Jet lag can happen when you move swiftly from one time zone to another. Moving from one time zone to another can confuse and upset our body-clock.
It is not a serious condition, but one that can spoil the initial few days of a holiday, and it probably causes many millions of pounds of non-productive work by employees as our bodies struggle to adjust to the new time zone. But Jet Lag can cause:
- Disturbance in sleep patters
- Excessive fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Disturbance of appetite
- Upset bowel movement
CONVENTIONAL MEDICAL TREATMENT
There is no conventional medical treatment for the prevention of Jet Lag. The NHS Choices website says simply:
“Jet lag can’t be prevented but you can take steps to reduce its effective”.
However NHS Choices does offer sound and sensible advice concerning what people can do before travelling, during the flight, and on short trips.
The only treatment for Jet Lag suggested is the drug Melatonin: but that “there is currently not enough evidence to say whether melatonin supplements are effective”. NHS Choices also say that th
NHS Choices also say that “there is also insufficient evidence regarding the possible side-effects of melatonin for people taking thepeople taking the blood-thinning medicine warfarin, or those with epilepsy (a condition that causes repeated fits or seizures)”.
The adverse reactions of Melatonin are known, however. This website says that most commonly Melatonin causes daytime sleepiness, dizziness, and headaches (the same symptoms as Jet Lag?), and also abdominal discomfort, mild anxiety, irritability, confusion, and depression. It also says that Melatonin can interact with far more drugs, including immunosuppressants, diabetes drugs, and birth control pills.
Sleeping pills are also mentioned but “they are not usually recommended because they can be very addictive if used for more than a few days”. We are also reminded that sleeping pills can also cause runny nose, headaches and diarrhoea!
In addition to good general advice, there are several homeopathic remedies that can be used, both before travelling to prevent, or after travelling to treat Jet Lag. Moreover, these remedies can be used without any of the side-effects of conventional drugs, such as Melatonin.
Arnica
Arnica is a ‘trauma’ remedy, and jet lag has caused trauma by upsetting the body’s natural thythms and cycles. Arnica is needed when you feel weak, achy, even sore or bruised, with tiredness.
Cocculus Indicus
This is the remedy most recommended by Homeopaths. It is indicated by excessive tiredness, to the point when it is difficult to sleep. Feelings of weakness, nausea, dizziness, even fainting can be experienced. Often this can be worse in fresh air, and worse for eating and drinking. Vomiting is also a symptom, with the patient feeling better lying down.
Gelsenium
This remedy can be useful when the person feels almost paralysed.
Combination Remedies
Most Homeopathic pharmacies can provide combination remedies for jet lag. For instance, Helios offers a Jet Lag remedy here. The remedies come with instructions about how and when to take it.