Natural remedies to help with jet lag

You’ve had an amazing holiday, sunning yourself in Bondi Beach Australia, or skiing fresh powdered snow in the Austrian Alps, it’s time to head back home and you couldn’t be any more relaxed.

That is, until you get home and find that your body clock is all over the place due to the dreaded jet lag. You can’t sleep at night, you stay awake during the day – there’s almost nothing worse than that feeling as your body re-adjusts to its native time zone.

Many people like to just power through it, staying awake and forcing their bodies in to submission the next time bed-time rolls around; but that’s not an option for everyone.

For those unused to regular air-travel, jet lag can be a very unpleasant experience. Symptoms can include insomnia, irritability, indigestion and disorientation.

The effects of jet lag vary from person to person, as does the length of time it takes for jet lag to subside. For some people it can take roughly one day per crossed time zone. Travelling from London to New York means crossing five time zones, and at a recovery rate of one day per zone, that could mean an entire holiday for some!

So, what can be done to alleviate the effects and let you get on with your much deserved break?

There a few natural remedies to help with jet lag which, according to experts, can minimise the symptoms.

One remedy which is often mentioned is an increase of the body’s melatonin levels. Melatonin controls the body’s circadian rhythm, our internal “clock” which dictates when we fall asleep and wake up.

Melatonin levels are controlled by the amount of light we are exposed to, as we travel across time zones we are exposed to more or less light and our melatonin it thrown off.

For those uncomfortable with taking pills and potions, the most natural remedy to help with jet lag is to prepare in advance.

Adjusting your bedtime and wake time prior to travel will lessen the impact of jet lag once the destination has been reached.

The technique is to go to bed and wake up an hour earlier/later (depending on direction of travel) incrementally for three days prior to travelling. Travelling east would mean going to bed earlier, travelling west would mean going to bed later.

Seasoned travellers advise against giving in to the temptation to nap before bedtime, but say that if you just cannot stay awake, then a one hour power nap should be all that you take.

If you anticipate a jet-lag after your journey, you should opt for a pre-flight aromatic bath or shower. Essential oils such as lavender and geranium (found in bath and body products) help some people to relax and fall asleep. If on the other hand you need something to really wake you up in the morning, a cold shower with invigorating shower gel, such as ginseng or citrus, could be enough to give you that burst of energy you need and help you adjust to your new environment.

About the Author

Paul Buchanan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Author (pbuchanan). Submitted on Wed, 6 Jul 2011 Time: 11:17 AM

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