The summer holidays are here and a lot of us will be getting away from it all.

Regardless of the destination, a little precaution taken before leaving the home shores may save you from having a holiday from hell.

All the preparations even before setting off can be very stressful. Argentum Nitricum and Aconite will help with fears (including fear of flying), apprehension, or anxiety about the trip.

Rescue Remedy or Emergency Essence will be useful if you don't have the remedies handy.

Weather travelling by car, boat or plane, motion sickness can be a problem to some.

Start taking homeopathic remedies two days before a long trip and continue during the trip if necessary.

For a short journey, take the first dose at least an hour before departure.

Cocculus Indicus is the first remedy for motion sickness - when the sight or smell of food makes you feel nauseous, weak and dizzy.

This remedy is often used for car or seasickness, when even watching moving objects worsens the nausea and dizziness.

Petroleum will cure a persistent nausea with excessive salivation and an empty feeling in the stomach, which feels better after eating some food.

If you feel nauseous, faint and cold, look extremely pale or have a terrible sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach, take some Tabacum.

Jetlag can effectively be treated with homeopathic remedies. Try Arnica if you feel tired and sore, Gelsemium if totally exhausted or Nux Vomica if you have an upset stomach.

This remedy is also great for when you have overindulged in rich food or alcohol and next morning wish you hadn't.

Cocculus will also adjust your sleep patterns.

When abroad, use bottled water for brushing teeth, washing food and avoid ice in your drinks.

Eat cooked food and stick to fruits that can be peeled. However, if you become unlucky and succumb to "Montezuma's Revenge", try one of these remedies: Arsenicum Album is the main remedy for food poisoning caused by spoilt meat, Pulsatilla by bad fish, and Lycopodium by bad shellfish.

Lycopodium will also resolve "away from home" constipation.

Ipecacuanha, Phosphorus, Podophyllum and Sulphur will also help with traveller's digestive problems, providing the symptoms match the remedy.

A response to the correct homeopathic remedy will usually occur quite quickly.

If vomiting or diarrhoea is extreme or there are signs of severe dehydration, seek medical help.

Insect's bites/stings usually cause mild, painful swelling, redness and itching.

Some people may be allergic to these stings. For all bites and stings consider Apis, Hypericum and Ledum.

Sunburn can make a miserable start to your holidays and sunstroke can be fatal.

Belladona and Bryonia are good for treating overexposure to the sun. Use Cantharis if the skin is blistered.

Urtica cream is very soothing on hot, itchy skin caused by sunburn or allergic reactions to insect bites/stings.

Calendula cream can be used on cut, broken or sore skin. Don't forget trusty Arnica for knocks and bruises, Ruta for sprains and strains and Hypericum for trauma to areas rich with nerves, such as fingertips.

Elizabeth Whitney is a qualified, registered homoeopath and can be contacted at Advanced Homoeopathic Centre, 69 Palmeira Avenue, Hove. Call 01273 390938 or email: elizabethwhitney@onetel.net.uk