Homeopathic Immunisations for Travellers
Homeopathic Remedies May Prevent Illness when Travelling Abroad
Jul 10, 2008
Some people are against vaccination and immunisation, believing it could lead to other unrelated health problems. Homeopaths therefore recommend certain remedies when travelling which are harmless and are believed to prevent the traveller contracting particular diseases.
It should be noted that homeopathic immunisation is not proven to be effective, and the decision to refuse conventional immunisations and prophylactics should not be taken lightly. In certain cases, such as an epidemic in the area in which someone is travelling, the traveller may decide to take homeopathic remedies in addition to conventional preventatives. Each person needs to decide on this issue for himself.
Buying Homeopathic Remedies
Some common remedies can be bought from large chemist stores. However, others are only obtainable from specialised homeopathic pharmacies, many of which do their own kits for travellers. In the UK, Ainsworths and Helios both have kits of this type.
Before Going on Holiday
It may be a good idea for the traveller to visit a professional homeopath a few weeks before travelling. He or she will be able to provide constitutional treatment, i.e. treatment to improve the health of the whole system. This will enable the traveller to fight off any disease more successfully. Some people have found that taking Echinacea before travelling – either as tablets or diluting the tincture in water – is a good way to boost the immune system before going abroad, particularly if going to third world countries.
How to Take Homeopathic Remedies
Remedies should be taken in a clean mouth, and sucked or allowed to dissolve. Unless otherwise stated, the potency of a particular remedy is not all that important, and 30c remedies are good for most general use.
Remedies to Prevent Specific Diseases
Cholera – Camphor 200. Take two weeks before departure.
Typhoid – Baptyisa 30, taken three days before departure
Tetanus – Use Ledum or Hypericum after a bite or wound.
Hepatitis – Chelidonium 30. Take one week before departure and each week during stay.
Meningitis – Take Belladonna 30 if the disease is endemic in the visited country.
Yellow Fever – Arsenicum Album 30, taken one week before departure.
Malaria - Alternate weekly between Natrum Mur and China, taking one tablet weekly.
Polio – Take one Lathyrus 30c every week if in a polio epidemic area
Rabies – If there is a very high risk of being bitten by rabid animals, consider the following regime: Day 1 – Belladonna; Day 2 – Hyoscyamus; Day 3 – Belladonna; Day 4 – Stramonium. After that repeat from Day 1 while the risk is present. 200c tablets are recommended.
It is also possible to obtain homeopathic nosodes, which are specific remedies to prevent disease, and are called after that illness, e.g. Malaria 30c. However, their efficacy is not proven.
The traveller should get as much information on homeopathy as possible before departure, and before deciding if homeopathic disease prevention is the right approach for him or her.
Further Reading
A Traveller’s Guide to Homeopathy, Amanda Marks, Traveller’s Press
Related Articles
Homeopathic First Aid for Cats
