jetlag travel guide

Jet Lag - A Natural Approach

jet lag remedies

What is jet lag?

Put simply, jet lag is a common sleep disorder endured by millions of travelers each day. It affects both people traveling for pleasure and on business and, in a recent survey of international business travelers, 3/4 of those questioned said that they frequently suffered from jet lag.

Jet lag affects individuals of all ages and, despite the fact that it varies widely from individual to individual, it tends to be more severe the older you get.

Furthermore, if you are already experiencing a problem sleeping, you may find that jet lag is more of a problem.

Jet lag also increases as you cross a growing number of time zones. If the difference in time between your departure point and your destination is merely an hour or two, then it's possible that you won't experience jet lag at all. However, if the time difference is three hours or more then jet lag will start to appear and its effects will become increasingly pronounced the bigger the time difference.

Finally, jet lag symptoms don't always appear immediately and, for some individuals, it could well be a couple of days before it hits.

Jet lag remedies

Jet lag is a symptom, or set of symptoms, rather than a specific condition or disease and, accordingly, has no specific cure. The secret to finding a remedy lies in putting together a plan for the management of jet lag, allowing you to lower its effects both in terms of time and severity.

However, before doing this we should consider some of the usually quoted 'cures' for jet lag and lay a few myths to rest.

• Diet.
  
  Despite claims to the contrary, there is no scientific evidence that "jet lag diets" work and it's likely that any claimed benefits are wholly psychological - the placebo effect. What is more, "jet lag diets" are commonly complex and tedious to follow.

• Over the Counter Medication.
  
  Generally speaking, over the counter medication will do nothing to solve the problem of jet lag. Having said this, if you suffer from headaches in the course of the late afternoon or evening then using Tylenol PM or Excedrin PM could help. These are both forms of well known painkillers but include mild soporifics.

• Sleeping Pills.
  
  The starting point for many people with sleeping troubles is frequently the bottle of sleeping pills and, while sleeping pills can be helpful in certain circumstances, their use is not commonly recommended.
  
  The biggest problem with sleeping pills is that they are designed for short-term use to relieve particular sleeping difficulties and they do this by stimulating a 'false' state of sleep.
  
  For jet lag you need to get your body back to its normal sleeping pattern as quickly and effortlessly as you can and utilizing sleeping pills will give you temporary relief, but will, in the end, draw out your recovery.
  
  Having said this, if you really are 'climbing the walls' and decide that you do need this temporary relief, then here are just some guidelines to follow:

• Jet Lag Formulas.
  
  You can buy a range of 'over the counter' pills marketed specifically to treat jet lag. Yet, there is no evidence to show that such tablets work.
  
  The majority are manufactured from a combination of amino acids and vitamins, or homeopathic preparations that are meant to 'reset your biorhythms'. This claim however appears to have more to do with adroit marketing rather than anything else.

• Melatonin.
  
  Melatonin remains somewhat controversial, not least because its use has yet to be approved by any regulatory body. In addition, in spite of many studies carried out over a number of years, opinion remains divided about whether or not it works.
  
  Various studies have nonetheless produced encouraging results and it would seem that melatonin might be of benefit to a number of users, making it worth trying. It is not however a cure in itself and should be used as just part of an overall jet lag management plan.

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