Even if you regularly pass a pharmacy, it is always good to have a personal first aid kit with you on the Camino de Santiago.
Plaster/Bandaids. Blisters, sores and other minor injuries are unavoidable on such a long hike. Several strips of plaster that can be cut to any size are a must. It’s important to have a plaster that sticks strongly, such as Hansaplast Extra Robust or Band-Aid Tough Strips.
Strong Adhesive Tape. Even more important than plasters is adhesive tape (e.g. from Leukoplast). Not only can you use this to attach plasters to your feet, but also to tape over hotspots or sensitive areas to prevent blisters. See also: How to Treat Blisters.
Disinfectant spray.
Painkillers. I always carry two types of painkillers with me: anti-inflammatory Ibuprofen for muscle, back and tooth pain as well as Voltaren as tablets (not available without a prescription in all European countries.) Voltaren really helps with joint pain. Important: use painkillers sparingly (read the package insert!)
Gastrointestinal infections can strike at any time, so I carry a few tablets of Imodium just in case. A good herbal alternative is Tanacomp.
Traumeel Ointment. The herbal, homeopathic Traumeel Ointment is my all-purpose weapon against blunt injuries and as an ointment for chafed areas (Traumel contains ingredients that can also be found in other wound ointments such as Arnicare.) Important: Traumeel is not approved for open skin wounds! Be sure to ask the pharmacist. You can also pack a small wound ointment such as Neosporin.
Athlete’s Foot Cream. Athlete’s Foot is hard to avoid when you’re using communal showers and sweating heavily when hiking. As soon as the typical symptoms of athlete’s foot appear between my toes, I declare war on the spores with the ointment. Such creams or sprays are available in every pharmacy, so you don’t necessarily have to carry a tube of this from the get go!
Deer Tallow. Slathering your feet with deer tallow reduces the chance of getting blisters. Deer tallow also helps prevent uncomfortable chafing between the thighs in hot weather.
Sunscreen. With the sometimes relentless sun in Spain, I always use sunscreen with an SPF 50.
Odds and Ends. Safety pins, alcohol wipes, tiny scissors, SPF chapstick.
Tip: I pack my mini-pharmacy in a small Tupperware container so that the pills don’t get crushed and everything stays dry.
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