When you are sick (Jee In Chung)

Coming to a new country where everything is completely new and different, things can get quite difficult at times, especially when you aren't feeling good and may feel sick. Because of difficult kanji, it's even difficult to understand the labels on medication boxes. Although you should really have some back-up emergency medication with you from your home country at all times, I will recommend the best-selling drugs in Japan for common sickness such as stomaches, muscle pain, headaches, bug bites and so on.

The first that I will introduce is [大証 Hanban] which works for digestive stomach medicine. You do not need prescription for this medicine. This medicine is also good for sour stomach and for hangovers. It is known to have no side effects because it's composed of different types of herbs such as ginger and Cinnamomum cassia Blume. [Otawisan] is also well-known to cure such illness. A lot of the times, it is preserved in a small can so you can scoop up as much as you think you would need according to its symptoms.

It can get pretty cold in the winter in Japan so you can easily see many people wearing white mouth masks. These masks are sold at any convenience store for couple hundred yen. If you feel that you have early symptoms of cold, I would recommend [sekidome sekin] which immediately gets rid of mucus in your system. It will heal your swollen throat and it's good for coughs and pain.

In the summer, Japanese mosquitoes are the scariest things you would want to stay away from but unfortunately, they are not avoidable. It's important not to irritate by itching it. If you planning to go on a camp during the summer, make sure you take [Ekutai muhi S]. It only works for other bug bites as well, not just the mosquitoes. You will feel the comfort feeling of coolness on your skin immediately as you apply it on your skin. When you have muscle aches on your legs or shoulder after camping, it would be a good idea to apply [saromechil FB loshon]. This comes in two types of forms. It comes in tape wrapping form and the second in gel type.

Although medication may not be your concern at the time being, it is important to have them ready at all times. However, these medications recommended above are all non-prescription medications. If you have severe symptoms of sickness, it would be best to go and see a doctor with your alien registration and national healthcare card.