Prepare based on "destination, season, and personal condition"
"What medications to prepare for an adventure trip should be determined according to the destination, the season, and one's own physical condition," said Yuan Jin, associate chief pharmacist of the Pharmacy Department at Guangzhou General Hospital of the Guangzhou Military Command. Li Jin, a senior pharmacist in the same department, noted that when visiting different scenic spots, one should first consider factors such as the local geography, sanitation conditions, climate, and cultural environment—especially gaining a basic understanding of potential infectious diseases. In general, travel-ready medications should be: limited in variety, appropriately formulated, securely packaged, easy to carry, and capable of addressing a relatively wide range of issues.
1. Cold, fever, and cough medications. Quick-acting cold capsules can be used for colds and fevers (caution for blood disease patients), medications like Bai Jia Hei can address day and night needs, while headache and fever can be treated with paracetamol, indomethacin, or ibuprofen. Additional options include Liushen Pills, Grass Coral Lozenges, Watermelon Frost Lozenges, and Banlangen Granules (tablets are preferable).
2. Common gastrointestinal medications. Ranitidine, cimetidine, aluminum hydroxide, belladonna extract tablets (avoided by glaucoma patients), metoclopramide, multi-enzyme tablets, and Huoxiang Zhengqi Pills (or liquid) can treat stomach issues. For diarrhea, medications like Furazolidone (Furazolidone), Smecta, and Loperamide can be used, along with oral Clostridium butyricum live bacteria tablets.
3. Antibiotics. In principle, antibiotics should not be used casually during travel. When necessary, you may pack some such as Norfloxacin Capsules, mainly for gastrointestinal bacterial infections; broad-spectrum antibiotics like Cefalexin Capsules and Amoxicillin Capsules can be used for various inflammations (avoided by those allergic to penicillin), while Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate Tablets can fight various positive cocci and are also used for mycoplasma pneumonia; Berberine Tablets are for intestinal infections (caution for pregnant women); and Metronidazole Tablets can treat anaerobic bacterial infections in the mouth, nasal cavity, and intestines.
4. Motion sickness medications for vehicles and boats.
5. Antiallergic medications. Includes drugs such as Hismanal, Chlorpheniramine, Chlorphenamine Maleate, Promethazine, Cyproheptadine, Cetirizine, and Loratadine Tablets/Capsules. Note that these two categories of medications must not be used when driving or engaging in exploratory activities such as climbing, cave exploration, or stream tracing.
6. Sedatives and sleep aids. Ensuring adequate sleep during travel is essential. Generally, Diazepam Tablets (avoided by glaucoma patients) or Alprazolam Tablets are sufficient, taken about half an hour before bedtime. For high-altitude areas, some potent sleeping pills may be packed for bedtime use, but dosage should be carefully controlled.
7. Heatstroke prevention medications. Include Rendan, Mentholatum, and White Flower Oil. You may also pack Cooling Oil and Shidishui, applying or taking them as directed. Additionally, sun protection is important, so bring sunscreen.
8. Trauma medications. For surface wounds, use Yunnan Baiyao, band-aids, iodine tincture, and Mupirocin Ointment. For sprains and falls, use Pain Relief Plasters, Safflower Oil, Qufeng Oil, and Musk Trauma & Rheumatism Plasters to reduce swelling and pain—but avoid applying directly to open wounds.
9. Disinfectants. Such as potassium permanganate and alcohol (56%+ liquor can also be used as a substitute). For wilderness camping, also consider water purification tablets.
10. Dressings, consumables, and small tools. Include triangular bandages, medical bandages, iodine tincture, hydrogen peroxide, sterilized cotton swabs, 75% ethanol, safety pins, band-aids, multifunctional knives (with scissors and tweezers), disposable masks, medical gauze pads, medical adhesive tape, and buckle-style tourniquets.
11. Special regions. For high-altitude travel, consider prophylactic use of Rhodiola Rosea Tablets/Capsules or Gaoyuan Kang, and optionally bring some American ginseng. For cold regions, pack frostbite ointment.
12. If malaria is present locally. In addition to vaccines, take antimalarial drugs like Doxycycline Tablets—100mg daily, starting one day before departure and continuing daily for four weeks after leaving.
13. Emergency medications. Such as Quick-Acting Heart Rescue Pills, Musk Cardiotonic Pills, and Nitroglycerin Tablets. Travelers with chronic conditions like asthma, coronary heart disease, hypertension, or diabetes should pack sufficient medication.
14. Snakebite medications. Jiedesheng Snake Medicine can be used for venomous snake or insect bites, applied both internally and externally.
Different travel methods call for different medication choices
"It’s important to emphasize that whether cycling, motorcycling, or driving, the use of cold medications or certain antiallergic drugs—like diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, or promethazine—should be minimized during travel," said Li Jin. Medication needs do vary depending on the mode of travel.
1. Hiking. Carry only a small number of essentials based on your own situation—select one of each necessary item from the above categories and store them in waterproof bags, with extra topical medications (including mosquito repellent and snakebite medicine). Also, contact lens wearers should pack eye drops.
2. Biking. The variety and quantity can be greater than for hiking. Pack more respiratory, gastrointestinal, trauma, pain relief, hemostatic, and anti-inflammatory topical medications.
3. Motorcycling. The variety and quantity should exceed that of biking. Since it's "flesh on metal," pack more trauma, pain relief, hemostatic meds, including frostbite preventives, dressings, and even eye drops.
4. Self-driving. You can carry a wider range and larger quantity of medications and supplies. Since food is usually sourced locally, focus mainly on gastrointestinal medications.
Jiang Linlan reminds that besides medications, attention should also be paid to dietary hygiene during travel. Prepare some energy-boosting snacks like ginseng slices or chocolate for emergencies. Additionally, "warming up, frost protection, and moisture prevention" are indispensable—not just for personal warmth and cold protection, but also for keeping shoes, gear, gloves, lighters, matches, and knives dry.