And next time you find yourself in a far off market perusing bins and bushels of colorful and fragrant herbs, don’t hesitate to haggle a purchase, before the party starts.

Photo: Zara

“She won’t get out of bed,” Fatima said to me worriedly, in French. I was a month into a trip through Morocco, and Fatima had picked me up in a train station and brought me home along with a few other backpackers. Carmen, the girl in bed, had been there for a month.

Carmen was fine when she arrived from the bus stop like the rest of us, but after a week at Fatima’s, she stopped going out as much. Then she stopped going out at all. She stayed inside the house, then inside her room, and finally, in her bed.

Nobody had spoken to her, although several people tried. First she was there, and then she wasn’t, like she’d been kidnapped out from behind her own eyes without anyone noticing.

What is Clinical Depression?

Photo: Bandita

Nobody knows quite where clinical depression comes from; like the proverbial thief in the night, it sneaks in and takes your sense of humor, your motivation, and sometimes, your ability to get up in the morning. The prevailing theory is that it’s genetic in nature, meaning that if an immediate family member has it, you might too.

Having depressive symptoms doesn’t mean that you’re about to leap from the Golden Gate Bridge; it might mean that you’re suffering from a milder form of depression. Also, most depressive disorders can come and go; while someone may never be completely healthy, they will usually have good periods and bad periods. These variations are more similar to a cancer and remission than everyday “ups and downs.”

It’s important to stress that depression is not just “being sad.” You can’t “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” and just get over it; it’s a serious illness. It requires treatment, which should be supervised by a doctor. Being depressed can be debilitating, but most people with milder depression can work, parent, and also travel.

Depression and Travel

Photo: MeAndTheSysop

If you’re already aware that you have a mood disorder, and still want to travel, there are several things to consider. First, if you’re taking a medication, make sure you have enough of your prescription to last the length of your trip.

Tell your doctor how long you’ll be away, and she may give you a larger-than-usual refill. She may prefer to give you several refill scrips that you can have filled at pharmacies wherever you are. Remember to have her list both the name-brand and generic versions of the drug. In some countries, medications that are only available by prescription in the United States can be purchased over the counter.

It’s very important to note that not all countries have pharmacies outside large cities; if you’re visiting Thailand, the quality of medical care decreases dramatically outside of Bangkok. If you’re going somewhere out-of-the-way or your doctor won’t give you refill scrips, consider making your trip shorter.

It’s better to come back a little early than run out of medication abroad. However, if you lose or run out of your medication while traveling, you may be able to get refills from a drop-in clinic. Provide a copy of your original prescription (you did photocopy your prescription to carry with you, right?).

If they won’t dispense it or don’t understand, go to an emergency room. This may seem over-the-top, but unless you’re heading home in the next day or two, it’s pretty darn important to keep your medication dosage correct: abruptly stopping any kind of drug can lead to serious withdrawal symptoms, and you don’t want to be stuck getting sick again when you can avoid it.

If you’ll be somewhere unusually warm, ask about storing your medication in a refrigerator, or at least, keep it out of direct sunlight. Check the drug insert or ask your pharmacist about how temperature affects your medications.

If you’re not on medication for your disorder, then make sure you feel comfortable with whatever treatment plan you’ve drawn up. If you plan to write in a journal every day, or have Skype conferences with your psychologist, do it. You might consider setting up regular check-ins with someone who knows you well, so you have an external perspective on how you’re doing. You might not be aware of symptoms creeping back in until the evil spirits are in full force.

Recognizing Depression on the Road

Photo: r.f.m.II

So what if you’re already traveling and you start to show symptoms of depression? The onset of depression can occur at any time, although women have a significantly higher risk than men.

Some symptoms to watch for are:

• feeling sluggish or unmotivated
• losing interest in things you previously enjoyed
• feeling hopeless
• crying
• trouble sleeping
• irritability and restlessness

Having any of these things isn’t a sign you should go rushing to a doctor, but having lots of them, or if they last for longer than a week or two, might need some more investigation.

Dealing with Depression on the Road

The first thing to check is whether you are physically sick. Some illnesses have the same symptoms as depression. Second, consider what you’re putting into your body, including recreational drugs. Larium, a commonly prescribed anti-malarial treatment, lists “hopelessness and permanent depression” in its side effects.

Remember that you may be in danger if you go OFF a drug as well; being unprotected for malaria in a mosquito-infested region is hardly optimal. The best-case scenario is not taking drugs that can cause these symptoms in the first place. Do some research and make an informed decision.

If you think your depression is unrelated to other medications or illness, try to see a counselor or other health professional. Ask in the ex-pat community if anyone has doctor recommendations. If you’re in a place where English isn’t commonly spoken, seek out organizations like Amnesty International or the Planned Parenthood Federation; they often have English-speakers as volunteers, and may offer counseling services.

It’s hard to make decisions about whether or not to go on medication when you are away from home; doctors usually want to monitor your progress and check the dosage level. Some doctors may refuse to issue psychiatric medications, or be unable to do so.

You may run into doctors who won’t acknowledge your illness as valid, or may label depression as “weakness.” If this is the case, go to another doctor.

Some people find alternative treatments like meditation or physical exercise can help. Herbal supplements like St. John’s Wort are unregulated and untrustworthy; they can also interfere with other medications, including birth control pills and psychotropics.

If you continue to have symptoms, please see a doctor, either abroad or when you return home. Remember that mental illness is an illness, which means it needs treatment like any physical illness.

Overall, mild depression, or a more serious depression receiving proper treatment, shouldn’t stop you from traveling, but it’s important to be aware of yourself and your situation. Take care of yourself first and foremost.

When the Japanese occupied Taiwan from the late 1800s to the first half of the 1900s, they left an indelible social, cultural, and urban imprint on the island. Among the remnants are the continually popular Beitou Hot Springs facilities located in the northern portion of Taipei County.

From royalty to common folk, these facilities have seen a range of visitors since their institution. Today, people from all over the world still flock to Beitou for a relaxing hot spring respite.

I made my first visit in 2006 while living in Taipei. At the time, I was buckling under heavy stress and the idea of “paotang”, the Mandarin phrase for soaking, grew in appeal each day.

Being low on funds, I hit the local bookstore in search of an economical way to enjoy the hot springs. Hotels in the area offered everything from one hour soaks to two-night stays. I wasn’t interested in the latter and couldn’t justify shelling out $1000 NT for just an hour in the tub.

Lucky for me, I discovered a thin, nondescript book outlining directions to a traditional hot spring bath frequented only by the locals. Best of all, the hot spring was free.

Having no idea what I was getting myself into, I headed for the obscure site. From the posted signs and cacophonous reprimands of the other patrons, both in Mandarin and Taiwanese, I learned the basic, yet stringent rules of the traditional Chinese hot spring baths.

Photo by Prince Roy

1. Don’t wear clothes.

The minute I walked in, I was struck by the unabashed nakedness of all the women. Hot spring facilities are typically segregated by gender, and the women here were taking full advantage.

I wondered if Americans are the only people with a real discomfort with nudity as I peeled off my clothes and mashed them into one of the cubbies on the side of the wall.

The facility couldn’t even be described as “roomy” on an optimistic day, and there was no hiding to be had. I comforted myself with the knowledge that I was the youngest woman in the room.

Requiring every person to soak only in their birthday suits seems to be a sanitary issue. The patrons are all very fanatical about the facility’s cleanliness, which brings me to the second rule.

2. Clean up.

Every person must wash before hitting the bath. Some people go so far as to bring their own bars of soap. I had just showered before I left the house and only needed a rinse before soaking.

The ahmas watched me like hawks as I cleaned up. Being a 20-something removing American-brand clothing, I attracted the immediate attention and concern of the other women.

They were sure I was going to do something wrong, whether it was not washing up properly or jumping in still wearing my skivvies.

And do something wrong I did, as I had no awareness of the bucket situation.

Photo by Prince Roy

3. Don’t confuse the buckets.

Next to the tubs lay buckets filled with hot spring water. These are for cleaning before entering the tubs and there are strict, specific rules of engagement when using these buckets.

Not knowing this, I inadvertently contaminated a bucket by using a ladle from one bucket to rinse off, but placing it back in a different one.

The ahmas did not like this at all. Getting screamed at becomes less humiliating after a couple of runs. The contaminated bucket had to be emptied, rinsed out and cleaned, and then refilled with hot spring water before it could be used again.

Ladles are to remain with their original bucket or put in the dirty pile if they have had skin or floor contact. Visitors are never to stick their hands directly into the buckets, but must use the ladles to scoop up the water to clean themselves off. Dirty water should never come in contact with the buckets, ladles, or baths.

4. Don’t move.

Only after cleaning was I allowed in the hot spring bath. Being a traditional bath, there was no way to control the water’s temperature. It was scalding and I had my first true experience as human soup.

Photo by ♥ H.G♥

Once in the bath, patrons are not to move at all. I ran my hands over my legs to try and alleviate the feeling of conflagration. Surprise: I got yelled at. I think this rule may also relate to the sanitation issue as well as aid in patrons’ comfort.

It was only when I sat completely still that the fire subsided and a woozy sensation of warmth and relaxation emerged. The low-level grumblings of the ahmas contrasted starkly with their previous high-pitched yells, and I was able to Zen them into the background.

5. End it after 20 minutes.

People can–and do– pass out from all the heat and steam. A sign posted on the wall dictated that patrons were not to soak for more than 20 minutes at a time for their own safety. That was fine by me, as I couldn’t make it past 10 minutes in the piping hot water.

I did three rounds of 10 minutes in, five minutes out, and felt ethereal when I finally emerged. My skin felt like silk, I was more relaxed than I’d ever been, and I was more convinced than ever of the spring water’s purported health benefits.

Since then, I have visited other baths in different parts of Taiwan. Soaking privately in a modern hotel room will never compare to my first experience with the ahmas. Although I have to admit, it is nice not to get yelled at while naked.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Looking for some unusual relaxation practices while you’re overseas? Check out the World’s Weirdest Spas, or go more mainstream with How To Choose Your Perfect Yoga Retreat.

Green, exploring the Gorge of the Dead at Kato Zakro, an ancient Minoan site on Crete.

Since the age of five, I’ve been an avid traveler. My decision to become an archaeologist like my hero Indiana Jones led me to drag my parents on far-flung adventures, clambering over ruins and hunting for dinosaurs.

And although I discovered in later years that archeology and blindness do not a make for an easy career, my love of travel never abated.

I was born with achromatopsia – a rare genetic condition where my retina contains no cone cells. I’m completely colour blind, severely short-sighted (considered legally blind), and have no depth perception. Still, I’ve traveled solo, with tour groups, and with my husband throughout New Zealand and all over the world.

From my experiences, I’ve compiled following five tips for visually impaired travelers:

1. Rent a Campervan

You can even go old school. Photo by Helena.

If you’re travelling with someone who can drive, consider hiring a campervan. You can arrange the space to suit your needs, so you’ll easily be able to find your things. Your companion drives while you chill out. Or (in my case) your companion – in a brief moment of insanity – allows you to take the wheel and you promptly glide the vehicle towards a tree.

Frequent stops at interesting places along the way alleviate the boredom of long-distance driving. You don’t worry about the minefield of problems with public transport, and you’re not sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings every night. Make sure to pack good music.

2. Travel Connected

Internet cafés don’t provide adequate zoom or speech technology for vision impaired users, so if you can’t travel without the internet, you’ll need to bring your own laptop, cables, wireless unit, and software. I’m never without my laptop when I travel. It’s imperative to check out useful sites like Matador before I hit my next destination.

Photo by Alex Steffler.

I use Zoomtext software, which gives me customisable magnification and font/colour programs. I can change the look of the screen and the font and icon size to whatever I want.

Zoomtext has audio features, but they’re not as good as programs like JAWS, which is designed especially for fully-blind computer users.

Since decent large print city maps are nearly impossible to come by, I simply enlarge Google maps on my screen, although JAWS sometimes has difficulty with map programs.

3. Consider a Tour Group

Blind travelers have to take additional care when planning travel: sourcing routes through cities and across countries, locating adequate facilities, and booking special guided tours. With a tour group, you don’t worry about most of this.

Transport, accommodation, sightseeing – it’s all taken care of. Many tour group leaders have some disability awareness training and will assist you with specific needs. There are tour companies who specialise in blind tours (look on Disabled Travelers or ask your local blindness institute for advice).

I’m a social person, so mixing coach tours with solo travel helps me meet new and interesting people, and takes the hassle out of planning certain legs of my trip. I prefer good old fashioned budget backpacking tours, and I’ve found companies like Tucan Travel, Topdeck Tours and Kumuka friendly, helpful, and encouraging.

4. Plan Ahead to Touch

Greco-Roman busts at the British Museum. Photo by Nic.

Rob Gardner, a retired engineer, was travelling to Greece and wanted – more than anything – to see the Parthenon. The only problem was that Rob’s completely blind, and the Parthenon sits behind a scaffold and fence where no tourist is allowed to enter.

So he wrote to his local Greek consulate, and they liaised with the Greek government and granted Rob special permission to cross the fence and stand inside the Parthenon, touch the stones, and walk where no tourist has walked for a hundred years.

Many museums and art galleries develop special tours for the blind, where objects from the collection can be touched. These have to be booked in advance, especially for famous museums like the Louvre and the British Museum.

If you want a unique experience over and above the average traveller, try one of these tours.

5. Inform and Educate About Blindness

I know that many people who are blind prefer to keep their disability private, and I totally respect and understand their reasons for this. Ignorant people treat us like we’re crippled, deaf, and / or stupid even though the only thing wrong with us is that our eyes don’t work properly.

I’ve heard horror stories of airlines forcing blind passengers to sit in wheelchairs while staff members push them between connecting flights. There are numerous cases of airlines rejecting blind passengers after they’re assumed to be a safety risk.

Green, at the ancient city of Eleuthera.

Despite the limitations placed on blind travellers – not by themselves, but by society – I always inform others about my disability. I tick the box at the airline saying ‘blind passenger‘ and the staff make extra certain I’m in the right place. When using public transport, someone will help me onto the correct train, and will often give me a discount.

In many areas of the world, a blind person walking the street is a rare sight. Be prepared for curious questions, and use your travels to educate others about disabilities.

Many people from poor areas do not understand how a westerner can still be blind – their neighbours wear glasses or have cataracts removed and their eyesight is cured. I’m always encouraged by friendly locals to try on their glasses. I smile and say thank you and try to explain that my condition is incurable.

Above all, being a blind traveller is all about seeing the world in your own way. Without sight, I’ll never have the same experiences as a normal traveller. But my experiences so far have been awesome, and any blind person can find their way in the world and create their own memorable travel stories.

GOODS

For a fantastic and inspiring historical travel read, check out Jason Roberts’ A Sense of the World: How a Blind Man Became History’s Greatest Traveler.

1. Diarrhea

Diarrhea is the most common problem that can affect your trip. I always say, “Listen to your mom for good travel eating advice.” Don’t eat anything that is not properly and thoroughly cooked. Avoid tap water, ice, and veggies washed in tap water. If the restaurant or food stand looks dirty or the chef has a sore on his hand, don’t eat there!

But I confess, I am what travel docs call an “adventurous eater” and I don’t always follow my own advice. For those who do the same, and get diarrhea, there are many options.

First, stay hydrated with lots of water and electrolyte drinks. The presence of blood in diarrhea or high fevers can mean the infection is invasive and may require antibiotics. Ciprofloxacin is a common antibiotic for TD (traveler’s diarrhea). Loperamide is an antiperistaltic agent that slows down your bowels. This can be useful if you have a 5 hour bus ride and no toilet. Use caution with anything that “stops you up,” as this may only trap the invasive bacteria in your intestines, giving it more time to do damage.

Travel First Aid Kit. Photo by Mat Honan

2. Blisters

A common complaint from the hiking crowd, shopping tourists, and sightseers alike is blisters. Making sure your shoes fit well and are broken in can do the most to prevent blisters. Wearing a new pair of shoes on the day you are trying to hit every museum in the city is not a good idea.

Blisters are caused by friction and heat. Eliminating both decreases your chance of getting a blister and helps slow down the hot spot you have forming on your heel. Many skin lubricants are commercially available and this is a good option for prevention. Perhaps the best treatment is using moleskin. This is available in most hiking/outdoor stores and is basically a felt pad cut to fit and placed over a blister.

3. Respiratory Infections

Nothing fancy here: I am talking about the common cold. The ubiquitous upper respiratory infection is found everywhere, and generally caused by viruses with names more exotic than the capital city of Mongolia (Ulaanbaatar). Symptoms include runny nose, slight fever, ear pressure and muscle aches.

Knowing if this is a simple URI or the beginning of something more serious is the key and the hardest part, even for doctors.

If you’re unsure or feel particularly sick, see a healthcare provider!

Symptomatic treatment centers around nasal decongestants like pseudoephedrine, and fever control with acetaminophen or paracetamol. Inhaled nasal steroid sprays can also help with ear pressure and work wonders for travelers with nasal stuffiness or “ear fullness”. Staying hydrated and taking time to rest are also key. Remember to have a low threshold for seeking medical help when you are far from home.

4. Bladder Infections

Symptoms include a sense of urinary urgency (”I have to pee and cannot hold it!”) or hesitancy (”I try to pee but cannot get started!”). Most common in women travelers. Darker and stronger smelling urine is often noted. Problems occur when the infection spreads to the kidneys, causing fevers and side pain. This requires serious help and antibiotics. Common medications used to treat Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) include tmp/smx or ciprofloxacin.

The most common bacterial cause is E. Coli, a bacteria found commonly in feces. Hygiene, including regular showers and changing and wearing clean underwear, can help prevent UTI’s.

When using the toilet, women should wipe “front to back” to prevent bacteria from the back reaching the front. Staying well hydrated also helps flush the area through frequent urination. Cranberry juice has been shown to prevent bacteria from sticking to the cells of the urinary tract.

Unsafe drinking water. Photo by hdptcar

5. Tooth Injuries

Nothing ruins a trip like having a tooth problem. Loose dental work, fillings, cavities and chipped teeth are all potential culprits. Make sure you visit your dentist before your trip, especially if you are gone for more than a week or two.

Problems on the road can be temporarily dealt with using a few basic supplies from your travel first aid kit. Clove oil can be placed on a cotton ball or cotton tipped stick to help relieve localized mouth pain. Temporary filling material, such as Cavit or zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) can be used to fill holes, smooth rough surfaces and protect the nerves underneath. Evan candle wax works in a tough spot.

Warm salt water rinses can help keep problem areas clean, and then you should start looking for a dentist. Mouth infections can be very painful and dangerous. Don’t delay treatment.

6. Superficial Skin Infections

Cuts and scrapes happen when you travel. Superficial infections in these cuts also occur, as people are traipsing through jungles, climbing on and off buses and sitting in dirty pubs. Local infections are marked by redness and swelling around a break in the skin. Warning signs include fevers, pus or discharge from the wound, and pain out of proportion to the injury.

Eliminate another worry by making sure your tetanus vaccine is current before you travel.

Keep your cuts clean and protected if at all possible. Open wounds should be thoroughly cleaned and irrigated as soon as possible. Use lots of soap and water, make sure there is no debris in the wound, and apply a topical antibiotic cream.

Cover the area with a clean, dry dressing that gets changed at least twice per day. Clean the area often, again with soap and water.

I try to draw a circle (using an ink pen) around the area of redness, so that I can tell if the infection is spreading and moving outside my circle. If the infection looks bad or if you have other medical conditions or problems, get yourself to a healthcare worker.

Mosquito bites. Photo by LOLO FROM TAHITI

7. Mosquito Bites

Mosquitoes carry diseases like malaria, dengue, yellow fever and many more. Avoid being bitten by wearing long sleeves, long pants and being prepared with a few items. Using a permethrin spray on your clothing, as well as using tents and curtains, can reduce bites. For personal protection, a 35% concentration of DEET spray should do the trick.

Anybody who sleeps outdoors or with open windows should seriously think about using mosquito netting.

8. Muscle Aches and Pains

Uncomfortable sleeping positions on trains and planes, lugging heavy luggage and lots of new activity can lead to sore muscles on the road. Ibuprofen is a great medicine for muscle soreness and should be carried in every first aid kit. Take ibuprofen with food, as it may cause problems with the stomach lining.

Acetaminophen is another great option, although it does not reduce inflammation like ibuprofen. These medications are available in most pharmacies and general stores around the world.

9. Jet Lag

Wide-awake at 3 AM, only to be drowsy at lunchtime. Problems acclimating to a new time zone can slow down trips, ruin meetings and make for grumpiness.

There is no magical cure for jet lag but there are a few things you can do to help. Bright light stimulates your body to be awake, so if you need to be awake, open the curtains or get outside. Conversely, if you need to get yourself to bed, use dim lights inside and sunglasses if you must be outdoors.

Caffeine can help give a boost, allowing you to stay up a bit more or feel less fatigued. An outstanding resource can be found at thecureforjetlag.com.

10. Sexually Transmitted Diseases

People like to have a good time on their trips, and for some that includes sex. But nobody wants to come home with an unwanted “souvenir” from his or her trip, like a sexually transmitted infection.

All contact with a new partner should be made using a latex barrier, like a condom. Common infections include syphilis, gonorrhea and herpes. HIV is another large concern and should be at the top of everybody’s mind when clothes start coming off. Condoms help prevent infection and pregnancy.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Matador member noellejt found herself in a dental emergency in Chiang Mai, Thailand: read about her experience in the blog “Maybe you’re just meant to be in Chiang Mai…?”.

Have a question for the doctor? Ask away in the comments below!

Photo by James Jordan. Feature photo by Julien Harneis

Malaria is a global killer. However, humans are advancing technology against this parasite, working to develop a vaccine.

Vaccines prevent illness and death from infectious organisms. Anybody who has been vaccinated owes a debt of thanks to Dr. Jenner and his cows. In the late 1700’s, smallpox was a common and fatal disease. Dr. Jenner used a concept of variolation, believed to have originated in India in the 8th century, to develop a vaccine against this highly infectious disease.

Jenner noticed that milk-maids, who spent a lot of time around cows, were not getting smallpox. He then noticed that smallpox was very similar to a cattle infection called cowpox, but much less severe.

In a move that would likely provoke a seizure in the FDA today, Jenner deliberately infected an 8 year old boy with cowpox. By using the pus from a milkmaid’s hand blister, containing cowpox, Jenner was able to prevent smallpox!

Today’s vaccines are much more regulated, tested, and studied, but use the same basic concepts. In fact, the term vaccination comes from the Latin word “vacca,” meaning cow.

Photo by hdptcar.

GlaxoSmithKline, one of the world’s leading vaccine and pharmaceutical producers, has been working in a collaborative effort with phase three clinical trials in early 2009.

The excitement about the malaria vaccine, called RTS,S/AS, is that it has recently been shown to reduce infections by 53% to 65%, in children aged 5-17 months, over an eight month period. This may not seem like that big of a reduction, but it represents the most significant advance in the history of malaria vaccination research.

Photo by zmxncbv.com

The study, published in New England Journal of Medicine, was originally attempting to examine the efficacy of the vaccine being administered with other routine childhood immunizations such as diphtheria and tetanus.

As part of the study, the children were also followed for malarial infections. Of note is that the malaria vaccine showed no interference with these co-administered, routine immunizations.

The difficulty of producing a malaria vaccine has to do with the inherent cleverness of the malaria parasites. Malaria is one of the oldest documented diseases and has made numerous changes to overcome medicine’s treatments and preventions.

Here are some basic facts about this disease:

Basics:

Parasitic infection of the red blood cells and liver that is acquired from the bite of an infected mosquito. Main symptoms include fatigue, muscle aches, and fever. Fever is known to undulate (come and go) approximately every three days. There are four main types of the disease: Plasmodium Vivax, Plasmodium Ovale, Plasmodium Malariae, and Plasmodium Falciparum.

Location:

Most every tropical area of the world. P. Ovale is localized to West Africa. All other types are found worldwide.

Transmission and Incubation:

Transmitted by bite of infected Anopheles mosquito. Incubation period of 9-20 days, or longer.

Diagnosis:

Use a blood smear that demonstrates Plasmodium species, try to draw blood during fevers.

Photo by chrisrobinson1945

Prevention:

Avoid outdoors at dawn and dusk (mosquito feeding times); wear long clothing to cover arms and legs; use bed nets; wear permethrin treated clothing; use a DEET body spray; destroy mosquito breeding areas and use anti-malaria medications.

Diagnosis:

Use a blood smear that demonstrates Plasmodium species, try to draw blood during fevers.

Treatment:

Based on species and sensitivity to medication. Chloroquine sensitive infections can be treated with quinine (600mg base initially then 300mg base at 6, 24 and 48 hours later) or with doxycycline for 7 days. Mefloquine (15mg/kg one time) is used for chloroquine resistant species. Multi-drug resistant strains can require artesunate.

Experienced travelers to the tropics are often already in the know about the idea that there are different types of malaria and that an anti-malaria medicine that works in one area may not work in another.

Certain species of malaria can and have developed resistance to the traditional treatment of chloroquine. This is why it is important to know the species and medicine advised for the geographic area where you are traveling.

Vaccines for diseases and travel health go very well together. Travelers go to strange and exotic locations, putting themselves in contact with new cultures, foods, experiences and diseases. Fortunately, for some of these diseases, such as yellow fever, a vaccine exists.

An effective vaccine for malaria has been a “holy grail” not only for travelers, but for those who live and die in malaria areas. Hopefully, this vaccine will progress into a usable option for millions of people, saving lives and easing travel to tropical areas.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Not all Matador members think you should get vaccinated.

Check out contributing editor Tim Patterson’s article 10 Travel Risks Worth Taking . And if you don’t have plans to travel to a malaria-prone area but care about the health of people who live there, check out special managing editor Eva Holland’s article, Travel to the Amazon with Nets for Ninos.