BY TAMBERLYN BLINSINK, ND
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEMBER
NWB Board Member, Dr. Tamberlyn Blinsink, ND received her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine in 2002 from Bastyr University. She currently practices in North Carolina and has participated in global health projects in Appalachia, Uganda, and Russia. Tamberlyn is committed to service projects that bring health, sustainability and resilience to developing communities.
You can visit Dr. Tamberlyn Blinsink’s website: www.ncbewell.com.
Opinions expressed in this article are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of Naturopaths Without Borders.
Go Ahead, Pack It!
Adventuring off the beaten track requires special attention when filling that oh-so-valuable suitcase space. What is essential and what can make the trip more enjoyable? For me, I give special consideration to something if it can be helpful for preventing illness or easing the discomfort of travel mishaps. Below are some of the most useful health items I pack when traveling in remote areas.
mosquito net
A mosquito net is an absolute must for any location with malaria or dengue fever! But remember, even in other areas a net can keep biters at bay while you rest on a stream bank or lunch at a work site. I have always carried a simple net that is easy to hang. I throw in some commando strip hangers, a length of paracord, carabiners, and a few zip ties to allow for versatile hanging options. Don’t forget to add a few small rubber bands or stickers so that you can easily fix tears in the netting.
UV Water Sterilization Pen
In locations where the water safety is questionable, a UV pen for water sterilization can help you avoid stomach upset. In under a minute you can have safe drinking water without boiling or chemicals. And unlike a filtering straw, you can pass it around to your friends so they can use it too! When shopping for a UV pen be sure to consider if you would like the pen to fit into a water bottle or other types of containers.
Wide-mouthed vacuum jar
While this could be considered a luxury item for enjoying warm soup or tea—it can also be an extremely valuable decontamination chamber! Those that use contact lenses, tweezers, or even menstrual cups will be happy to know that a 500 mL vacuum flask with a screw on lid can be used to effectively remove bacterial, fungal and viral elements. By adding the item to a vacuum flask, pouring in boiling water, and then sealing with the lid, decontamination is reached after 15 minutes. Contact lenses can be placed in a two chambered lens container with 2 mL of saline, and the entire lens case placed in the vacuum flask. (First, make sure from the manufacturer that your lens type can be heat treated.) This process can save space by limiting the number of other chemical solutions that you need to carry.
sleeping bag liner
It took me only one experience with bedbugs to realize that I really like sleeping bag liners. Something so small can be just the thing to comfort you as you drift off in your personal envelope. Liners are more easily laundered than sleeping bags and can even give you comfort between the hotel sheets. Liners are also comfortable as light cover for those balmy, tropical nights.
beta-carotene
Beginning two weeks before a trip with lots of sun exposure, I begin supplementing beta carotene. This nutrient is preferentially stored in the skin and decreases the sun’s harmful effects. While this does not completely replace the need for sunscreen, it helps to fill the gaps when reapplying is inconvenient or on hard-to-reach skin often missed with sunscreen application. Remember to consult your naturopath or MD to make sure that supplementing beta carotene is appropriate for you, especially if you smoke.
menstrual cup
For females traveling in remote areas finding hygiene products can be almost impossible. In these instances, using a menstrual cup can be a game changer! For convenience, I recommend traveling with two. Because menstrual cups can be worn for up to 12 hours depending on flow, they are a great choice when the days are very active. Since there can be a learning curve in using a new feminine hygiene product, I recommend you try it out before you leave home.
First Aid Kit
A small kit including needles, nail clippers, scissors, adhesive bandages, moleskin, and activated charcoal can easily fit in an old breath mint tin. I have never traveled once when this kit has not proven useful for someone in the travel party for minor injuries. I carry my needles in a small 2-dram glass vial, so if needed, I can fill the vial with saline and immerse it in my thermos of boiling water for decontamination, as described above.
headlamp
It seems universally true that almost all splinters and thorns need to be removed when there is inadequate lighting. A headlamp gives you two free hands along with all the lumens to do delicate work. If no one in the travel party requires this kind of attention, your headlamp can still be useful to reduce falls in nighttime and to read after hours without waking others.
Do you have essential things that you pack when traveling?
I'd love to hear what works for you! dr.t.blinsink@nwb.ngo