Jet Lag

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Jet Lag

Your plane has just landed in San Francisco, but your brain seems to have missed the connecting flight in Houston. And your body feels like it’s spinning on a luggage carousel in Oklahoma City.

Jet lag will do that to you. Humans were not designed to travel such long distances in such short times. Flying long distances can mess up your body’s circadian rhythms, which tell you when to sleep and when to wake up. Your body will figure things out by itself in a day or so, though you’ll feel pretty sluggish until then. The natural remedies in this chapter, used with the approval of your doctor, may help prevent or relieve jet lag, according to some health professionals.

See Your Medical Doctor When... You haven’t adjusted comfortably or completely within a week to ten days after arriving at your destination. You still have these symptoms two weeks after your arrival: fatigue, minor aches and pains, slight headache, anxiety, insomnia and gastrointestinal symptoms such as indigestion and heartburn.

Aromatherapy

“Essential oils are so great for jet lag that some airlines have started giving aromatherapy kits to their first-class passengers,” says Victoria Edwards, an aromatherapist in Fair Oaks, California. But there’s a cheaper way to beat jet lag, according to Edwards: Travel coach and pick up the essential oils lavender, geranium and rosemary on your way to the airport.

While flying, Edwards says, put a drop or two of lavender on a wet washcloth and wipe your forehead and temples. “This eases flying jitters and gets rid of that keyed-up feeling,” she explains. Once you’re off the plane and settled in, banish exhaustion with a soothing bath. Edwards recommends adding 10 to 15 drops of geranium oil as the water is running. “Geranium is an adrenal stimulant and will help you get your second wind,” she says. Finally, banish drowsiness by inhaling an invigorating scent such as rosemary. “Put a single drop on a tissue and inhale whenever you need an energy boost,” Edwards suggests.

For information on preparing and administering essential oils, including cautions about their use, see page 19. For information on purchasing essential oils, refer to the resource list on page 633.

Ayurveda

For jet lag, take one ginger capsule an hour before your flight takes off, says Vasant Lad, B.A.M.S., M.A.Sc., director of the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico. You can take another capsule between flights, he says. Ginger capsules are available in most health food stores.

Homeopathy

“One remedy for jet lag that people can try is Cocculus,” says Stephen Messer, N.D., dean of the National Center for Homeopathy’s summer school and a naturopathic physician in Eugene, Oregon. He suggests a 6C dose five to ten minutes before you board the airplane. Then after you arrive at your destination, continue taking it up to twice daily for two to three days to help you adjust to the new time zone, he says.

Cocculus is available in many health food stores. To purchase the remedy by mail, refer to the resource list on page 637.

Hydrotherapy

Drink plenty of water during the trip to prevent dehydration, which contributes to jet lag, says Agatha Thrash, M.D., a medical pathologist and co-founder and co-director of Uchee Pines Institute, a natural healing center in Seale, Alabama. She suggests drinking one eight-ounce glass of water for each hour you spend in the air.

Relaxation and Meditation

Deep breathing techniques are very helpful in fighting off jet lag, says Martin Shaffer, Ph.D., executive director of the Stress Management Institute in San Francisco and author of Life after Stress. During the first two days after your arrival, practice the slow, deep breathing technique described on page 116 for 15 minutes every four hours, he says.

Yoga

A session of deep breathing (page 152) and meditation (page 153) will help you overcome jet lag’s effects, even while you’re still on the plane, say Dr. Robin Monro, Dr. R. Nagarathna and Dr. H. R. Nagendra in their book Yoga for Common Ailments.