Jet Lag: Symptoms and How it Affects the Body

Jet lag is a problem commonly known to cause a temporary loss of sleep. However, the disorder often has more symptoms than just sleep loss.

• Overall fatigue
• Loss of concentration or focus
• Stomach pain, constipation, or diarrhea
• Flu symptoms (nausea, headaches, etc)
• Frequent changes in mood
• Insomnia, early waking, or drowsiness

It is while travelling across time zones that jet lag affects the body, not while traveling north and south. Most research shows the symptoms of jet lag worsening the more time zones one travels across. As you will come to see, acupuncture can have a profound effect on pinpointing the exact changes in time zone within the body.

Acupuncture serves as a way to regulate the body’s horary cycle ( Chinese Organ Body Clock ) and restore Qi to the necessary points in the body. During the 24 hours in a day, there are 12 meridians, or in other words 12, 2-hour periods. The horary cycle defines the 2-hour period in the meridian system when Qi is at its energetic peak. This is called the horary period. During travel across time zones, Qi (the body’s energy) can become unbalanced in regard to the meridian it is located in.

Acupuncturists are able to stimulate specific horary points within the body, and redirect Qi to the correct meridian. This will update the body’s internal clock to the body’s actual physical location.

How Acupuncture can Help with Jet Lag

Acupuncture may just be the best way to adjust the body’s clock and recalibrate overall bodily functions. Not only does it serve as an effective jet lag treatment, but it also improves sleep, resets the circadian rhythm, and promotes a comprehensive form of improved health.

• Re-adjustment of Internal Clock: As previously mentioned, when acupuncture is practiced on certain horary points on the body, Qi is able to be redirected to the correct meridian. Furthermore, acupuncturists are able to specify the practice to each patient and their respective time zone movement. Thus, executing a personal and precise treatment for each individual.
• Better Sleep: Besides rebalancing the body’s meridian and updating the biological clock to the correct time zone, acupuncture has also been proven to release natural “sleep” chemicals. Not only does the treatment increase melatonin secretion, but it also increases free adenosine levels by up to 24%.
• Relaxes the Body: The readjustment of Qi achieved by stimulating the correct horary point will allow the body to be relaxed and refreshed. In addition to the natural chemicals mentioned above, acupuncture will help the body to release endorphins, combating the negative symptoms of jet lag.
• Improved Focus: Jet lag can cause discomfort around the clock: restlessness at night, and unfocused disorientation during the day. The redirection of Qi in the body and balance of the internal clock won’t just help you sleep, but it will also help you function when you are awake. This is because it helps to counteract the flu like symptoms, and feelings of fatigue in the body.

If you plan on utilizing acupuncture for jet lag, be sure to schedule an appointment shortly after your arrival at your new destination – ideally within 24 hours. The symptoms of jet lag can plague the body for days after arrival at a new time zone, so it is important to make sure you get the treatment you need right away.

More Tips on How to Manage Jet Lag

While acupuncture may be the most effective treatment for jet lag, there or a number of things you can do on your own to decrease the symptoms.

• Stay Hydrated: The body requires hydration to function. As travel across time zones puts a lot of stress on the body, hydration becomes all the more important.
• Movement: The restricted mobility you have on the plane coupled with an increase in air pressure can result in serious body aches and pains. To combat this, the body requires as much blood circulation as possible. Exercises such as shoulder rolls, neck rolls, arm, and torso stretches are able to be done even in the seat of the plane. It’s also a great idea to get up and walk around whenever possible, in addition to stretching before and after the flight.
• Nutrition: There is a plethora of foods that increase natural melatonin secretion: cherries, kiwi, bananas, oats, walnuts, almonds, coriander, and sunflower seeds.
• Essential Oils: Natural oils like lavender and cedarwood can do wonders for inducing sleep and enhancing deep rest.
• Exercise: In addition to movement, a regular exercise regimen has been proven to counter the effects of jet lag.