The Chinese herb shop is often the first port of call if sick in the Tropics.
Usually they have practitioners working at the shop and the herbs are made up (and if necessary boiled for you) after the consultation.
Of course try to check who has a good reputation and who doesn't as suggested in the text below.
Usually they have practitioners working at the shop and the herbs are made up (and if necessary boiled for you) after the consultation.
Of course try to check who has a good reputation and who doesn't as suggested in the text below.
Travellers Health Tips for the Tropics.
Here are some tips on health while you are travelling, particularly when travelling in the tropics.
Remember most travel health problems are minor, but there are a lot more significant health dangers in the tropics and having some knowledge of them in advance is really important.
The first thing is you really need at least a minimum level of travel insurance as most third world countries demand cash in advance in order to give you (or indeed even their own citizens) any treatment.
You would not believe how bad the health system is in the Third World, as I know from my own personal experiences. Knowing this you should move the odds in your favour as much as possible.
Health Insurance is one way of doing that. As with most things shop around for the best deal and read the fine print. There can be many exclusions with some companies so you need to have a good look at the conditions of the policy. Remember cheapest is not always best.
The next point is that there are self-help techniques and knowledge of who to see when you need help which can help with most things that occur health-wise when travelling in dangerous places.
Examples of these include Mudras (hand positions usually held for between 5 to 15 minutes) which can help with problems from gastrointestinal upsets, liver problems to insomnia or anxiety to heart attack. See the page on Mudras with this site, under More.
Here are some tips on health while you are travelling, particularly when travelling in the tropics.
Remember most travel health problems are minor, but there are a lot more significant health dangers in the tropics and having some knowledge of them in advance is really important.
The first thing is you really need at least a minimum level of travel insurance as most third world countries demand cash in advance in order to give you (or indeed even their own citizens) any treatment.
You would not believe how bad the health system is in the Third World, as I know from my own personal experiences. Knowing this you should move the odds in your favour as much as possible.
Health Insurance is one way of doing that. As with most things shop around for the best deal and read the fine print. There can be many exclusions with some companies so you need to have a good look at the conditions of the policy. Remember cheapest is not always best.
The next point is that there are self-help techniques and knowledge of who to see when you need help which can help with most things that occur health-wise when travelling in dangerous places.
Examples of these include Mudras (hand positions usually held for between 5 to 15 minutes) which can help with problems from gastrointestinal upsets, liver problems to insomnia or anxiety to heart attack. See the page on Mudras with this site, under More.
Chinese and Indian herbal systems are very sophisticated and use thousands of plants, minerals and other products to heal people.
Chinese textbooks on herbs contain case notes from centuries of experience, and formulas and indications for almost any situation.
Finding a good pracctitioner nowadays in most countries should not be too difficult.
First Aid Course
If you have not done a first-aid course or not for many years I suggest doing one. It could save your life or someone else's life.
Take a little cheap book on First Aid with you.
Sujok (Koryo hand therapy)
Sujok is a type of Korean acupuncture/acupressure health method that can help in emergencies. Indeed the founder Dr Park Tae Woo wrote a little book on using Sujok in emergency situations. That book can be hard to find in the west but is readily available in some countries like India or Thailand and the like where the Sujok system is popular.
Of course Reflexology also can help so getting a little knowledge of it and maybe taking a copy of a foot or hand chart with you could help if trouble comes.
Traditional Medicine Practitioners
The medical system in many Third world countries can be pretty awful, and outside of capital cities can be all but non-existent.
In such circumstances you may need to find a Chinese herbalist or other traditional practitioner. The trick of course is how to find a good one.
There is often a Chinese Medical association and they can point you to the best practitioners.
Local pharmacists may know of someone with a good reputation.
You can ask around to the locals and soon get pointers on who has a good reputation.
In cities and towns jump on the net and see if there are listings for your town, often though in the Third World there will be nothing of help on the net.
In places like Indonesia you can often find herbal practitioners selling herbs at markets (in Indonesia it is called Djamu) and they may know of someone to see (or it may be them to see).
Many herbs (Jamu) are pre-packaged now in Indonesia, use your own judgment in using them.
In Africa likewise at markets there may be information.
Remember you can ask several people and get a bigger picture of who seems reliable.
Sometimes you just have to take a chance though in some places and see someone.
For more information on Alternative Health visit my other sites as below
Acupressure Microsystems in Sydney
http://acupressuremicrosystems.weebly.com
Alternative Health Systems
http://alternativehealthways.weebly.com
Gestalt self-help Therapy Sydney
http://gestalttherapysydney.weebly.com
Homeopathy & Herbalism
http://homeopathyandherbalism.weebly.com
Reflexology and Sujok
http://reflexologysujoksydney.weebly.com
Spectrochrome
http://spectrochromecolourtherapy.weebly.com
Traveller's Health Tips For Everybody
http://travellershealthtips.weebly.com
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