The budget travel medical kit that I've refined over 10 years of travel and what each item has actually treated.

Ibuprofen 400mg: treated headaches, minor injuries, altitude headaches (take preventively during ascent, not after symptoms start), menstrual pain. Used on approximately 80% of trips.

Loperamide (Imodium): treated traveler's diarrhea in situations where being incapacitated wasn't an option (long bus journeys, flights, important day plans). Critical note: this treats the symptom, not the cause — if diarrhea is accompanied by fever or blood, see a doctor.

Oral rehydration salts: treated the dehydration component of stomach illness, heat exhaustion in Vietnam in July. Effective and cheap.

Antifungal powder: treated foot fungus acquired from hostel showers. Worth including if you're in warm climates with communal shower situations.

Antihistamine (cetirizine): treated insect bites, minor allergic reactions, helped with sleep on long overnight journeys. Inexpensive and multipurpose.

Bandages and blister patches: used on approximately 90% of trips. Walking 10-15km/day on travel days produces blisters. Compeed blister patches are vastly superior to standard bandages for foot blisters.

Antiseptic wipes: cleaned minor cuts and scrapes in situations where running water wasn't immediately available.

Items I no longer carry: malaria prophylaxis (carry prescription for at-risk destinations, fill locally), prescription antibiotics (occasionally useful but require a prescription anyway).

The total weight and volume: fits in a small ziplock bag, approximately 200g. Worth every gram.