Have you ever walked into a pharmacy in a foreign country and wondered what exactly you were buying?
While common pharmaceuticals are available in most countries, sometimes you’re better off trying an at-home remedy before you experiment with an unknown medicine.
Here are 11 everyday foods and the common traveler’s illness they are known to help cure. I’ve posted this two ways, first by food and what it treats, and secondly by the illness and what will alleviate it. (Lastly, note that I am not a doctor. If you have a medical problem, especially while traveling, you should seek professional medical advice.)
Foods and What they Treat
1. Honey
Honey is one my favorite natural remedies. It can be used to treat sore throats, aid digestion, quench thirst, and treat minor burns. (Little known fact: desert travelers used to carry honey to help quench their thirst on long trips.)
photo credit: BotheredbyBees
2. Chili Peppers
Most people know that a little spicy food can help ease congestion, but did you know that chili peppers also act as a mild pain reliever?
photo credit: jslander
3. Rice
Rice is easy and very soothing on the stomach. It’s a good choice for traveler’s diarrhea or constipation.
photo credit: striker photo
4. Onions (and related plants likes chives and shallots)
Onions have anti-inflammatory properties and can be used as an antibiotic and anti-viral. Try it to help with inflammation from bronchitis and lung disorders.
photo credit: darwinbell
5. Lemon
Many people claim that lemons are great for treating headaches. Some recommend using the juice in a cup of tea, while others advocate using the lemon peel and placing it white side down (yellow rind out) directly on your forehead. Lemon juice can also be used as an antiseptic by placing it on minor scraps and cuts.
photo credit: comingtobrazil
6. Mustard
Mustard acts as a decongestant and expectorant. Also, it’s said to help with sore throats.
photo credit: savoryspiceshop
7. Cloves
Cloves are good for toothaches by reducing the pain and swelling. They naturally alleviate pain and act as an anti-inflammatory.
photo credit: herbalexactplus
8. Peppermint
I frequently drink peppermint tea to help with stomachaches. But peppermint also reduces tension and helps promote restful sleep.
photo credit: klynslis
9. Horseradish
Horseradish is good for digestive issues and treats constipation. It also boosts your immune system by helping the liver filter harmful substances.
photo credit: sarahmeyerwalsh
10. Ginger
Ginger treats indigestion and acts as a mild pain reliever. Try some real ginger ale or take as powdered for pain.
photo credit: mfdudu
11. Turmeric
Turmeric acts as an anti-inflammatory and eases congestion.
photo credit: soniyaskitchen
Illnesses and What to Take
This is the reverse order of what’s above. If you’re looking for a natural remedy for any of these ailments, try one of the foods that follows:
Congestion/Head Cold:
Turmeric, Mustard, Chilli Peppers
Sore Throat
Honey, Mustard
Inflammation (including mild burns):
Turmeric, Cloves, Onion, Honey
Indigestion:
Ginger, Peppermint, Rice
Constipation:
Horseradish, Rice
Aches and Pains:
Ginger, Cloves, Lemon, Chili Peppers
Stress/Tension:
Peppermint
Antiseptic:
Lemon (for minor scratches)
Recommended Reading:
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
A great list, very useful if there is no pharmacy near by – just head to the local market.
Thanks for putting this list together. When I was in Russia, I came down with a cold. The people that I was visiting with told me of a cold remedy using #1 and #2 on your list.
50-100mL vodka
hot pepper
honey
Put the pepper in the vodka and let it soak for a bit, remove the pepper. Add honey to taste and drink it. Supposedly, you’ll sleep deeply and when you awaken your cold will be gone. I didn’t try this while I was there but I’m very tempted to try it the next time I feel a cold coming on. They said you had to do it at the first sign of a cold or it wouldn’t help.
This is a great list. I’d have to add one suggestion: raw garlic. I always eat one or two whole cloves when I start to feel a little sick. Raw garlic is a great immune system booster, and I’ve found it to help me feel better a lot faster than without.
@ Graham – Of course – Vodka – the Ultimate Russian Remedy! (one of the people we studied abroad with in Russia was told to put Vodka in their ears to cure an ear infection…)
@Austin – I love garlic. Thanks for the suggestion.
I just KNEW no one else knows about the benefits of Ginger, right ont he money! In addition, it helps to ease indigestion, I guess due to the relieving properties. As a side benefit, a hot steaming cup of instant ginger tea will freshen your breath after a savory meal! I get mine from the Asian Food markets. Thank you for the post!
Hi Elizebeth,
Liked reading your post. I am not sure if I would ever be able to . find so many spices here in Colorado though
I work for a NGO here.
Hope.
I never knew that about Onions. My sister suffers with bronchitis annually so I make her chicken soup every year. She seems to get better faster with the soup than without it, must be due to the onions.
Very interesting post, Thanks:)
I enjoyed this post. Previously I only knew about vodka curing all my ills — and lots of wine!
gr8 stuff to follow while travel…
These foods are not only good for travel but also while you are at home. While I lived and traveled in Brazil I eat lemons like crazy. Also you use them in canning foods. It helps preserve them naturally.
Rhett out.
Stay healthy by using the above but do not try the home made remedies from other countries. While I lived in Brazil I knew of a guy (American)that died because he tried a tea made from some leaves that a Brazilian got from behind her house. She said it would make his cold go away. His immune system did not have the growing up factor that the Brazilians had from taking it as a child because he grew up in Oklahoma. He died, I think it stopped his heart if I remember correctly. So I guess she was correct…it did take away his cold.
Emmaline out.
The natural world is full of cures that sometimes work better than the stuff we get from the chemist. I think I need to go and get some peppermint……..
Great write up and nice pictures.It looks like some tea with honey and lemon, and some slightly spicy sushi will do the trick lol.
great article for travellers. i agree with all topic but i thing lemon when we travelling is not good. because it make blood resser low so dont eat lemon.thanks for sharing
I started to print these 11 foods, it was going to be 17 pages, I suggest you provide a printer friendly site to print out such information as 17 pages would add too much to my already full travel bags. Aloha, Dick Walker
@ Richard Walker – Have you tried copying and pasting the text you’d like to print into a Word document? Otherwise, try http://www.printwhatyoulike.com. Happy travels.
When I travel through Thailand I have a natural yogurt every day.
It seems to keep my stomach in good order. Has anyone else tried this?.
Lemon is great for curing car and sea sickness. When I was sick in Israel, soldiers showed me the trick of sniffing a piece of freshly cut lemon, or sucking on it. Amazing! Carsickness gone!
I just wanted to drop you a short note to let you know that I really enjoy your articles.
Really interesting article – will link to my blogg for others. Thanks.
Great list and very interesting post! Keep it coming, I really enjoyed reading.
i love to eat asian foods because they are tasty and spicy.-,`
you can avoid indigestion by eating high fiber foods.~~`
now, i am suffering from bad indigestion and sometimes it is painful too.~.:
I think the most people suffer from food poisoning when they are in vacations. After I got poisoned by salmonella in eggs two years ago in a hotel, I always carry some broad spectrum antibiotics with me. Otherwise honey is also antibiotic and caffeic acid from coffee beans too.
When I was in Morocco and came down with traveler’s diarrhea, the local pharmacy recommended fresh cumin-seeds or ground-I used ground-a tablespoon in a cup of hot water 3-4 times a day until it slowed down and it actually worked.