Sailors turn to homeopathy for medical care at sea
Sailors are turning to a more holistic style of health care to look after ailments they encounter at sea. The Reddam House yacht will take to the seas in the upcoming Cape to Rio race, with “the bluebox” on board, sponsored by Pegasus Homeopathics.

"the bluebox" is a Cape Town-developed homeopathic treatment kit that can treat over 100 acute conditions and ailments naturally, quickly and safely.

Using extracts from natural materials such as stinging nettles, poison ivy and honey-bee poison, these remedies are based on the homeopathic Law of Similars that implies a remedy can cure an ailment if it produces in a healthy person symptoms similar to those of the ailment. Health is restored by stimulating the body's own system of defence and repair.

"It is completely safe and can be used in conjunction with other medication," says Ian Wheeler, a homeopathic pharmacist who together with fellow pharmacist, Gayle Salter developed this unique first aid kit-with-a-difference.

"Of particular interest to sailors, the kit has remedies to address sunburn, dehydration, motion sickness, injury, shock and insect bites. The sting 30C remedy will treat sunburn, insect bites, jellyfish and bluebottle stings. Dehydration, sunstroke and heat exhaustion can be treated with fluid imbalance 30C and n.v.d (nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea) 30c will effectively help with motion sickness and diarrhoea. There is a homeopathic antibiotic, anti-virabac 1M as well as t.r.s (trauma, rescue, shock) 200C and injury 200C remedies for on-board injuries, trauma and shock. The kit also contains a herbal antiseptic solution for the topical treatment of cuts, abrasions and rope burn. None of the remedies cause drowsiness, an important factor at sea.

"Other remedies include treatments for allergies, asthma, hay fever, muscle spasms, muscular soreness, nerve injuries, crush injuries, sprains, bruises, headaches, pain and fever, sinus congestion, anxiety, indigestion, stomach cramps and many others.

"In an emergency situation, there is no time to consult a homeopathic guidebook to find the appropriate single remedy. These complexes are ideal in that a number of ingredients have been combined into one remedy that will cover a broad range of potential symptoms. The choice of remedy is made simple in that the name of the remedy reflects the symptom experienced e.g. injury 200C.

"No special knowledge is required to use the remedies although a comprehensive booklet is enclosed," says Wheeler.

The kit travels well in a durable plastic box with the 21 remedies safely encased in foam.

For more information on "the bluebox" and on its use on this year's Cape-to-Rio yachts, please call Gayle Salter on 021-7614111 or have a look at their website www.pegasuskits.com. It is also widely available in pharmacies and health shops.